Tank weight question...

[FlyTekk]

Hi I have a 120 gallon 60x18x26h tank. Its on a external wall. Meaning on the other side of that wall is another house completely, The neighbors house. And the tank is positioned so that its on multiple joist instead of sitting on just one joist or in between joists.

I got this tank due to space, once baby is older and her 15 pieces of equipment clear the living room I want to get the bigger 180 gallon. 72x24x24.

The 180 is 2" shorter and one foot longer which I hope gets the weight yet on another joist.

My question is will the 180 capture another joist or will the 180 be on same amount of joists as 120 meaning an even more stressed floor. To help with calculations the builders told me the joists are 16" apart from each other.

I tried doing this myself but I couldn't account for the size of the joists and the distance between.

 

[Pharoahsim]

Hey buddy' Try a stud finder. Amazon reviews for specifics. Might tell u exactly how many ur across... And, if u can look at the joists in the attic, you'll know the rest'

 

[albano]

To help with calculations the builders told me the joists are 16" apart from each other.

I tried doing this myself but I couldn't account for the size of the joists and the distance between.

The size of the joists and the distance between doesn't really matter... 16" apart means the distance center to center of each joist. Most tape measures are marked every 16"... If you can find one joist the next one should be exactly 16" away

 

[edd]

the 60" will sit on 4 beams and the 72 on 5. really more with weight distribution of floor and sub floor.
it would help if you know the lay out of whats under you, beam span, closets or any other load bearing wall.

 

[albano]

the 60" will sit on 4 beams and the 72 on 5.

Should...but could be only on 3 with 60" and on 4 with 72"

 

[FlyTekk]

Awesome. Now I can justify bugger tank. I'll tell the wife that I'm worried about the people downstairs. ;0).

I'll try stud finder today. Thanks.

Albano I pmed u about mp60. Lmk.

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[Adamc1303]

Is your house brick or frame? Even with the weight distributed equally the floor will sag with all that weight there all the time. What is under those joists? If there's a closet framed that would be great. If it's just framed as a closet and not load bearing I would re-frame it. However even supporting from under is tricky because you need to support weight all the way to the basement or the floor under will sag. When I purchased my house the guy had a 90 gallon on an exterior wall and the floor sagged like an 1.5" or even more. Give us more information like which story this tank will be on and what's underneath.

 

[FlyTekk]

Its on the 3rd floor. And its a frame house I guess. Not brick. Its a new construction. Underneath is a bedroom. And yes I think one end of the tank is on or around a closet underneath.

If its going to sag no matter what I rather get a 125 that way its over another joist but it's 500lbs less weight and 6" shorter.

So this means that everyone that has 180g have sagged floor?

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[Adamc1303]

Its on the 3rd floor. And its a frame house I guess. Not brick. Its a new construction. Underneath is a bedroom. And yes I think one end of the tank is on or around a closet underneath.

If its going to sag no matter what I rather get a 125 that way its over another joist but it's 500lbs less weight and 6" shorter.

So this means that everyone that has 180g have sagged floor?

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Not everyone. Allot of people have tanks in there basement. Allot of people have the tank over a load bearing wall which are usually built in a house on top of other load bearing walls to carry the wight to the basement or foundation. Also if you live in a building they are built like tanks (no pun intended) the buildings are metal frames with concrete so you can stick a large tank anywhere. Just make sure because you don't want the floor sagging weather it's your house or a rental.

 

[FlyTekk]

I thought the wall I chose. Was a load bearing wall. Its not a partition wall. Its an exterior wall.

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[Adamc1303]

Right exterior wall means that the beams are sitting on another exterior wall which carries the weight to the foundation. It's definitely better then just putting the tank in the middle of the house. Where do the other end of the beams go though? All the way to the other side of the house or is there a wall under them on the floor beneath? If there is something under them say 5 or 10 feet away it really helps hold the tank and the structure of your house. If say your house is 20 feet wide and you chose an exterior wall that has an open space ie: the widest and most open room in a house like a dining room or living room. Then it would be supported on one side (back of tank) but the front of the tank would really put a dent in the floor joists even on a new construction house built with new 2 x 8's or 2 x 10's. Just trying to help here man not crush a dream .....

 

[FlyTekk]

No, this is good stuff. Thanks for the info. That wall its on, continues down to ground floor. No basement. As for the front of tank I don't think its supported at all. Back sure is.

 

[Adamc1303]

So there is nothing in front of the tank all the way to the other end of the house on the floor beneath you?

 

[FlyTekk]

I don't understand. What could possibly exsist in the floor beneath the tank that stretches from front of tank all the way to the other side of house?

 

[Adamc1303]

Meaning the apartment under you. What does there layout look like? Do they have a wall that crosses the joists? The joists typically go the width of the house. Do they have a wall that goes the length of the house in their apartment?

 

[FlyTekk]

Ahh yes. One side of the tank (the right side) is over a or almost over a closet. That wall with closet runs the length of the house. With 2 doorways cut into it of course.

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[Adamc1303]

That should help. Any thing in front of the tank?

 

[FlyTekk]

Under the tank is a small bedroom. I thought the walls that run the length of that floor were all partition walls. I thought they didn't count for anything.

 

[FlyTekk]

Hey i actually posted these in wrong thread. This is right place. Here are pics of my house during building process.

 

[masterswimmer]

I made some notes on the picture. Just my $.02