1 ton problem

[kuba]

I recently purchased a impassable 125 gallon tank for $500. Everything is great ghost overflow,(24" one), line line return in opposite corners and a nice black stand....... I wasn't looking for a fish tank just bought an impulse LOL

So anyway, I want to place it on the Second floor but the weight :2000lbs rocks, sand, water and equipment: raise a lot of red flags. My question is would 4 joists 2" by 6" with a span of 24' be enough to hold the 6' tank placed up agents the wall.

 

[saltyphish]

Nice buy, those overflows alone are pretty pricey. Will the tank run parallel with the joists or cross them?

 

[kuba]

It will sit on 4 joists

 

[Acrononomus]

It won't fall thru the floor but may be bouncy... Try to put it up against a load bearing wall if u can... Pics would help a bit .... No guarantees u won't get a few screw pops on drywall below either

 

[cope413]

I'd be surprised if you get to 2000 lbs. But if you're across 4 joists, that's enough for that weight, though whatever flooring you have may not like it much

 

[Harold Green]

How about a nice decorative arch on the floor below to help support the weight? You must have more support than a 24' long 2x6. I wouldn't think that small a beam would even support the weight of the floor and ceiling over that span. My home has 14' beams made from 2x12's and I wouldn't put that much weight on them without additional support below even though they would surely hold the weight. You have to figure the weight of the floor itself plus the weight of the sheetrock below plus the length of the span not to mention how the beams are attached. Are they toenailed, nailed into stirrups, sitting on top of wall plates? Generally it's much simpler to add support below than to get an engineer out to do the load calculations with the structure you already have.

 

[redfishbluefish]

2" by 6" with a span of 24'

I just quickly looked up code on spans because 24' for 2x6 was jumping out at me. Note this is species and grade specific, and I'll assume 16" on center, the best case is a 10'4" span with Douglas fir, grade SS, and the worst case is a number of species, all grade 3, with a maximum span of 7'6". You've got to have a couple load bearing walls below on that 24' span. And this was for 10psf dead load / 40psf live load.

 

[klp]

Before putting that kind of weight on 2x6 have you thought of getting a report from a structural engineer? It would cost a little extra but would prevent possible serious issues. I would worry that floors are not meant to hold that much weight in a 4 foot area plus what it currently carries. Whatever you do I wish you the best!

 

[kuba]

It won't fall thru the floor but may be bouncy... Try to put it up against a load bearing wall if u can... Pics would help a bit .... No guarantees u won't get a few screw pops on drywall below either

I'd be surprised if you get to 2000 lbs. But if you're across 4 joists, that's enough for that weight, though whatever flooring you have may not like it much

I think i'll go with your guys tips,And if the floor gets shaky during filling i'll just add some support in the garage below.

 

[Harold Green]

Garage ceilings are notorious for being under supported. Be careful. Was the home constructed with the second flow built out over the garage or was it added on later?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Garage ceilings are notorious for being under supported. Be careful. Was the home constructed with the second flow built out over the garage or was it added on later?

That's my guess as well.....2x6 ceiling joists and this now second floor was an illegal (no permit) addition. If that is the case and it truly is a 24' span, I wouldn't even want to walk on it let alone put a tank on it......way undersized.

 

[kuba]

Their is a full size bedroom above with a 55 so maybe in wrong with the hight of the 2•x?? I'll poke a hole in the garage ceiling and check the hight with a coat hanger.

 

[Acrononomus]

What year was the house built in? All for blinks rooms are engineered right into the trusses . Tgi joists could have also been used

 

[Harold Green]

Kuba unless it's a steel truss running across I'd be leery of putting any weight on a wood beam running 24'. I have a wood beam that supports the second floor in my home that's about 24' and it's a 6x12" beam and I still have a little give to the floor above.

 

[kuba]

The house is 1996 no add on