Need advice on tank weight/floor

Jrambo88 · 03/24/2018, 07:09 PM

So I bought a 220 for a really good price. I want to put it on my 2nd floor. The unfortunate thing is I cannot go horizontal across floor joists, it has to go with the floor joists. Here’s the good, the corner it’s going in, the length of the tank goes against a load bearing wall in the basement. The right side goes against an outer wall. The first two joists it sits on are single beams, the 3rd beam is tripled up. The beams are 2x10 and are spaced 10 inches apart. The beams span 8ft before resting on a support steel beam. What do you guys th8nk?

BoisBlancBoy · 03/24/2018, 07:23 PM

If you could post a few pictures of the location and show us what’s under it and location of th bearing walls/beams that would help a ton. But if I have the right visual you might be in good shape.

ramseynb · 03/24/2018, 07:39 PM

Personally, I think you'd be fine but it's easy for me to say since it's not my house. :P

Assuming it's not some super tall 220G tank, that weight is going to be distributed along a pretty wide area. You're smarter than I am though. I'd just risk it and slowly feel it up and do a check on everything every once and a while. o_0

Jrambo88 · 03/24/2018, 08:18 PM

It’s the standard 6x2x30”. I’ll have to get pictures tomorrow, but I’m thinking since it doesn’t span that far, only 8 ft until it gets to the steel beam that, that’s huge. I had a 125on it for years with no issues, but it’s now basically double the weight lol.

davocean · 03/25/2018, 06:31 PM

If what you described is correct, you are probably one of the few times I'd assume good and not needing any additional support, but, that's just an educated guess based on your description.
Pics or plans would be needed for a true answer.

thegrun · 03/25/2018, 06:39 PM

Considering the risks, I would consult a licensed structural engineer. If you make a decent drawing of your floor joists and wall locations and take it to a structural engineer for a couple of hundred dollars you will get a professional analysis of your situation. You are looking at a load of 3500 lbs to 4000lbs.

Jrambo88 · 03/25/2018, 06:48 PM

here is the floor plan

davocean · 03/25/2018, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

Considering the risks, I would consult a licensed structural engineer. If you make a decent drawing of your floor joists and wall locations and take it to a structural engineer for a couple of hundred dollars you will get a professional analysis of your situation. You are looking at a load of 3500 lbs to 4000lbs.

I do agree, that is the best route.

I am a contractor myself, looking at your floor plan, it looks pretty doable to me, but if you were a client I would always run it past my structural engineer to be safe and avoid liability.

You could probably just text or email that to one w/ tank volume/weight specs to be safe and they probably won't charge much to do calcs.

Joe0813 · 03/25/2018, 07:12 PM

I would definitely get a structural engineer to look at it just to be sure

Jrambo88 · 03/25/2018, 07:14 PM

What is the best way to find a structural engineer?

BoisBlancBoy · 03/25/2018, 10:00 PM

I am also a contractor and buy your sketch I don’t foresee any issues. You have five 2x10 only spanning 8’ to carry that weight. It shouldn’t be an issue. Instead of a structural engineer you could even go to a lumber yard and talk with some of their people that deal with quotes. They have a good knowledge base of structural design and loads.

mcgyvr · 03/26/2018, 04:46 AM

Totally fine.. No need for anything.. Enjoy...

NO3 · 03/26/2018, 11:25 AM

Ive got a 180 LOADED with huge LR. total weight prob around 1500lns i think the last time i dud calculations. Its in my morningroom with a crawlsoace underneath it.

The 16offcenter joists are running parallel with the tank...so im lucky to have one joist running underneath it.

I have the tank against an outside wall with prob one parallel joist.

>>>>The tank has been there full loaded now for about 6yrs. I keep looking at my floor toestrip molding to see if there is any sign on the floor DROOPING. No signs of any movement of the floor.

Im not a structual engineer but im pretty sure if your tank is tucked up against an outside wall the subfloor dispurses the weight across the 3/4" subflooring effectively. Corners to an outside wall are pretty sturdy and can take a lot if weight. Id be more concerned if it was in the midfle of the room.

You.msy want to call a place that sells WATERBEDS. im sure they know rheir stiff bc they woulld be luable for any 2nd floor waterbeds warping, drooping the floor

davocean · 03/26/2018, 12:35 PM

Well, waterbeds are a different animal, flexing is not such an issue as it is w/ glass for one, but two, the issue really is not whether or not it will hold, I have no doubt it will.

Really the issue is deflection, gradual sagging of joists over a span of time, especially being on a 2nd floor, this can result in problems, tile floors can crack and such should that happen.

I'm honestly wondering why that space was so overbuilt compared to typical floor framing.
It's almost like they expected something very heavy, like a jacuzzi tub or something.

To be perfectly honest, if it were my home I'd feel good as is, and I rarely say that this big on a 2nd floor,
Getting a confirmation from a structural engineer is almost more of a formality on this one, and of course being in the trade I'm used to shedding liability issues.

Not sure where to check in your area or where your area is, so other than google or asking around...

Jrambo88 · 03/26/2018, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

Well, waterbeds are a different animal, flexing is not such an issue as it is w/ glass for one, but two, the issue really is not whether or not it will hold, I have no doubt it will.

Really the issue is deflection, gradual sagging of joists over a span of time, especially being on a 2nd floor, this can result in problems, tile floors can crack and such should that happen.

I'm honestly wondering why that space was so overbuilt compared to typical floor framing.
It's almost like they expected something very heavy, like a jacuzzi tub or something.

To be perfectly honest, if it were my home I'd feel good as is, and I rarely say that this big on a 2nd floor,
Getting a confirmation from a structural engineer is almost more of a formality on this one, and of course being in the trade I'm used to shedding liability issues.

Not sure where to check in your area or where your area is, so other than google or asking around...

Well technically it’s the first floor, the floor below it is the basement. The support beam is there I think for two reasons, first the steps are on the other side so I’d imagine that the floor joists needed that to rest on, and also it’s close to the center of the house. I’m not sure why the beams are tripled up but I’m not complaining.

Lsufan · 03/26/2018, 05:57 PM

I think u are fine too. One thing I would do is if u have to shim the tank to get it level, make sure u shim ontop of the floor joists. U don’t want to only shim the front & back because all of the weight would be on the subfloor then tranfered to the joists. U want the weight to be transferred directly to the floor joists. Being your joists are on 10” centers it isn’t as big of a deal, but I would still make sure to do it that way.

I’m also a contractor but I have lived in Louisiana my entire life, so I’m not familiar with basements at all. We don’t have many basements around here. Having said that, I agree with Dave, It seems it is overbuilt from a typical floor framing. I havnt seen many floor plans that I wouldn’t recommend some kind of extra support for a tank that size.

shaginwagon13 · 03/28/2018, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

considering the risks, i would consult a licensed structural engineer. If you make a decent drawing of your floor joists and wall locations and take it to a structural engineer for a couple of hundred dollars you will get a professional analysis of your situation. You are looking at a load of 3500 lbs to 4000lbs.

+1

03/24/2018, 07:09 PM	#1
Jrambo88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Murcia' Posts: 465	Need advice on tank weight/floor So I bought a 220 for a really good price. I want to put it on my 2nd floor. The unfortunate thing is I cannot go horizontal across floor joists, it has to go with the floor joists. Here’s the good, the corner it’s going in, the length of the tank goes against a load bearing wall in the basement. The right side goes against an outer wall. The first two joists it sits on are single beams, the 3rd beam is tripled up. The beams are 2x10 and are spaced 10 inches apart. The beams span 8ft before resting on a support steel beam. What do you guys th8nk?

03/25/2018, 06:31 PM	#5
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	If what you described is correct, you are probably one of the few times I'd assume good and not needing any additional support, but, that's just an educated guess based on your description. Pics or plans would be needed for a true answer. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/25/2018, 07:12 PM	#9
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I would definitely get a structural engineer to look at it just to be sure __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

03/26/2018, 04:46 AM	#12
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Totally fine.. No need for anything.. Enjoy... __________________ Who me?

03/26/2018, 12:35 PM	#14
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Well, waterbeds are a different animal, flexing is not such an issue as it is w/ glass for one, but two, the issue really is not whether or not it will hold, I have no doubt it will. Really the issue is deflection, gradual sagging of joists over a span of time, especially being on a 2nd floor, this can result in problems, tile floors can crack and such should that happen. I'm honestly wondering why that space was so overbuilt compared to typical floor framing. It's almost like they expected something very heavy, like a jacuzzi tub or something. To be perfectly honest, if it were my home I'd feel good as is, and I rarely say that this big on a 2nd floor, Getting a confirmation from a structural engineer is almost more of a formality on this one, and of course being in the trade I'm used to shedding liability issues. Not sure where to check in your area or where your area is, so other than google or asking around... __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/24/2018, 07:23 PM	#2
BoisBlancBoy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 258	If you could post a few pictures of the location and show us what’s under it and location of th bearing walls/beams that would help a ton. But if I have the right visual you might be in good shape.

03/24/2018, 07:39 PM	#3
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	Personally, I think you'd be fine but it's easy for me to say since it's not my house. :P Assuming it's not some super tall 220G tank, that weight is going to be distributed along a pretty wide area. You're smarter than I am though. I'd just risk it and slowly feel it up and do a check on everything every once and a while. o_0

03/24/2018, 08:18 PM	#4
Jrambo88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Murcia' Posts: 465	It’s the standard 6x2x30”. I’ll have to get pictures tomorrow, but I’m thinking since it doesn’t span that far, only 8 ft until it gets to the steel beam that, that’s huge. I had a 125on it for years with no issues, but it’s now basically double the weight lol.

03/25/2018, 06:39 PM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Considering the risks, I would consult a licensed structural engineer. If you make a decent drawing of your floor joists and wall locations and take it to a structural engineer for a couple of hundred dollars you will get a professional analysis of your situation. You are looking at a load of 3500 lbs to 4000lbs.

03/25/2018, 07:14 PM	#10
Jrambo88 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Murcia' Posts: 465	What is the best way to find a structural engineer?

03/25/2018, 10:00 PM	#11
BoisBlancBoy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 258	I am also a contractor and buy your sketch I don’t foresee any issues. You have five 2x10 only spanning 8’ to carry that weight. It shouldn’t be an issue. Instead of a structural engineer you could even go to a lumber yard and talk with some of their people that deal with quotes. They have a good knowledge base of structural design and loads.

03/26/2018, 11:25 AM	#13
NO3 In Memoriam Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 269	Ive got a 180 LOADED with huge LR. total weight prob around 1500lns i think the last time i dud calculations. Its in my morningroom with a crawlsoace underneath it. The 16offcenter joists are running parallel with the tank...so im lucky to have one joist running underneath it. I have the tank against an outside wall with prob one parallel joist. >>>>The tank has been there full loaded now for about 6yrs. I keep looking at my floor toestrip molding to see if there is any sign on the floor DROOPING. No signs of any movement of the floor. Im not a structual engineer but im pretty sure if your tank is tucked up against an outside wall the subfloor dispurses the weight across the 3/4" subflooring effectively. Corners to an outside wall are pretty sturdy and can take a lot if weight. Id be more concerned if it was in the midfle of the room. You.msy want to call a place that sells WATERBEDS. im sure they know rheir stiff bc they woulld be luable for any 2nd floor waterbeds warping, drooping the floor

03/26/2018, 05:57 PM	#16
Lsufan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 1,410	I think u are fine too. One thing I would do is if u have to shim the tank to get it level, make sure u shim ontop of the floor joists. U don’t want to only shim the front & back because all of the weight would be on the subfloor then tranfered to the joists. U want the weight to be transferred directly to the floor joists. Being your joists are on 10” centers it isn’t as big of a deal, but I would still make sure to do it that way. I’m also a contractor but I have lived in Louisiana my entire life, so I’m not familiar with basements at all. We don’t have many basements around here. Having said that, I agree with Dave, It seems it is overbuilt from a typical floor framing. I havnt seen many floor plans that I wouldn’t recommend some kind of extra support for a tank that size.