Manny Tavan Posted November 18, 2018 Share Posted November 18, 2018 Decided on the waterbox 190 gallon 60x26x24. It will be sitting right against my dining room wall. This is where the weight is going to be distributed (red area). Would you guys reinforce this with floor jacks? House was built in 1997 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 Where the tank will be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 18, 2018 Author Share Posted November 18, 2018 (edited) I could install two or three of those sitting on concrete blocks and holding a 6x6x6 pressure treated timber along the length of the tank if needed. Not sure if it’s overkill Edited November 18, 2018 by Manny Tavan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newreefer02 Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Always better to brace for the weight and not need it! Heck I braces my floors and i only have a 120g! Better to not have the "what if" in the back of your head... plus worst case it's only a couple hundred bucks for multi thousands you will have invested into your tank!Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) That’s why I am planning ahead. So i went back with a tape measure and it looks like the back of the tank will actually be sitting right on the support beam. I’ll just install a couple of jack post to support the front Edited November 19, 2018 by Manny Tavan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailingeric Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 I would just to be safe. Should I ever get the wife unit to approve of me getting a bigger tank I am planning on adding support just to be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Run a beam of 4 or 6x10 across the floor joists then support with posts. Pressure treated wood is not as study as non pressure treated. Pier blocks on the ground will just sink in to dirt without an actual footing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newreefer02 Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 That's almost exactly what I did.... I would take pictures of what i did but I really dont want to 1 clear the crawl space door and 2 crawl down there... lolSent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) I'd recommend, off doing a basement expansion on a 2 story home, no less than a 12" or larger 4" thick slab under each pier block. Ideally dig into the dirt and remove anything that you disturbed. Then place 1-2" of crushed rock, then compact, then 3-4" concrete. Flatten the concrete for a pier block. Or... Scuff off some dirt, lay a bit of 3/4- gravel, then pier block, then the adjustable post. Then adjust the support every 6 months for a couple years then yearly after that. That is probably what I'd do. BTW, thanks for the purchase. Edited November 19, 2018 by CrabbyCrabs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 Sounds like a lot of work lol the rocks are great. Can’t wait to add them to the scape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrabbyCrabs Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 I'm sure with the modern home you would be good with the pier block on 1" of 3/4- gravel packed with a mallet. I would use a cross support for the floor joists of no less than a 4x8 or 6x10 put it directly under the middle of the tank. Use two of the adjustable posts and give a slight preload to the floor before setting up the tank. After loading the tank give a little more preload on the supports. Use a level on floor joists and keep that level reading in mind while preloading. It's overkill but a 190 is probably over 2k LBS loaded. Think a small car in that space on your floor. Not necessarily a lot for a house on 16" centers but a lot of homes are built on 24" floor joist centers when built on pier blocks. Look at the size of the pier blocks the home is built on and you will understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtarmitage Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 That's not far of a run. I'd just sister the joists. No real need to add supports, though they wouldn't hurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 So with my years of construction I am with Crabby that overkill is always best practice but if your tank is going to be sitting on that beam as stated a little reinforcement for front of tank is a good idea. Do you really need it......probably not. I’m guessing you have 12 or 16” ibeams there so probably would never be an issue. But at the very least if my house I would remove a couple inches of dirt, tamp the are down apply a few inches of gravel tamp it in really good and set some pier blocks, add posts and beam. If beam is too spendy, triple up a few two by sixes( granted not same strength but willl more than suffice for this application) pressure treated if you are using wood that will be on ground and subject to moisture but green fir for posts and beam I know a lot of guys use the adjustable supports but I simply jack the floor up an extra inch and set everything in place and remove jack Manny if you need a hand give me a holla!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 So my joists are spaced 16” inches apart. I have plenty of room to add more 2x6 joists and make them 8” apart under the tank. Is that a better solution than 2 post and a 4x6 beam? I could go either way at this point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuncrestReef Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Back when I was setting up my system, I came across this article which seems to be the most thorough discussion on aquarium floor support online. It's definitely worth a read. http://www.african-cichlid.com/Structure.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) You ABSOLUTELY do NOT have to reinforce those floor joists. Total and complete waste of time and money. You have basically no span when the load is so close to the main beams. That, plus your load is perpendicular to your joists. The span limit for 2x8 beams on 16"OC and 60lb/sqft live load is 11'. You have like 2'. You CAN do anything you want, just know that it is not necessary at all. Edited November 19, 2018 by pdxmonkeyboy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 9 minutes ago, pdxmonkeyboy said: You ABSOLUTELY do NOT have to reinforce those floor joists. Total and complete waste of time and money. Great minds think alike! Though it would never hurt. Not necessary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Better yet throw a sump down there with a few frag tanks and become the next grow master! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 it's cold down there 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorge Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 10 minutes ago, Manny Tavan said: it's cold down there 😃 Sweet we need a cold water shop! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 maybe I should just park one of my car in that spot for a couple of weeks and see how it holds 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pdxmonkeyboy Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 or my tundra... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny Tavan Posted November 19, 2018 Author Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) if it holds a tundra, then I'm getting a 600G set up Edited November 19, 2018 by Manny Tavan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The ReefBox Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 10 minutes ago, Manny Tavan said: if it holds a tundra, then I'm getting a 600G set up Lol!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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