Tank Weight

[Luke_L]

So I am just buying my first house, Finally!   

I am planning on setting up my new 120 gallon main tank with a 75 gallon sump underneath it and was wondering if anyone has ever done this on the second floor of their house and if they have any issues with the amount of weight?   The stand I am building with be 6' long x 20" wide.  So I am wondering if I the weight will be spread out enough or if I will have to do some modding or plan to put the tank else where rather then risk damaging the house.  It is a three storey with no basement so the living room is on the second floor which is why I would like it to be upstairs.  If anyone has any suggestions I am all ears.

[Nienna]

Congrats on your new house!  Exciting times.

My husband and I have put our 250 gal display tank on the main level of our townhouse, with a 100g sump in the basement.  We had a structural engineering report done which determined that even with the joists running the 'right' way, they still needed to be tripled, with a post and footing added to ensure the load was being properly brought down.

With the kind of weight these tanks generate and the investment in your house and the tank, I suggest getting the assessment.  The cost for it is trivial when you think of the amount of damage that could be caused.

[Eb0la]

99% you will have no issues.

[Luke_L]

Congrats on your new house!  Exciting times.

My husband and I have put our 250 gal display tank on the main level of our townhouse, with a 100g sump in the basement.  We had a structural engineering report done which determined that even with the joists running the 'right' way, they still needed to be tripled, with a post and footing added to ensure the load was being properly brought down.

With the kind of weight these tanks generate and the investment in your house and the tank, I suggest getting the assessment.  The cost for it is trivial when you think of the amount of damage that could be caused.

Thank you very much for the suggestion!  Whom did you get in contact with for your assessment?  Were they someone you would recommend?

[Nienna]

Our assessment was done by Star Engineering and Construction Ltd.  They sent someone out (appeared to be a newly graduated civil engineer in training - the use of which I fully support) to do the inspection which included opening up the basement ceiling (approx 12"x20" hole) so they could measure the joist size, distance and note the direction.

The final report (which contained the 'as is' and suggested modifications) was signed and stamped by a professional engineer.  If I remember correctly, we provided them with the floorprint of the tank, the position it would be placed and approximate weight of the entire setup (empty tank + stand + saltwater volume + sand + rocks + small fudge factor[5-10% I think]).

I was very satisfied with Star Engineering and would recommend them for the assessment.  We had the work done by a different company so I cannot speak to their reno work (if they do that kind of stuff).