Worried: big tank above garage..need ideas
 

I have a bonus room over my garage that I want to add a freshwater tank. The biggest concern is the amount of weight it can support. What I have in mind is a tank around 180g (72x24x24) but not sure if that's too hefty?
The tank will be placed along the exterior wall in the bonus room where it lines up below (garage) along the same exterior wall. That supporting wall in the garage is unfinished and I can see 2x6 studs @16" on center. There is also a support beam right in the middle where the tank situated right above.
Here's an amatuer depiction of that.

Attachment 3361

Will this size tank and wall support work together? Am I over looking anything? Please reply if you have similar size tank on your main floor. Thanks.

Most floors should be able to support the weight. I was told a typical tank displaces the weight to about 200 lbs per sq foot. I am over 200 lbs and have never had a fear of falling through my floor.

It depends on how thick your sub floor is as well. I have double 3/4" std ply on mine. Just pull out a floor register and take a look.

hahahahaha...
so funny.
man that would make for a crappy day...lol

+1 :mrgreen:

I think it has alot more to do with the dead weight being stationary for long term. Joists saging and weakening other surrounding structures. I am worried about it buckling the floor and falling thought? Mind you the whole setup will be well over 2500lb siting on 12sq ft. of floor. Does anyone have a large tank upstairs?

you have to keep in mind the garage has 16" on center and a house would have 12" on center. I would consider of putting a brace to beef up the floor and since its on a exterior wall you should be ok. that 4" is alot when deplacing weight..

what sort of brace would you be talking about?

beefing up the floor joists or if you are able to put in teleposts.

FYI, 90% of residential floors are designed to handle 40lbs/ft2 live load, and about 15lbs/ft2 dead load.

It is fairly easy to work out what your weight of a tank/water/equipment etc uses, divide that by the area of the tank, and that will tell you if you are good.