Floor - To brace or not to brace??

[Ryancw]

the fact that the place i've chosen for my tank bugs me that its running parallel with joists with only one landing beneath. There are two solid beams beneath either end of the joist only 6 feet apart from one another, but the tank itself is only 5' long and resting over one of the beams at one end.

I'm leaning towards adding a second laminated 2x6 beam under the other side of the tank.... am i worrying too much? I've calculated the whole system weighing in at around ~1400lbs

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag434/ryanwoolrich66/IMAG0370gg_zpsafe04993.jpg (http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/ryanwoolrich66/media/IMAG0370gg_zpsafe04993.jpg.html)
http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag434/ryanwoolrich66/IMAG0372_zps8b5b4d40.jpg (http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/ryanwoolrich66/media/IMAG0372_zps8b5b4d40.jpg.html)

[monza]

I'd guess you'd be fine, but I'd do what your thinking, more is better in this situation. Laminated beam is a great choice where your blue line is. Not knowing what else is I that lower room but a telescoping jack pole in the centre of the laminated joist would be real easy and very solid.

[Ryancw]

thanks for reply, The joist is centered on a hallway

[mark]

6' span and tank is already over a beam, would seem you're good.

[mattr]

not sure if you can see a model number for the beam. If you google it and go to the company website they show everything about it. how much of a load you can have on it.

[gregzz4]

Are we looking at multiple floors here ?
I can't tell as it looks like an elevator shaft :wink:

Are pictures 1 and 2 basically the same location ?

If so, what's the measurement from the wall to the inside edge of the left/right beam ?
I ask as it looks a bit close to the wall to support any deflection

If it were me, I'd add another full beam left/right directly under the front of the tank, and have it supported on new posts
Make sense ?

If the pics are showing 3 floors, then you'll need posts going all the way to the first floor to support a new beam for the front of the tank

I have never liked seeing my tank do a 'wave' because I have company over

[Ryanerickson]

I think your fine

[gregzz4]

I think your fine
I'll agree from a structural standpoint, but I still see deflection happening

I'd be concerned about the tank rocking everytime someone walks by

Without extra joist supports, you're only relying on the flooring/plywood for the front half of the tank
And from what I see, it will crack the nice trim you have from the flooring to the walls

I had a 6 foot 125g on 12 foot 2x10 beams, and against a 2x6 load-bearing wall where normally there would only be a 2x4 wall
The tank was estimated @ around 1500Lbs

An Engineer told me to not have a house party as it would not necessarily fail, but would cause the tank to start rocking and spill over or even tip over

I could stand in the middle of my Living Room and bounce my feet to make the tank rock

Put another joist in and be done with it :lol:

[kacairns]

Just put the tank there and don't worry about it.

You've got more then enough structure there to hold everything you'd plan on putting there. Based on the picture the TGI there in your picture are only 6ft long to begin with and are resting each end on beams and there doesn't appear to be any load being transferred down from above. So you've got a load bearing wall, 2 TGI that both are being transfered onto load points through the beams that will be taking the weight. Sure the load bearing wall and the 2nd TGI that aren't directly under the tank but they will still be transferring weight as well due to the plywood and flooring further spreading the load out.

People build 2x4 stands to support their tank with less structure then what you'll have your tanks stand transferring down onto.

[gregzz4]

OK, I'll ammend my previous suggestion and go with this ;

Put the tank in the location, fill it, bounce around the room and see if the tank rocks or stays put

BTW, I'll bet you dollars to donuts that it will rock the tank when you bounce on the floor, or it will at least eventually crack the seals on the trim to the floor

Good luck with whatever you decide !

[Dearth]

The floor will support your tank however because it will be supported by one beam anytime you get a person walking by you will see a swing in the water I know because I went through it before I would personally add cross bracing and/or a post to help distribute the weight a lil more but the choice is yours to make what ever you decide and good luck with it

[WarDog]

I have to second gregzz4 on this one. That structure will handle the weight no problem, but your tank will bounce a bit for sure. For $100 of lumber you can sleep better at night.

[mark]

am I missing something, it's only a 6' span, where's all this bouncing coming from? Planning a party between the tank and those side walls?

[StirCrazy]

http://i1374.photobucket.com/albums/ag434/ryanwoolrich66/IMAG0370gg_zpsafe04993.jpg (http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/ryanwoolrich66/media/IMAG0370gg_zpsafe04993.jpg.html)


for how simple and cheep it would be I would add another one, don't need to go as heavy as the original one as it is supporting your ends of the silent floor system, but you could add one made of two 2x8's .

Steve

[StirCrazy]

for how simple and cheep it would be I would add another one, don't need to go as heavy as the original one as it is supporting your ends of the silent floor system, but you could add one made of two 2x8's .

Steve

[Ryanerickson]

My 125 has 1 single 2x10 under it running length wise may not be ideal but I don't get any movement at all I wish my tank had that support guess I could upgrade but it's not going anywhere.

[sphelps]

That extra beam will do nothing for stability, the one joist is fine for holding the weight, as others have pointed out it's a short span. If your hardwood was installed correctly (perpendicular to joists) you'd be fine however since for whatever reason it's not there is some potential for a rocking effect over the one joist. Again just to clarify the extra beam you sketched in will do absolutely nothing for this issue. That said there's an easy and simply solution, anchor the stand to the wall. Run a horizontal 2x4, or whatever, and screw to to your studs then screw your stand to that. For best results fill your tank half way and insure it's level before screw the stand to the wall.

[denny_C]

Like I said little buddy you'll be fine I've seen worse for sure:)


Really like Steve's idea of fixing stand to the wall behind the tank that's actually genius :)

Unless its concrete I think all floors have bounce to them , if your worried about your joist you could stitch another on there and add some cross bracing but I don't see any issues with the way it is right now.

[Ryancw]

thanks for all the replies guys. I think im going to try and add another joist in between the black ABS and the HVAC so there are two beneath the tank just for piece of mind. i don't doubt that it will hold the weight the way it is now but i do have gatherings over from time to time and id rather not see the tank rocking under any added weight

[Cujo#31]

IMHO, you have the opportunity to over-engineer and over build now, do it , as much as u think u need, then double it (LMAO) and you will rest easy later happy to never worry about it down the road

[jmustapha]

I'm a structural engineer. I think you'll be fine. Just it close to the wall and center it between the beams.