Need to install extra support?

C

cape

New Member
Hi, was wondering if I put a large fish tank 180gal on my main level (1st floor) would I need to put in extra support in the basement? I'm assuming it's roughly going to weigh about 1800-2000lbs? The tank dimensions is 72 inches long and 24 inches wide. any opinion on this? anyone keep similar size fish tanks on the 1st or second floor? Thanks in advance.
 
i have a 220 with 75 sump with no added support. but it really depends on where you are putting your tank. (i.e. against a load bearring wall, existing support beams in the basement, etc.) take a pic from the basement.
 
Hi, thanks for your help. Have attached pictures. Tank is going against the wall and these beams seem to be under or close to where the tank/wall is. Thanks again.
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You would probably be allright but if it was me Id do a couple things to be 100% safe. I would double up those beams where the tank would be sitting. If you want to overkill, double up the beams and then get a couple of the adjustable lollycolumns and add them under the beams where the ends of the tank sits. What are the beams 2x6 or 2x8?
 
i have a 180 on the second floor of my house on an outside wall and i'm fine, its been there for 6 months and sits flat. i have TI trusses at 16" centers and its sitting across 3 of them with no problems, if you have 2x6 or 2x8 you wont have a problem with either depending on the age of the house just make sure the tank is across them not along them
 
I just put a 300 gallon Marineland deep dimension on my main floor. The house is fir and I tied a weight from the joists below with a wire a foot from the floor and measured looking for any floor sag as I filled. I has now been 10 or so days and the weights have not moved a milimeter. If your roof is accessible just double up the beams. I have always had 180s in my main floor with no issues but have always had older homes so I think the older dryer wood helps a ton. Doubling up the beams is very easy to do and will save you the hassle. if you do have room for a post underneath the tank then that would also be good idea....but personally I hate the posts.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Regarding the doubling of beams, do I just find the measurements of the current beams and then just nail in the same sized beam beside the current one? Is there a specific technique or tools I need to use? As you can tell, not really a handy person, so any help on specifics would be much appreciated. Thanks again.
 
cape said:
Thanks for all the replies. Regarding the doubling of beams, do I just find the measurements of the current beams and then just nail in the same sized beam beside the current one? Is there a specific technique or tools I need to use? As you can tell, not really a handy person, so any help on specifics would be much appreciated. Thanks again.
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Thats essentially right but screw them and glue them
 
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