1000 Gallon tank engineering considerations

[TheHackfish]

Hi everyone, I am considering the purchase of a 1000 gallon tank and wanted to get some input on the structural considerations. I'm considering having a structural engineer visit and review the plan but everyone is booked up and it's about $600 minimum just for a visit.

The tank will either go on a slab in my sun room, or through the wall 1/3 in the living room 2/3 in the sun room. The latter is my favorite plan. The living room and rest of the house are on a crawlspace. The main problem I am considering is if the 10000lb+ of the tank and sumps might cause the slab to settle and then potentially crack the house foundation wall. It's roughly a 70 year old house with no major settlement issues on the foundation, but some good amount of settling on the opposite corner of the slab to where the tank will go has occurred (1.5" across 14'). The part where the tank will go is the high spot on the slab


Anyway, wondered if anyone had thoughts or input, thanks

 

[esoxlucius]

It's obvious from your first paragraph that you are fully aware of what's needed here to progress with this huge project. That is a professional to come in, assess the whole situation, and then follow his recommendations. This route will give you peace of mind.

It would be extremely remiss of us on here to just blindly advise you, it would be just plain and simple guess work, which is certainly what this project doesn't warrant.

When you do get the go ahead though be sure to do a build thread. I wish you luck.

 

[Backfromthedead]

1000 gallon tank? I won't touch this with a stick. If you're in doubt I would say that professional consultation is needed as you already suspect. Best of luck moving forward.

 

[celebrist]

Yes get the professional for sure

Also a build thread here would be required as well

 

[Gpdriftwood]

I have been a contractor for almost 15yrs. You definitely want a professional to look at your situation before putting that much weight on a foundation wall. 4 tons is a lot of weight on a small area. As esoxlucius said, peace of mind is everything with a serious tank. $600 for a consultation is ridiculous though. I would shop around there.

 

[TheHackfish]

I have been a contractor for almost 15yrs. You definitely want a professional to look at your situation before putting that much weight on a foundation wall. 4 tons is a lot of weight on a small area. As esoxlucius said, peace of mind is everything with a serious tank. $600 for a consultation is ridiculous though. I would shop around there.

Thanks I really appreciate the input. Unfortunately I live in California so everything is ridiculous here haha. I'm trying to see if any of my friends have a hookup or maybe a local fish friend

 

[nzafi]

Do you have access to view the foundation at all? My tank is much smaller at 535g but my home is a split level. I can view the thickness of the cement foundation from the unfinished part of the basement.

My concern with some of these professionals is so that they will be extremely conservative because they don’t want to be liable.

 

[TheHackfish]

Do you have access to view the foundation at all? My tank is much smaller at 535g but my home is a split level. I can view the thickness of the cement foundation from the unfinished part of the basement.

My concern with some of these professionals is so that they will be extremely conservative because they don’t want to be liable.

That's a good point. Yes I can access the crawlspace and my next to do is to dig up next to the sunroom slab and check the thickness

 

[fishdance]

4 tonne on a concrete slab is not considered exessive at all but it does depend on the surface area and whether the slab was made to building code.

You mention there has been slab movement where the tank will go? A structural inspection would involve soil tests/drilling as well as the thickness of concrete. And if deemed insufficient you would then have to reinforce the slab.

I would reinforce the slab instead. Might as well save the inspection fee and get more peace of mind.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Agree with fishdance. Normally the slab would hold it with no issue, but the fact yours has shifted over the years could indicate a subgrade issue, possibly saturation from poor drainage or even a tunneling varmint problem.