Help me build!

So I am thinking about getting a 7' peninsula tank from a fellow member (otty), trying really hard to see if this will work, dont want to buy the tank without a solid plan as that leads to a poor WAF from the get-go! So here are some pics of the space of where said tank will go.
The length between the wall and the post is 6'10", almost a perfect fit for the 7'!!! I will remove the railing, and the desk is no longer there, but the tank will be where the desk used to be.

Help me out please!









So here is proposed idea....
That post will be "doubled" to hide the plumbing and allow for a "door" I can open to view the overflow/plumbing end of the tank.

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Below you see the post - I envision the right side of the tank being flush with the wall (not scene in this picture) which means it will be right where the railing ends, about halfway on this post (just to the right of that circle where the railing ends)
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Here is the other side of the wall, so it will be flush with this corner on the left side
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Here is part of my dilemma, or what might make the stand hard to make? The floor is about 10" taller in the kitchen then in the carpeted room... Im thinking there is about 4" between that corner and the "dropoff"
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Just another view
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It looks like that would be a great spot for a penninsula tank. How tall is the tank itself?

 

Tank is 7' by 2' deep and 30" tall

 

Nice dimensions...will be following along with the build.

 

I am an IT guy...so "construction" is definitely not my strongpoint. The one thing I forgot to mention is that right below the floor where this "drop off" is is my crawlspace and a solid concrete wall, so not sure if I need to support the floor any more, but I think that is a good thing - here is a picture, behind the blue stuff is the concrete - and right above this is where that railing is..
http://cache.hostmyjpg.com/459543636_crawl.jpg
Do I need to worry about the actual structure of the floor, or do I just need to be sure the stand is more sturdy..or both?
Also, since the kitchen is raised about 10", pretty sure that is just for aesthetics - so guessing its not made to support a ton or more of weight? however, only 4" will be on this "portion"? I should have named this - help build my stand, as that is what I am struggling with right now!

 

You are just buying the tank from Otty?

The main thing I would be worried about is the strength of the floor joists. Being on two different levels makes this interesting(structurally).

The main weight of the aquarium will be (looking from below) to the left of the step-down. The only weight-bearing wall is the one near where the end of the tank will be. You will want to add support using 2X10s to go perpendicular to your joists.

This tank is going to weigh quite a bit and you don't want it to go crashing through your floor. I would suggest building the tank stand out of 4x4s...simple, but indestructible.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/my-diy-indestructable-tank-stand-79144.html

 

Havent decided what else to get yet, would love the lights and even rock, but need to check the funds, and no where near ready to have the live rock, but will definitely want that too!
I understand adding 2x10s perpendicular (in the crawl space). Not clear on where the "main weight" would be. Wont the weight be pretty evenly distributed? For simplicity sake, lets call the short end of the tank where the post currently is - the overflow side. So standing on the carpet, this is to the left...

 

Thanks for the stand ideas - guessing at 7' I would definitely need a center brace?
Any ideas on how to "carefully" remove that railing to get better idea on what is under it?

 

I would definitely put in 1 center brace on the stand. With 4x4s you could probably just get away with 1(rather than 2) with no problem.

That railing isn't supporting anything and is there purely for aesthetics(room divider). the only thing it should be supporting is a person's weight if they lean on it. How is it connected? you could take a "Sawzaw" to the ends...

 

Just be sure when you cut out the drywall from the post to double it, that you don't cut any of the studs without re-enforcing them elsewhere - the "post" is supporting your second floor.