Help with Floor reinforcement

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
D

Denominator

Gambusia
MFK Member
Aug 28, 2008
157
0
16
Close by..
I think I should go under the crawl space and do some reinforcement in case anything happens..It's not my house. I am only renting.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to reinforce my floor so it doesn't move or break?? Any links perhaps?

Some say I don't need to do this because it's only a 200 gallon tank and some say I need to. What do you think? Suggestions would be very helpful.

I have no knowledge or any ideas on how to do so, and money is an issue.
Whatever is cheapest is what I will do.

Thanks in advance!
 
Welcome to MFK. A Cheap way out would be 4x4s used for beams and posts. I would recommend checking underneath, take a couple pics to show us. We can go from there.
 
You 'should' be okay just make sure the stands edges is sitting on floor joists, go under the house and check out where they are, so you may get an idea. ........but pics will help, depends on what they used under the floor really.
Also be sure to level it really good.

I know people that had 200 gallons on a second floor.

Oh and welcome to MFK!
 
Hard to say without knowing what condition it is in. Assuming it is structurally sound there really should be no requirement to reinforce anything. Like Chemicall said make sure it is sitting on the floor joists, but ensure it sits perpendicular to the joists rather than parallel with them. That way it will sit across multiple joists rather than the one or two.
 
I use a pole jack to support an 8 by 8 that runs across the joists on anything over 180 gallons.

Pole jack and wood should run you less than $50.
 
DB Junkie~~I was thinking of something like that but I was afraid that the polejack or whatever that is would sink in the dirt.. (i'm not sure if this is even true.. I'm clueless)
Where would I get this Pole Jack from and what am I looking to spend?


Vicdeedee~~There is no basement and yes I can get underneath there.


MFK Friends~~Thank you all for greeting me! Very much appreciated! I will try and get some pictures up soon.
 
vicdeedee;2648014; said:
how old is the house and can you see what the exicisting floor joits are ie/ 2x6 2x8 2x10 or engenerred?
Click to expand...

The house is my guess less than 25 years old. And I'm not sure about what it looks like underneath. I will look into it after work.

In the mean time I have to get ready for work now. I might be able to talk while at work.

Hopefully I will be back on later this evening at about 5-6pm West Coast time. Right now its 7am here.

I appreciate everyone wanting to help answer my questions.
 
i think your tank would be fine. but there is nothing wrong w/ extra bracing. i would go to home depot and pick up some 4x4 fence posts. they are generally rough cut and not always strait, so u can most likely pick them up in 8' lengths for only a couple bux a piece. run them perpendicular to the existing floor joists.

if your tank is running parallel to the floor joists, support each end of the tank w/ a 4x4 that spans beyond the width of the tank to the next joist. one brace from the center of these cross members would surely be enough support, but two would make for a stand alone structure....if that makes u feel better.

if your tank is running perpendicular to the floor joists...its most likely fine. for extra support you could run a 4x4 the length of the tank (perpendicular to the joists) and support it in the middle, or on the ends.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom