Can my floor HOLD this TANK???

Sayce08 · 03-21-2007, 11:01 AM

Hi,
I don't know if my floor can hold a Tank

So I'm looking to set up a new 90 gallon tank, and from my understanding it can weight upwards of a 1100 lbs, being that the local building code only requires a floor to hold 40 lbs a square foot this issue greatly concerns me

Ive read about placement and how placing the tank horizontally to the joist shouldnt result in any issue but being that I live in an apartment on the second floor in a old house I don't want any issues down the road

I'm wondering if any of you out there have ever experienced any issues with this, even though this concerns me, In my research I haven't found alot of concern on the subject. I'm planning on placing it against the wall and horizontal to the joist

I included pics to show what I mean

jtReef · 03-21-2007, 11:34 AM

If possible place it on an outside wall instead of in inner wall.
That would provide greater stability if you are worried

Sayce08 · 03-21-2007, 11:52 AM

yes I thought about that Has anyone ever heard of a problem. Like a real event happening??

sssnake · 03-21-2007, 11:52 AM

I can appreciate your concern.

I look at it this way......If you had a party at your place and invited 6 or 7 friends who each weighed 175lb (that's a total of ~1200lbs) and these friends all got together for idle chit-chat in the spot where your tank is going to be would your floor collapse? Probably not.

If your tank is going to be setup against a supporting wall whereby the floor joists run at a 90 degree angle against the tank base you should be OK for that size tank. If the tank was 250 gal then it may be a different ball game.

What you can do is:
1. As you're pouring the water into the tank listen for any sort of creeking noise coming from the floor. If the floor persistently creeks with every bucket of water you may have a problem.

2. After you have set-up your tank keep an eye on where the wall meets the floor in back of the tank. If a space starts to form between floor and wall then you may have an issue.

3. You can also check if the tank is starting to lean in any direction by using a level tool, checking the levelness (is that a word??) of the tank itself.

I had the same concern so I bought myself a piece of plywood larger in surface area than the base of the stand by about 6 inches all around (perimeter). I then placed my stand/tank on that. This helps spread the weight over a larger surface area of the floor.

Maybe some other member(s) in here who may have knowledge on the subject of structural engineering can hopefully give an opinion.

Good luck.

jtReef · 03-21-2007, 12:36 PM

Another thing that is interesting with older houses is that some even though they look really old they actually have harder floors and supports than more recent buildings. At least that is how it is in chicago. If you have a small attic opening in one of your rooms leading to the space bettween you and the 3rd floor apt (if there is one) you could pretty much assume the floor you have is about the same.
If you have enough buckets you could always fill them and stack them 3 wide and 6 high in the spot the tank would go :-)

Tangster · 03-21-2007, 05:51 PM

It will be fine the weight is spread out over 3 joist mins Now a refrigator on the other hand is the most heavy load in a average home all the weight is pressing down on 4 sq inches..oppsed to several hundres sq inches. Tank will be fine if the house was built to 1920 codes with 16 inch on center joist as standard in te USA .

nemo79 · 03-22-2007, 05:51 PM

Ummm I never worried about this? Then again I live in an apartment building and each floor and most walls are made of concrete! If I lived in a house I would be concerned about the weight. Good thought though.