Advice needed on weight bearing on wooden floor

animan · 02/07/2016, 04:30 PM

Hi,

I am interested in replacing my existing 16gallon AIO tank with a 34gallon tank with sump (total 43 gallons).

The total weight of new system including cabinet provided by manufacturer is 595lbs. Not sure what my existing system weighs, but I would estimate around 170lbs.

The systems is going into a study on the 1st floor with wooden floors. A big 6x2.5 desk is next to the aquarium and together they cover 60% of width of a wall. Room size is 12x12. The wall is an inside wall, which I believe is load bearing, but cannot cofirm.

Need some advice from folks knowledgeable in this area, if it is ok to get the tank.

Thanks in advance.

JL.Chev · 02/07/2016, 04:46 PM

600 lbs is really nothing. Its like 3 big guys standing there. If the tank is against the wall there will be plenty of support. The only times i would think about structural support would be with 100+ g aquariums on higher levels. With the house were building we craned up full loads of mdf and osb sheeting and stacked them over top of a load bearing wall. They likely weighed 8,000 lbs

Is there a basement underneath?

animan · 02/07/2016, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL.Chev

600 lbs is really nothing. Its like 3 big guys standing there. If the tank is against the wall there will be plenty of support. The only times i would think about structural support would be with 100+ g aquariums on higher levels. With the house were building we craned up full loads of mdf and osb sheeting and stacked them over top of a load bearing wall. They likely weighed 8,000 lbs

Is there a basement underneath?

Thanks for the response.... no basement just a crawl space. I have seen the sub floor, it is basically made up of wooden planks on the beams. It is a 50-60 yr old house. The hardwood floor is new, is on top of the subfloor with plywood sheet in between.

So no problems with 600lbs load?

BTW, we have a front loading washer with the dryer stacked on top, which probably weights around 500-600lbs with no issues.

A.Astore · 02/07/2016, 05:49 PM

Are the joists running perpendicular to how the tank will sit or parallel? If you are spreading your weight over multiple joists it would definitely be less of a burden to the support system. My 150 gallon plus sump, cabinet, and rock required a single sister joist to be placed (we had a structural engineer come evaluate it) and it is in a new build. We also have the tank perpendicular to the joists on an outside wall.

I would at least make sure that the desk and tank are supported by multiple joists rather than sitting all on the one (maybe catching two). Assuming it is a load bearing wall it should be situated with them perpendicular but make sure so you don't end up with a bowing joist that needs to be strengthened later.

animan · 02/07/2016, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A.Astore

Are the joists running perpendicular to how the tank will sit or parallel? If you are spreading your weight over multiple joists it would definitely be less of a burden to the support system. My 150 gallon plus sump, cabinet, and rock required a single sister joist to be placed (we had a structural engineer come evaluate it) and it is in a new build. We also have the tank perpendicular to the joists on an outside wall.

I would at least make sure that the desk and tank are supported by multiple joists rather than sitting all on the one (maybe catching two). Assuming it is a load bearing wall it should be situated with them perpendicular but make sure so you don't end up with a bowing joist that needs to be strengthened later.

Hi A. Astore,

Thanks for the suggestion. I did crawl down to check it out, and it looks like the main 2x6 joists are parallel to the tank, and the sub-floor planks are perpendicular to the tank. The joists are placed 1 foot apart so the tank would sit on wall joist + another one.

But the good thing is, that there is a massive support joist right in the middle of the room running perpendicular to the tank. This would be right in between the desk and the tank.

What do you think, would it be ok?

Thanks again.

A.Astore · 02/07/2016, 07:49 PM

So because of the large support beam running there is the span of the 2x6 on each side only like 6 feet? I have 2x10s and they have a span of 13 feet. They were also supporting a portion of the island in the kitchen as well.

I would say you should be okay but it is weight that will be stationary. Do you have a nail gun? It took like 15 minutes to get two joists sistered. I would just worry because of them being 2x6s but I tend to focus on the what ifs. I think the worst case would be you start to have a bow. over time. Placing a sister joist helps to stiffen the original joist.

BrianKC · 02/07/2016, 07:56 PM

I agree with an earlier point; weight would never even cross my mind with a 34g tank. Especially since you're on a wall with two joists under the tank. I over-engineered when I had my 180 and put two floor jacks under it, but for a 34 I would worry about a lot of other things before I worried about the weight.

(I am not a structural engineer. My advice is worth what you paid for it)

BrianKC · 02/07/2016, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL.Chev

600 lbs is really nothing. Its like 3 big guys standing there. If the tank is against the wall there will be plenty of support. The only times i would think about structural support would be with 100+ g aquariums on higher levels. With the house were building we craned up full loads of mdf and osb sheeting and stacked them over top of a load bearing wall. They likely weighed 8,000 lbs

Is there a basement underneath?

Agreed. Though, here in America, it's like two big guys. Three regularish guys.

albano · 02/07/2016, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianKC

Agreed. Though, here in America, it's like two big guys. Three regularish guys.

Yeah, so remember, don't invite those guys over to look at the tank while doing jumping jacks!

dforlenza · 02/07/2016, 09:26 PM

You should be fine with those tanks... you really need to consider strucural integrity of the floor and structure when you start pushing 1,000 pounds. That is when getting the opinion of an engineer would br prudent. Screwing in some sister joists wont hurt anything, but not nessicary.

i am having an extension put on the house this spring, and I am having support and pluming for a new tank worked into it. I am hoping for a 180 in the future, but realiticly going to upgrade to a 90. having it worked in and supported was probably over kill, but I'm a fan of over kill. with that said though, I have a 14 gallon bio cube on top of a 2x4 framed, cedar shethed dresser with no issue; which seemed questionable when I first put it there.

animan · 02/07/2016, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

Yeah, so remember, don't invite those guys over to look at the tank while doing jumping jacks!

Haha!!

animan · 02/07/2016, 09:49 PM

Thanks for all the inputs guys!! Really appreciate your help.
I ended up ordering the tank since the sale was ending... actually it ended yesterday, but I had it in my cart and it was accepted.

From all the inputs received I think I am good to go. Will check out the sister bracing option as well.

Thanks!

chilli_reef · 02/07/2016, 09:56 PM

Your fine.....

Johnic · 02/07/2016, 11:13 PM

Floor joist are designed for dead load and live load. Your tank is considered "dead load" and each joist is calculated for both which is typically combined.
Parallel is not ideal but it all depends upon the unsupported span and where the load sits on the joist (mid span etc.). If you can access the joist, it can't hurt to sister it to prevent deflection.
Check out the section of the building code below.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/ic..._23_par160.htm

02/07/2016, 04:30 PM	#1
animan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 124	Advice needed on weight bearing on wooden floor Hi, I am interested in replacing my existing 16gallon AIO tank with a 34gallon tank with sump (total 43 gallons). The total weight of new system including cabinet provided by manufacturer is 595lbs. Not sure what my existing system weighs, but I would estimate around 170lbs. The systems is going into a study on the 1st floor with wooden floors. A big 6x2.5 desk is next to the aquarium and together they cover 60% of width of a wall. Room size is 12x12. The wall is an inside wall, which I believe is load bearing, but cannot cofirm. Need some advice from folks knowledgeable in this area, if it is ok to get the tank. Thanks in advance.

02/07/2016, 09:26 PM	#10
dforlenza Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Mattituck (Long Island), NY Posts: 38	You should be fine with those tanks... you really need to consider strucural integrity of the floor and structure when you start pushing 1,000 pounds. That is when getting the opinion of an engineer would br prudent. Screwing in some sister joists wont hurt anything, but not nessicary. i am having an extension put on the house this spring, and I am having support and pluming for a new tank worked into it. I am hoping for a 180 in the future, but realiticly going to upgrade to a 90. having it worked in and supported was probably over kill, but I'm a fan of over kill. with that said though, I have a 14 gallon bio cube on top of a 2x4 framed, cedar shethed dresser with no issue; which seemed questionable when I first put it there. __________________ If someone wrote a book about your life, would anyone want to read it? Current Tank Info: 55 gallon fowlr tank, 14 gallon Biocube.

02/07/2016, 09:56 PM	#13
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	Your fine..... __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.

02/07/2016, 11:13 PM	#14
Johnic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,092	Floor joist are designed for dead load and live load. Your tank is considered "dead load" and each joist is calculated for both which is typically combined. Parallel is not ideal but it all depends upon the unsupported span and where the load sits on the joist (mid span etc.). If you can access the joist, it can't hurt to sister it to prevent deflection. Check out the section of the building code below. http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/ic..._23_par160.htm __________________ 75 Lee Mar Peninsula Tank, Reef Octo Elite 150, Custom Advanced Acrylic Sump, (2) MP40, Vectra M2 Main Pump, (2) XR15 Pro, Clear Water ATS CW-50, Alkatronic,GHL Doser 2.1, Apex Neptune El with Trident

02/07/2016, 04:46 PM	#2
JL.Chev Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 44	600 lbs is really nothing. Its like 3 big guys standing there. If the tank is against the wall there will be plenty of support. The only times i would think about structural support would be with 100+ g aquariums on higher levels. With the house were building we craned up full loads of mdf and osb sheeting and stacked them over top of a load bearing wall. They likely weighed 8,000 lbs Is there a basement underneath?

02/07/2016, 05:49 PM	#4
A.Astore Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Waynesboro, VA Posts: 418	Are the joists running perpendicular to how the tank will sit or parallel? If you are spreading your weight over multiple joists it would definitely be less of a burden to the support system. My 150 gallon plus sump, cabinet, and rock required a single sister joist to be placed (we had a structural engineer come evaluate it) and it is in a new build. We also have the tank perpendicular to the joists on an outside wall. I would at least make sure that the desk and tank are supported by multiple joists rather than sitting all on the one (maybe catching two). Assuming it is a load bearing wall it should be situated with them perpendicular but make sure so you don't end up with a bowing joist that needs to be strengthened later.

02/07/2016, 07:49 PM	#6
A.Astore Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Waynesboro, VA Posts: 418	So because of the large support beam running there is the span of the 2x6 on each side only like 6 feet? I have 2x10s and they have a span of 13 feet. They were also supporting a portion of the island in the kitchen as well. I would say you should be okay but it is weight that will be stationary. Do you have a nail gun? It took like 15 minutes to get two joists sistered. I would just worry because of them being 2x6s but I tend to focus on the what ifs. I think the worst case would be you start to have a bow. over time. Placing a sister joist helps to stiffen the original joist.

02/07/2016, 07:56 PM	#7
BrianKC Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 388	I agree with an earlier point; weight would never even cross my mind with a 34g tank. Especially since you're on a wall with two joists under the tank. I over-engineered when I had my 180 and put two floor jacks under it, but for a 34 I would worry about a lot of other things before I worried about the weight. (I am not a structural engineer. My advice is worth what you paid for it)

02/07/2016, 09:49 PM	#12
animan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 124	Thanks for all the inputs guys!! Really appreciate your help. I ended up ordering the tank since the sale was ending... actually it ended yesterday, but I had it in my cart and it was accepted. From all the inputs received I think I am good to go. Will check out the sister bracing option as well. Thanks!