Checking Floor Strength

[bpro32]

What type of professional does one consult to figure out if their floor is strong enough to support a large fish tank? General contractor comes to mind but in my area they have so much business they won’t even talk to you if your project is less than $5k.

 

[CasaReefer]

Structural Engineer..

 

[Big C]

I found a “local”, 1 hour away, engineering firm. Structural engineer came out and assessed who was familiar with residential construction. I think the driving time I paid cost more than the work.

 

[Big C]

I found a “local”, 1 hour away, engineering firm. Structural engineer came out and assessed who was familiar with residential construction. I think the driving time I paid cost more than the work.

One other note. Glad I did as I was putting a 220 gallons on the main floor (have basement) and even though it was across the joists and the back of the aquarium was on the main support beam I still needed additional support. Of course that was after a safety factor and assuming my teenage children held a party while I was gone and everyone stood around the tank.

 

[bpro32]

Thanks!

I think mine is going to be simple as it looks to me like it's on a concrete slab. This room is lower than the rest of my house (which has a crawl space) but a few inches higher than the garage so I just want that piece of mind that I'm not going to break something when I put 2000+ lbs on the floor.

 

[CasaReefer]

Always better safe then sorry.... a few hundred bucks for a guy to come out is WAY better then Total Destruction... Mass Casualties and Loss of Tank Inhabited With Life...

 

[italquam]

What type of professional does one consult to figure out if their floor is strong enough to support a large fish tank? General contractor comes to mind but in my area they have so much business they won’t even talk to you if your project is less than $5k.

A structural engineer is what you need , a general contractor is just going to have one check it then will upcharge you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I found a “local”, 1 hour away, engineering firm. Structural engineer came out and assessed who was familiar with residential construction. I think the driving time I paid cost more than the work.

How much did they charge?

 

[sp1187]

curious at what size tank would this become a concern?

 

[PicassoDan]

No need for a professional. I'm sure you can find good advice here

OP, if your tank is going to sit on a concrete slab, you should be good, no matter the size. Can you give us more details? sounds like ~200 gal tank?

 

[Big C]

How much did they charge?

$150 an hour. Drive time was more than the work. But as mentioned most larger engineer firms are looking for bigger jobs and took me a few to find one.

 

[Potatohead]

curious at what size tank would this become a concern?

I'd start to worry around 150 gallons. However if you put the tank against a load bearing wall, which means the floor studs will be perpendicular to the tank, it can support a lot of weight.

To the OP, if it's on a slab, don't sweat it at all.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No need for a professional. I'm sure you can find good advice here

OP, if your tank is going to sit on a concrete slab, you should be good, no matter the size. Can you give us more details? sounds like ~200 gal tank?

At 8400# I would like a pro to assess my floor and jacks for a piece of mind. I have 800 gallons on a steel stand with 300+ pounds of rock, 300# in lights and a lot more bringing me closer to 5 tons

 

[sp1187]

I'd start to worry around 150 gallons. However if you put the tank against a load bearing wall, which means the floor studs will be perpendicular to the tank, it can support a lot of weight.

To the OP, if it's on a slab, don't sweat it at all.

I don't get that.
doesn't the floor have more support than the stand the tank is sitting on?

 

[Big C]

As others mentioned you will find a ton of threads on this. Doing it made me sleep better at night. I agree it can hold “a ton of weight” but was surprised (with calculations) that even against a load bearing wall and perpendicular to floor joist my 220 was at the limit. It was actually 8% overloaded. Added some additional support via a new wall in the basement for a bathroom.

 

[PicassoDan]

OK, but I was responding to the OP who is putting a much smaller tank on a concrete slab...

 

[Nanorock1970]

How much did they charge?

its going to depend. Some will charge the standard office rate and some charge as a side job. Calling around will be your best bet. What have you all paid for those that have done this before?

 

[Potatohead]

I don't get that.
doesn't the floor have more support than the stand the tank is sitting on?

I'm not sure what you're asking.

Let's say someone is putting a 150g tank in a room. On average you can say a tank setup with sump and stand and what not will weigh about 10 lbs per gallon, so 1500 lbs. Let's make it safe and use a 15% margin of safety, call it 1725 lbs. If the OP wouldn't worry about 10-12 average people standing in the room during a party, they shouldn't worry about a tank in the room either.

 

[bpro32]

Always better safe then sorry.... a few hundred bucks for a guy to come out is WAY better then Total Destruction... Mass Casualties and Loss of Tank Inhabited With Life...

Exactly!

 

[bpro32]

No need for a professional. I'm sure you can find good advice here

OP, if your tank is going to sit on a concrete slab, you should be good, no matter the size. Can you give us more details? sounds like ~200 gal tank?

230g tank plus another ~60g underneath. I’m not 100% sure it’s a concrete slab since the rest of the house has a crawl space. Even if I went underneath the house and found concrete I don’t know that I could just wing it and say it’s fine without losing some sleep at night.