Checking floor strength

[deadmansfinger]

Hi,
I am a long-term fish keeper currently without any fish since a house move just over 2 years ago. I am looking at installing a largish tank end of 2018 in a ground floor extension at the rear of our house but I am unsure if the floor will take the weight as the extension was built by the previous owners.
Short of lifting the floor is there any way of checking if it would be structurally capable of supporting a large tank?

Ideally I would like a 7'x3x'2' aquarium with sump. My fishkeeping tastes are quite simple and I plan to have a shoal of perhaps 6 bala sharks and a couple of plecs. I want to add them as small as possible and watch them grow into the tank.

Can any of you recommend any UK manufactures of large tanks. I have been looking at NDAquatics and DC Aquariums so far.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

You could try adding weight to the floor a couple hundred pounds at a time until it fails and then rebuild it the same way. Alternatively, here in the states additions like that usually have plans filed at the courthouse that are reviewable. Barring that maybe local building inspectors can tell you.

 

[skjl47]

Short of lifting the floor is there any way of checking if it would be structurally capable of supporting a large tank?

Hello; The likely best thing to do is hire a structural engineer or experienced construction contractor and have them takes a look at the actual structure.

If it is a slab of cement you may be good to go. Will depend on how thick the cement is, the quality of the cement and things like the re-bar inside. While a slab is likely to be good enough, they are not all made alike and strong.

If the floor is made of wood there should be a basement or a crawl space. That is where you or the professional you hire will have to go to see how the structure is put together. If a basement the process of reinforcing a floor is a lot easier. A crawl space can be real hard to work in.
We here at a distance cannot tell you much. Pictures under the floor might give a clue, but my take is you need someone with knowledge to have an actual look see.

Good luck

 

[deadmansfinger]

Thanks for the replies. I am sure its a wooden floor. Looks like I may need a professional to take a look though.