Tank Placement?

NYfan78

NYfan78

Members
Ok the 125 gallon tank I am getting with be set up on a outside wall in the family room. There is a unfinished basement below. The joists will be running parallel to the tank/cabinet stand. It looks like the tank will be sitting on 2 joists . is this going to be safe or am i going to have issues? Right now with my 55 that is sitting in the same spot there is not sagging what so ever. Just need some input. And there is the only place i can set it up!
 
jonclark96

jonclark96

Past CCA President
If you are worried about it and it is an unfinished basement, just put some lumber perpendicular to the joists and put some posts down to the floor of the basement. It shouldn't be too expensive if you use 4 by 4's. I would do it if I were in your position.
 
hydrodmg

hydrodmg

Members
i build houses. brace the floor i would build 3 2x6 walls the width of your tank and place them under the tank under the floor one at either end and one in the middle it should cost you under 30 bux let me know if you want any help with this
 
NYfan78

NYfan78

Members
Hydrodmg -- the thing is this is not my house, I am renting it and my roommate doesnt care about me setting up a tank. I just want to be safe..........
 
iamzrad

iamzrad

Members
125gal with sand, rocks, water, tank, stand will probably weigh anywhere from 900-1,300lbs.
Get the equivalent amount of weight in people and stand where your tank is going to be. If nothing happens and no one goes through the floor, you're safe :)
 
Leffler817

Leffler817

CCA Members
I only asked because I'm somewhat new to MD and in my development we all have dirt crawlspaces. I would think that a basement support on a dirt floor would just sink in over time and you would have the sagging floor problem in the future. I am no expert though and probably need to add bracing of some sort to my place. I am renting also and completely understand your fear. I'd hate to lose my deposit or incurr any fault rather than buying a $30 basement post or two. Rather be safe than sorry.
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Leffler817 said:
I only asked because I'm somewhat new to MD and in my development we all have dirt crawlspaces. I would think that a basement support on a dirt floor would just sink in over time and you would have the sagging floor problem in the future. I am no expert though and probably need to add bracing of some sort to my place. I am renting also and completely understand your fear. I'd hate to lose my deposit or incurr any fault rather than buying a $30 basement post or two. Rather be safe than sorry.
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In my old house in Rockville (circa 1942), I installed short floor jacks and 2x6 mudsills in the dirt crawlspace under my 110. Tall tanks on old wooden floors scare me.

I know a guy who works at Congressional who told me a story of a 6 footer going through the third floor of a 10 year old house a few years back.

No fue bueno.
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
NYfan78 said:
i AM SCARED TO EVEN SET UP THIS TANK NOW....
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Nah, don't be freaked out. Just be careful and do your homework. A 110 is also much taller than a 125 = more load per SF. Not saying everything is cool with the 125, just saying it isn't as bad as a 110 from a weight distribution prospective.

Apartment units with elevated post-tension concrete decks don't concern me. Wood framing does.

Here's a good article I scanned through a while back when I was looking for design criteria on residential concrete frames. This is specifically regarding wood framing and does a good job explaining things in layman's terms.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html

Asking "will my floor support this tank?" on a forum to a bunch of folks who have not seen your house is not a good idea. I see it all the time on other forums and think that people are nuts for asking or answering something like that.

What size joists are they and what spacing are they at?
How far from he column/load bearing wall will the load be positioned?
How are the joists tied into the main beam?

I have a degree in structural engineering and do not like to answer this question for people unless I have seen how their floor is constructed.... even then unless it's concrete, I still don't like to give folks a definitive yes or no.

It's a lot of responsibility and I am not a Professional Engineer.

All of my big tanks are on the basement concrete slab for a reason. Maybe they'll be fine upstairs, but I enjoy the peace of mind of not having to worry about it.

If it were me, I would either put it in the basement or do something like John or Matthew said... build up load bearing walls/install floor jacks or install additional joists between beams under the tank. Either way would make me sleep better at night.

Overkill is a good thing when it comes to engineering.
 
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NYfan78

NYfan78

Members
UNFORTUNITLY THIS IS NOT MY HOUSE I AM JUST RENTING. SO I CANT JUST START THROWING UP FLOOR SUPPORTS. I DONT KNOW WHAT ILL DO. iTS EAITEHR FIGURE THIS OUT AND DO THAT TANK OR PUT THIS MONEY TOWARDS A BIKE IN THE SPRING....HMMMMM
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Simple

Get one of these from Home Depot:

9ba180a8-f24b-4570-ac8d-83bb1819d71e_300.jpg


http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


Run 1 4x4 underneath joists, perpendicular to joists at center of tank. Screw up jack underneath 4x4. Verify cross bracing is installed between joists to prevent rolling.

Done.
 
C

Cartel

Members
If worse comes to worse I promise to bring over a wet vac and help you clean up. So chop chop get to filling.
 
Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
NYfan78 said:
TONY--YES THERE IS BOARDS BETWEEN THE JOISTS. IM STILL NOT SURE ABOUT ALL THIS.....
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Then I don't know what to tell you. :wacko:

EDIT: The posts are good for 9,600 pounds at max extension. Set the tank in place, fill the tank 1/4 of the way and snug up the jack with a wrench. That is what I would do at least.
 
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hydrodmg

hydrodmg

Members
the walls would not even have to be nailed and as far as having a bunch of people standing there that wont give you any idea unless you leave the people there for a month better safe than sorry. i have a large tank on my second floor too but i have walls underneath my tanks and what kind of floor joists do you have i have seen houses with 2x6 rough cut joists. save your self the hassle and just brace it
 
hydrodmg

hydrodmg

Members
the boards between the joists is called bridging all it does is helps to distribute the weight from one floor joist to another so one does not sag below the other too much and they also keep the joists from twisting nothing you put in as a brace will have to be fastened to the structure of the house and is completely removable good luck and have fun
 
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