wood floor support question....

[FlyTekk]

Hey guys quick question, i found the way my joist run in potential attic turned fish room. if the tank is only 4' long. But room is 10' long. What can i use under the tank to spread the weight across the 10' span of the room covering more joists. I saw some 8'-10' long 4x4... 2x6... 2x8... 2x10... Also 3/4" plywood sheets?

Any other suggestions.

 

[edd]

attics are not made as living space. i would check dimensions of joists.

 

[FlyTekk]

Its not really an attic. Its a "bonus room" I knew i shouldnt have mentioned that. Joist are 2x8 or 2x10 which are really 1.5" not 2. and they are 20" apart from center. In a 10' foot room just looking to throw something strong that wont bend across the whole 10' too catch as many joists if not all of them.

 

[edd]

2 bies are all 1.5"
most joists are 16 on center with 20 your only going to catch 2.
plywood doesn't have much streghth horizontally.
i think you would need 2x6 or 2x8, make a platform then make a short stand for the tank.

 

[FlyTekk]

Thanks edd, my regular floors are 16 on center. But this room being bonus room on top level is 20 on center. And yes im worried to catch only 2 joists. 5-6 would be nice over 10'.

Ill do 2x8 no problem. But just out of curiosity would 4x4 be same as 2x8?

Can i lay 2x8 flat or do i have to stand them, then brace them together?

 

[duke62]

^+1 . I don't think you would have a Problem catching 2 joists as long as it's centered but if you feel uncomfortable what edd said would be the way to go. I would be more concerned about the heat in a attic (bonus room )

 

[FlyTekk]

Hey duke i posted something a minute before you did.

 

[edd]

2x8 won't have much strength laying flat, you would have to stand them on end, then cover with ply wood.
but as duke mentioned, if you catch 2 it might be enough depending on gallons/weight.

 

[FlyTekk]

Duke: No heat up there, central air through out whole house. It is a few degrees warmer but not HOT.

Edd: This is for a 60g 48x24x12h for deep blue. But eventually i want a custom by reefoman thats 72x24x12h so im trying to future proof myself. If the reefoman custom is to big im willing to go to 71x23x10h minimum.

What do ya think about those 3 setups will they all be ok?

 

[ReefnQueens]

How many gallons is the tank , are there any walls that run perpendicular to the joists downstairs that would bare the weight, I def wouldn't put that weight just on 2 2x8s and definitely not on 2 2x6s..... Unless it is right up against a wall that is supported below but I don't know what kind of roof you have or how the attic is built"........putting all that to the side your bigger issue would be dealing with temperature it's either gonna be too hot or too cold most of the time , are there roof vents up there , do you want that kind of humidity in the attic?

 

[FlyTekk]

Reefnqueen i posted answers to ur questions right before u posted. There are no radical temperatures in this room folks.

 

[usctom]

I wouldn't worry with frag tanks. Now if you were talking about 30" and up height then I'd start to worry about the floor.

 

[TUSI]

My suggestion being that I build houses for a living is forget what you got run double micro lam beams under the width of the tank and have the legs sit on them. If you have 2x8 then you can run two 1 3/4 x 7 1/2 on 10' span then double layer 3/4" plywood the whole floor and you will be fine. What you have is not strong enough to hold the weight from deflecting the floor beams and eventually you end up having problems with tank possibly leaking.

 

[FlyTekk]

These double lam beams... Are they going over my carpet or are u asking me to remove carpet, sub floor and modify the construction of this house? I dont know anything about building and construction.

And just so i understand 60g tank will deflect my floor? 600lbs spread across 5-6 joists?

 

[TUSI]

Yes that will be the best way so the whole floor then work as one. The minimum load requirements I believe is 60lb per sq inch

 

[FlyTekk]

i thought weather i laid down 10' beams over the joist or under the joist it would still put all joist under same pressure therefor forcing them to work together.

 

[FlyTekk]

So i seem to have a difference of opinion here. Some guys saying i should be okay others saying not so fast. Anyone else?