Which Substrate Is heavier: EE or playsand

[IsolatedShadow]

So, i will start this off by the usual jist. I am setting up a 100gal tank! But, we have came across some problems. It makes me worry.

The house I am in is pretty much just a trailer house. A kinda old one, at that. I want to use the 100 gal tank, but my great uncle says it will be too heavy and fall through the floor with all the wet playsand that will be in it. I'm actually rather paranoid by that, so I am brought here to ask questions.

Which is lighter, sand with EE, or straight EE? And do i even need to worry about the weight of the tank collapsing the floor of a trailer house??

[aussieJJDude]

Really depends on the concentration of sand to EE. But yes, we is lighter than sand.


Consider getting a structural engineer to come view the location where you're planning on setting it up for some peace of mind.

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[IsolatedShadow]

Really depends on the concentration of sand to EE. But yes, we is lighter than sand.


Consider getting a structural engineer to come view the location where you're planning on setting it up for some peace of mind.

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I would get a structural engineer for some advice, buuut I'm only 15 and Nanny would not EVER do that. I can see if maybe one of my uncles know anything about this stuff, maybe. But that's about it.

[wodesorel]

Half filled with moist sand, and you're provably looking at just under 1000 pounds total for that and the tank. However, it works out to about the same weight as a full aquarium of water, so if the tank was set up there before it won't be any different.

[IsolatedShadow]

Half filled with moist sand, and you're provably looking at just under 1000 pounds total for that and the tank. However, it works out to about the same weight as a full aquarium of water, so if the tank was set up there before it won't be any different.

We never had a 100 gallon tank set up. But we have had a 30 gallon with a stand set up once though. And the tank is 5 feet long, so maybe the weight will be displaced evenly?? And would it matter if i put the tank against a wall or not?

[CrabbyLover77]

I think I would try to reinforce the floor underneath the home. Here is a thread on a fish tank forum talking about the same problem you are facing:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... ?t=1551575

If you can get under your home (if it has skirting you should be able to remove some to access underneath), and stack up some cinder blocks where the tank is going to go, it might be a good idea. Especially since you said your home is older.

I lived in a single wide mobile home many years ago with my Mom. When we first moved in, a lot of the floor on one side was so flimsy we had to have someone come in and replace a lot of it around the master bath/bedroom area.

Good luck!

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[IsolatedShadow]

I think I would try to reinforce the floor underneath the home. Here is a thread on a fish tank forum talking about the same problem you are facing:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... ?t=1551575

If you can get under your home (if it has skirting you should be able to remove some to access underneath), and stack up some cinder blocks where the tank is going to go, it might be a good idea. Especially since you said your home is older.

I lived in a single wide mobile home many years ago with my Mom. When we first moved in, a lot of the floor on one side was so flimsy we had to have someone come in and replace a lot of it around the master bath/bedroom area.

Good luck!

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Thank you very much for the suggestion! Though, apparently Nanny outright ignored me when I brought it up, and everyone is set on using pure EE since it is lighter.. /sigh/. I was hoping to have at least 1 or 2 bags of sand mixed in...

[CrabbyLover77]

Thank you very much for the suggestion! Though, apparently Nanny outright ignored me when I brought it up, and everyone is set on using pure EE since it is lighter.. /sigh/. I was hoping to have at least 1 or 2 bags of sand mixed in...

You're welcome!

I would think you would make out okay if you just did 1 or 2 bags of 50lb sand. I just wouldn't do like 5+ bags which would make it really heavy unless you reinforced the floor under the home with cinder blocks.

When I set up my 20 gal long for my rescue crabbies I ran short on substrate. So I had a ton more EE than sand. People here told me I could still add sand on the top at 1" per day since my crabbies already went under to molt. So I added only moist play sand on top. Maybe you could do that and add a layer at the top of play sand to help keep the humidity high since it will be a large tank (maybe a layer on the bottom too?). It might help prevent flooding too with all the EE you'll have. It seems to help keep my humidity around 80%.

Here's a pic of my Beau having dinner, but you'll see my EE and sand underneath are kind of layered. I know it's not the ideal situation for you, but at least you can still have a little bit of sand in there.

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[wodesorel]

We never had a 100 gallon tank set up. But we have had a 30 gallon with a stand set up once though. And the tank is 5 feet long, so maybe the weight will be displaced evenly?? And would it matter if i put the tank against a wall or not?

In a regular home with 16 inch joists, these things make a huge difference. Putting it against a supporting wall means less deflection of the joists and is safer. I am not super familiar with mobile home construction but since they are made to be light and movable, they don't have the same level of construction. It's not like they have solid walls anchored solidly to the ground that can handle the excess weight.

[IsolatedShadow]

You're welcome!

I would think you would make out okay if you just did 1 or 2 bags of 50lb sand. I just wouldn't do like 5+ bags which would make it really heavy unless you reinforced the floor under the home with cinder blocks.

When I set up my 20 gal long for my rescue crabbies I ran short on substrate. So I had a ton more EE than sand. People here told me I could still add sand on the top at 1" per day since my crabbies already went under to molt. So I added only moist play sand on top. Maybe you could do that and add a layer at the top of play sand to help keep the humidity high since it will be a large tank (maybe a layer on the bottom too?). It might help prevent flooding too with all the EE you'll have. It seems to help keep my humidity around 80%.

Here's a pic of my Beau having dinner, but you'll see my EE and sand underneath are kind of layered. I know it's not the ideal situation for you, but at least you can still have a little bit of sand in there.

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Your crab looks beautiful, ant the tank looks good! It took a moment to convince her, but later on I'll get some playsand for the tank! probably 1 or 2 50 lb bags. Will it be better to mix it in or to just set it on top?

[CrabbyLover77]

Your crab looks beautiful, ant the tank looks good! It took a moment to convince her, but later on I'll get some playsand for the tank! probably 1 or 2 50 lb bags. Will it be better to mix it in or to just set it on top?

Thanks! Beau is sporting his new shell from Naples Shell Company lol.

Hmmmm, I guess you could go either way with the sand. Maybe mixing it in would be better and allow your crabbies to tunnel easier. I'm glad your Nanny is willing to let you do some sand in the tank! I definitely want to see the finished setup.


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[IsolatedShadow]

Thanks! Beau is sporting his new shell from Naples Shell Company lol.

Hmmmm, I guess you could go either way with the sand. Maybe mixing it in would be better and allow your crabbies to tunnel easier. I'm glad your Nanny is willing to let you do some sand in the tank! I definitely want to see the finished setup.


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Yeah. I was thinking of mixing it up for that reason. And tbh I am in no rush on transferring my hermit crabs to the much bigger tank, and at this point I don't even know when we will finish it. it can take so long as from tomorrow, to next weekend lol. Just depends on when we go shopping and get the sand. (and possibly more EE oops). But once we do finish it, I will be sure to show it off!

Again, thank you for the help!

[CrabbyLover77]

Yeah. I was thinking of mixing it up for that reason. And tbh I am in no rush on transferring my hermit crabs to the much bigger tank, and at this point I don't even know when we will finish it. it can take so long as from tomorrow, to next weekend lol. Just depends on when we go shopping and get the sand. (and possibly more EE oops). But once we do finish it, I will be sure to show it off!

Again, thank you for the help!

No problem. I hope it all works out. And take your time. I still haven't cleaned out my plastic terrarium that Beau was in before I transferred him into the 20 gal with the rescue crabs, and that was like a month ago lol. Some TV show or a good book always gets in the way of doing what I need to do haha.

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[IsolatedShadow]

No problem. I hope it all works out. And take your time. I still haven't cleaned out my plastic terrarium that Beau was in before I transferred him into the 20 gal with the rescue crabs, and that was like a month ago lol. Some TV show or a good book always gets in the way of doing what I need to do haha.

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Lol. I'm just hoping to get this done within the next week or so hopefully. i adopted two more crabs from facebook, which are both i think large/extra large, teetering jumbo maybe. And with the other 6 in the 30 gal, i'm throwing myself over max capacity. Luckily, they're all PPs and don't seem to mind the overcrowding for now, but I'm working my hardest to get them all into a much more fitting tank.

[CrabbyLover77]

Lol. I'm just hoping to get this done within the next week or so hopefully. i adopted two more crabs from facebook, which are both i think large/extra large, teetering jumbo maybe. And with the other 6 in the 30 gal, i'm throwing myself over max capacity. Luckily, they're all PPs and don't seem to mind the overcrowding for now, but I'm working my hardest to get them all into a much more fitting tank.

That's awesome you adopted a couple of crabs on FB! It sounds like you are doing a great job caring for them all and trying to get them into their bigger home. I can't wait until I move so I can set up my 55 gal tank. I've got 4 PP in my 20 gal long now, 1 large, 1 med, and 2 small. They seem to have enough room too, but I know bigger is better. My crazy tortoise's home is 6'x2' so she takes up the majority of my room right now lol.

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