Should I brace the beams under my tank?

[brisco15]

Just bought a house an will be moving my 125 which is currently on a slab up to the the first floor at the new place. It will be located above the crawlspace against an outer wall. Any suggestions on wether I should toss some 4x4 with some concrete footings under there? If so how many?
Thanks

 

[nickg]

I would say on an exterior wall you will be fine. Although I am not a builder....

 

[picoreefguy]

im no expert but i would think its always a good idea to brace something specially if you're not sure about it.

 

[brisco15]

Yeah I definitely can't afford an issue. So is it something someone in construction should do? Seems pretty easy.

 

[fishlips]

I had to set my 90 up in the house with the floor joist running with the length of the tank.Not recommended.I put a couple of plates and 4x4 under on blocks.Filled it up.After 3yrs,there is no wieght on the 4x4s. The floor joist are 2x10 on 16" center.You just need to see what you have under the house.My 180 is sitting in the middle sorta,I dont have to do any supports,But for peace of mind i am going to.

 

[brisco15]

Plates and blocks? I was gonna use like ground to cinder block cap and then 4x4 and maybe a 2x4 inbetween there and underside of floor.

 

[rdnelson]

Brisco15;860092 wrote: Plates and blocks? I was gonna use like ground to cinder block cap and then 4x4 and maybe a 2x4 inbetween there and underside of floor.

That would be the way I would do it. My opinion is you would be fine without it. But, since you have a crawl space below it would be cheap insurance in my opinion.

If I were to do it, I would put a small jack with a 2x4 under one floor joist. Snug it up and then give one pump on the jacke. This will raise the joist maybe an 1/8". Then I would install the permanent support with just a tab bite of play. Then, when you release the jack the floor joist will come back to the original position and the new support will be carrying "some" of the load. Rinse and repeat.


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[heathlindner25]

rdnelson99;860138 wrote: That would be the way I would do it. My opinion is you would be fine without it. But, since you have a crawl space below it would be cheap insurance in my opinion.

If I were to do it, I would put a small jack with a 2x4 under one floor joist. Snug it up and then give one pump on the jacke. This will raise the joist maybe an 1/8". Then I would install the permanent support with just a tab bite of play. Then, when you release the jack the floor joist will come back to the original position and the new support will be carrying "some" of the load. Rinse and repeat.


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if its carpet in the room above no problem, if its tile be careful on that last pump you don't want to crack the grout

 

[rdnelson]

Very good point Heath. See, I knew you were good for something. hehehehehe

 

[heathlindner25]

rdnelson99;860143 wrote: Very good point Heath. See, I knew you were good for something. hehehehehe

I've done my fair share of termite repair work!! I hate it when I eat the ban or get into floor joist

 

[johniii]

For my 220 I sistered 3 joist with #2 yellow pine 2x10s. Dug a cap block down. Installed three steel screwjacks in the center of the span. Seems to hold just fine. All new wood should be termite treated. But I am not a builder either. If you are concerned please contact a structual engineer.

 

[raz0945]

We did the same for our 125g(use 2 screwjacks), our house is 40 yrs old and we wanted to make sure the tank didn't go into the basement or crack from an uneven floor.

JohnIII;860149 wrote: For my 220 I sistered 3 joist with #2 yellow pine 2x10s. Dug a cap block down. Installed three steel screwjacks in the center of the span. Seems to hold just fine. All new wood should be termite treated. But I am not a builder either. If you are concerned please contact a structual engineer.

 

[brisco15]

JohnIII;860149 wrote: For my 220 I sistered 3 joist with #2 yellow pine 2x10s. Dug a cap block down. Installed three steel screwjacks in the center of the span. Seems to hold just fine. All new wood should be termite treated. But I am not a builder either. If you are concerned please contact a structual engineer.

Any pics of your handy work?

 

[johniii]

No pics sorry. Wish I did. I would go get pics but its spider season. They give me the heebijeebies

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[rdnelson]

JohnIII;860314 wrote: No pics sorry. Wish I did. I would go get pics but its spider season. They give me the heebijeebies

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Panty waist. LOL. It is always the big guys. Hehehehehehe


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[hnguyen]

It's just 125, you won't need a support underneath it. These homes are designed to hold water beds so our little tanks won't hurt anything. Now if your going to put a 400 gallon tank in then yes you have to lay it across your joist and its recommended that you reenforce the joist.