Determining floor/joist weight capacity

newreefer_59 · #1 11-14-2008, 03:29 PM

Just wanting to know if any of you consulted an engineer or other 'knowing' person in determining the floor and/or joist weight capacity that will support my tank. Given that my 148 gallon tank will weigh I guess between 1600-2000 pounds, I woud like it to remain on my main floor as opposed to in the basement....lol.

I have talked with the home builder as well as an engineering firm, but they all pass it off to someone who doesn't return phone calls. Any advise appreciated.

superduperwesman · #2 11-14-2008, 03:34 PM

Just do it... if it has to be in the basement it'll get there

sphelps · #3 11-14-2008, 03:50 PM

Against a load bearing wall and perpendicular to floor joints and you should be fine. is it a 6 foot tank? The more joists you can line up under the tank the better, and avoid using a large sump or plumb it into the basement. You can also attach the stand to the wall for extra support but if the tank is on a softer floor fill the tank first prior to mounting.

newreefer_59 · #4 11-14-2008, 05:46 PM

It is about a foot from a load bearing beam and about 40% of it is riding over 3 perpendicular joists. Those two facts I like. Where my concern lies is the other 60% of the aquarium is over a single parallel joist that attaches to the perpendicular one. Kinda hard to describe. Can I scan a drawing and display it here?

Oh, and the tank is 2'x5' with sump already plumbed in under the tank.

Trigger Man · #5 11-14-2008, 06:04 PM

So is the actual display tank 148g, or is the tank and sump 148g. For added support and weight distribution you can also put a plywood sheet under the stand. I am also assuming that since you talked to your builder your house is a newer home so it would probably have silent flooring which include I beams. (these beams take a lot more weight) My tank is 5 feet long and with sump it is around 150 g. My house is a newer home and the tank is a foot and a bit from the side weight bearing wall. The tank goes towards the center of the home, and is near the middle of the room. I have had the tank there with no problems for over 2 years, and I've had the house packed with people and no body or tank has gone through the floor, so I would guess you are alright). When I was trying to get an answer about what a Joist could take I was told that each joist (if I-joist) could take around 7-800 pounds. Hope this helps.

sphelps · #6 11-14-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newreefer_59

It is about a foot from a load bearing beam and about 40% of it is riding over 3 perpendicular joists. Those two facts I like. Where my concern lies is the other 60% of the aquarium is over a single parallel joist that attaches to the perpendicular one. Kinda hard to describe. Can I scan a drawing and display it here?

Oh, and the tank is 2'x5' with sump already plumbed in under the tank.

That's starting to sound a little risky and I can't give a professional opinion and you won't likely get one here. There's no doubt the floor will hold but what happens when you have a party and all your guests crowd around the one side?

The tank weight should be evenly distributed, lengthwise across a load bearing structure and perpendicular to floor joists. Other scenarios are harder to analyze and you'll likely need to send drawings in or have it professionally evaluated to get a correct answer.

hummer · #7 11-14-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps

There's no doubt the floor will hold but what happens when you have a party and all your guests crowd around the one side?

My builder told me the floor is suppose to support a heavy load. But I got them to reenforce the joists under the tank just to be extra safe.
I have a 90Gal on Hardwood floors. I had a party last week and people were jumping around the tank. Playing some sort of pictionary type game. I saw the tank swaying. I had to stop them from jumping close to the tank cuz it probably would have tipped.

newreefer_59 · #8 11-14-2008, 07:40 PM

I am getting some great responses here. To answer Triggerman: The actual tank is 60X24X24, so without anything but water, it is 148 gallon PLUS a 56 gallon sump under it that would be half full I imagine at any given time. There is already a 3/4 " sheet of plywood under it and the joists are 12" I-Beams. There would not be any major partying around it as it is in a library type room and against one wall as well. I will attach a drawing.

sphelps · #9 11-14-2008, 08:02 PM

Your 12" I-Beams, is that a steel beam I-beam or just a wood beam? If it's an I-beam do you know the designation? Same question for the "load bearing beam". For example W12x40.

I don't like the way it sits, I guess you can't have the tank sit centered over the two "I-joists"? As it stands you may get a titer-totter effect.

I'm not a structural engineer and I don't have the full picture but your floor support looks really strange to me, does that pass inspection these days?

newreefer_59 · #10 11-14-2008, 08:14 PM

The drawing I made is to scale, and no, I cannot move the tank any further so that the double joist is in the middle

What the drawing does not show is the 2 joists drawn that sit on the outside concrete wall actually extend about 2 feet farther out as the house juts out there - originally intended for a dining room.

The beams are wood and unsure of the designation, but could check.