Can my floor support a 375 Gallon tank?
- Thread starter brendon7358
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An engineer or an architect would tell you that they wouldn't answer that question without going to see the floor.
Each of them would also tell you that they would be unable to advise you on what might be adequate support to add to ensure the floor won't suffer damage...
Why not?
1) to see if there's wood rot, termites, or other wood pests
2) to see if there was poor construction materials or methods, or intentional damage
3) to see if the foundation would support the load
4) to see if that part of the house has inadequate support for the load
5) to recommend precise remediation that is adequate and properly costed
If it were me, I'd get a pro to come look at the floor and the foundation and write up a plan. Especially since that would cost a tiny, tiny fraction of what a partially collapsed floor would cost.
Keep in mind as well, that an insurance company might refuse to cover the damage, if it's based on unreasonable acts that include not asking professional advice. Indeed, asking for pro advice and following a plan might be the best thing to have if you have to make a claim.
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What I would do is patio stones on the dirt (thick ones) with short jack posts with 2x6 runners like shown above
put solid 4 inch thick cement blocks on the floor. try to make them sit level. add 2x6 like i showed you. then cut the correct sized 4x4 and tap them into place. easy as pie.
if you are worried about moisture add some plastic under the block.
Google the ESR 1153 code on the side. Also is there any other info on the joist?
Hello; A rough estimate for a large tank might be 10 to 12+ pounds per gallon. This can vary with the type of stand and the stuff you put in the tank.
A 375 gallon tank can be 3,750 to 4,500 pounds or perhaps even more.
From reading your posts it is my guess you have little construction experience. You also indicate the need to sit the tank parallel on the floor joists. From the photos the joists are the engineered type. My guess being the floor will need to be reinforced and that it will be a hard job due to the tight crawl space.
Here is the web address of an article that talks about the issue. I strongly suggest you read this. I also strongly suggest you get a professional to look at the house structure. That "good" price on a tank will not matter when the floor begins to sag if the tank and other stuff turns out to be too heavy.
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html
My take is that the question can only be answered by someone with knowledge of structure actually having a look to see what you have and what condition it is in. There have been posts (a link follows) describing damage from tanks from time to time, so it does happen.
In case some missed this thread a while back here is a link to it. A look at the pictures should give pause, they did for me.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-out-there-Question-about-reinforcing-a-floor
Good luck
A 375 gallon tank can be 3,750 to 4,500 pounds or perhaps even more.
From reading your posts it is my guess you have little construction experience. You also indicate the need to sit the tank parallel on the floor joists. From the photos the joists are the engineered type. My guess being the floor will need to be reinforced and that it will be a hard job due to the tight crawl space.
Here is the web address of an article that talks about the issue. I strongly suggest you read this. I also strongly suggest you get a professional to look at the house structure. That "good" price on a tank will not matter when the floor begins to sag if the tank and other stuff turns out to be too heavy.
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html
My take is that the question can only be answered by someone with knowledge of structure actually having a look to see what you have and what condition it is in. There have been posts (a link follows) describing damage from tanks from time to time, so it does happen.
In case some missed this thread a while back here is a link to it. A look at the pictures should give pause, they did for me.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-out-there-Question-about-reinforcing-a-floor
Good luck
I will read the article, the tank will be perpendicular not parallel. Who would I call do have an inspection? How much would that cost? Thanks!
Hello; Perpendicular is better as the weight will be spread out over several joists so that is good.
The likely "best" professional to call will be a structural engineer, but cost may be out of reason. Also getting an engineer to crawl under the floor might be tricky. An experienced contractor may turn out to be the more practical choice and such a contractor will likely know enough. Who ever it is " must" be willing to get under there and have a good look. I do not have an idea on the cost as I am dumb enough to be a DIY'er.
Putting the tank in a corner can also be a good place if it is near an outside corner of the house. That would put the weight close to a foundation wall on two sides and not much distance out on the joists.
If it is a corner of a room in the interior of the house = not so good as it may be toward the center of the joist where it is much weaker.
Here is a thought. If you decide to avoid the hassle of pouring a footer where the floor supports need to go, then consider some sort of adjustable floor jack.
Say you just set some blocks on the dirt and add some posts to catch the weight. Over time the blocks can settle into the dirt. There are lolly posts with adjustments. There are screw jacks. I suppose even an arrangement of wedges might have some future capacity to be driven and thus be kept tight.
Also keep in mind that damage does not have to be a major failure to be very expensive. A floor that just sags a few inches is still a big repair.
Good luck
