the basement ceiling is finished, and the basement is occupied.

just to clarify, if by some chance i were able to upgrade the joists...
would that mean i would have to rip open the basement ceiling and walls?

sounds like i'm doomed to keeping a 40 breeder. :rolleyes:

yes.

but there are ways to minimize the effect depending on the layout under where you want to keep the tank.

Steve

Sure :smile:

If you have a forced air heating system, take off a cold air return and you'll be able to determine both the size and direction of the joists.


2 x 6's are usually used for stair landings and SMALL outside decks.
An old house will NOT have 2 x 6's in the walls, unless it's a reno.

I can look up some span tables for you, but that's not really reliable, just a guideline.

3000 lbs in the middle of a floor?...no.
3000 lbs on or near a load bearing wall? ....a definite maybe.

Mitch

hey shao that room your planning on putting your tank in? carpet? hardwood? if its carpet then theres your excuse of ripping it out install your new joist and put hardwood flooring
my 2cents
=o)

the house is 40ish yrs old, its not a reno.
hopefully the joists will be bigger then whats stated on the drafting.

the floors are hardwood. but nice try tho!

tough luck to add those joist you'll gon have to open up the basement
wonder if you can put 2"x10"s underneath your stand have it running perpendicular against the joist? nm its gon look gay

Here's a good link for floor joist loads and span tables:

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publicat...an_tables.html

HTH,
Mitch

a ray of hope?!?!?

looking over the house drawings again...

in all previous refernces, info was taken from the drawing of the main floor, which indicate 2x6" joists...

now, in looking at the drawing for the basement, they all state 2x10" joists...

in talking with my dad, he is quite certain that when he was working in the basement that the joists were most definitely larger than 2x6".

when i move i think the first thing i will check is the joists!

but from this revelation, could it mean, the joists mentioned on the main floor drawing refers to the joists in the rafters/roof/ceiling of the main floor?

and the joists mentioned on the basement drawing would refer to the joists in the ceiling of the basement, which would be the floor of the main floor, which means i can keep my 180! and maybe even go bigger!!!!

i hope i got it straight now! cuz that would be awesome!

you could probably keep your 180 if you ran perpendicular to the joists.

Honestly, I cant see how any house would be built with 2x6's as floor joists. Arent they always at least 2x10? They were when I was working construction for 2 summers back in high school...

probably?!?!?!?

hmmmm.... i guess i might have to do floor upgrades still.

or just settle for a smaller tank.

heh, even if the floor could handle it, i dont even know where on the main floor a big tank would look nice.