Aquarium in wall project need some advice

[vokey60]

In the process of getting bids to add a room on to the back of my house over my deck need some advice on the best way to proceed. I have had some contractors tell me they can build this room over my deck is that safe? The aquarium will be 300-400 gallon reef so looking at 4000 pounds? I have included pics of inside wall and outside wall at my deck. Foundation block on back of my house can support weight of the aquarium in wall but the tank will be 30 inches deep so 26 inches will be on a stand that will be in the newly built room and I now that deck with a new floor over it can't support the weight Need advice from the experts on this. Tank will be in wall on the inside pic 84" by 30" by 30"
and will be on a stand in the new room on top of the deck any info will be great.

 

[vokey60]

Come on reefers need some advice here I know someone can help me with this project

 

[vokey60]

In the process of getting bids to add a room on to the back of my house over my deck need some advice on the best way to proceed. I have had some contractors tell me they can build this room over my deck is that safe? The aquarium will be 300-400 gallon reef so looking at 4000 pounds? I have included pics of inside wall and outside wall at my deck. Foundation block on back of my house can support weight of the aquarium in wall but the tank will be 30 inches deep so 26 inches will be on a stand that will be in the newly built room and I know that deck with a new floor over it can't support the weight Need advice from the experts on this. Tank will be in wall on the inside pic 84" by 30" by 30"
and will be on a stand in the new room on top of the deck any info will be great.

 

[Mpfaff77]

I honestly wouldn't trust it on a deck. Where will the tank actually sit? On the foundation n the house? Then tank room will extend onto the deck? Or will the tank actually start on the outside of the existing house wall? Usually decks are just attached using Joice hangers on a header that is bolted to the house. Only way I would trust that much weight on a deck is if it is cantilevered off of the house Joice.

Edit :

Just re read post. So I understand it tank will actually be on deck. I would reinforce for sure unless cantilevered with 2x10's. even then I would sister the joices and put footings close to the house under the tank.


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[vokey60]

Yes part of the tank will rest on the back wall of the house which is setting on block foundation just worried about the rest of the tank setting on new subfloor over deck could I have someone block under my deck where the tank would be in the new room. Back wall of my home will have 4.5 inches of the tank I assume that leaves 25.5 inches over the deck is there a better way? Need help

 

[rad3dad]

i would pour a pad of concrete below it and have it braced below the deck for that much weight.

 

[ggsteve]

Sonotube 4' x 12" footings dug under the deck with jack posts that reach up to a carrier beam under the joists even with the back edge of the tank.

 

[vokey60]

Sonotube 4' x 12" footings dug under the deck with jack posts that reach up to a carrier beam under the joists even with the back edge of the tank.

Can you explain 4' by 12" sonotube footings so that a stupid person like me understands

 

[05f150fx4]

He is saying to use 12" diameter sonotubes 4 feet deep spaced to handle the load.

 

[dave.m]

I would hire a structural engineer who would take into account your soil type, the structure of your existing building, local building codes, etc. etc. to make sure it is done right the first time. Putting a call out to a group of not necessarily qualified people on the Internet is just begging for trouble IMHO.

Dave.M

 

[vokey60]

He is saying to use 12" diameter sonotubes 4 feet deep spaced to handle the load.

Ok again what are sonotubes are they installed in concrete snd how in the world do you dig 4 foot deep under a deck

 

[ggsteve]

I would hire a structural engineer who would take into account your soil type, the structure of your existing building, local building codes, etc. etc. to make sure it is done right the first time. Putting a call out to a group of not necessarily qualified people on the Internet is just begging for trouble IMHO.

Dave.M

I agree with Dave. This is going to be a major investment in your home. The last thing you want it to be is half fast. I'm not making fun of you but if you don't know what a sonotube is I'd bring in a professional engineer. Many contractors will tell you what you want to hear just to get the job.

 

[SkyHawk]

This is an excellent idea. I love your ambition. That sounds like a great sized tank.

I don't trust contractors either... They do not have enought experience with heavy aquariums and the very low tolerance for levelling error and deflection in supporting structural members for our tanks.

You must really want it in that spot cause that looks like an expensive proposition...

The sonotube is a good idea. Depending on what you find in your ground and your local climate 4' might not be deep enough. Have you considered scrapping your deck entirely? Building something better and stronger. Might be a good opportunity to extend your basement with a full foundation. Then you can run 2x10s or 2x12s perpendicular to your tank and sitting on concrete walls and have a whole other room underneath (aka fish room...). Could also make it a wine cellar or cold storage.

But yeah. You can't have the back of the tank tipping down and eventually busting a seam.

 

[FuzzyZipperbaum]

Sonotubes are nothing more than forms to pour the concrete into....call it an empty shell...in this case you would dig a deep hole...put the form in and pour the concrete into it....

I am putting 1000g on a second floor...the weight works out to be 140 pounds per square foot. Most homes are built for around 60.... If you are not going to hire an engineer (I would...it will cost you a few hundred) then I would go to engineering and structure forums and post your info...HOWEVER, be specific....how many pounds per sq inch or foot....where are the floor trusts, how do they run, how many inches on center, etc, etc....

Think about it this way....if the back of the tank settles by only a 1/4 of inch (and the front doesnt)..what do you think it will do to a 5000 pound aquarium sitting on top? CRACK.....

Good luck.

 

[vokey60]

I think I need to get a engineer for sure The only place in my house that I can do this is by building a room over the deck or remove and do footings and block for the new room. Thanks for all the advice will keep you guys posted on what I end up doing

 

[vokey60]

This is an excellent idea. I love your ambition. That sounds like a great sized tank.

I don't trust contractors either... They do not have enought experience with heavy aquariums and the very low tolerance for levelling error and deflection in supporting structural members for our tanks.

You must really want it in that spot cause that looks like an expensive proposition...

The sonotube is a good idea. Depending on what you find in your ground and your local climate 4' might not be deep enough. Have you considered scrapping your deck entirely? Building something better and stronger. Might be a good opportunity to extend your basement with a full foundation. Then you can run 2x10s or 2x12s perpendicular to your tank and sitting on concrete walls and have a whole other room underneath (aka fish room...). Could also make it a wine cellar or cold storage.

But yeah. You can't have the back of the tank tipping down and eventually busting a seam.

Well I dont have a basement just a deck that is 4 feet off the ground just trying to figure this out might just tear the deck off and go with block and footings

 

[edandsandy]

I would hire a structural engineer who would take into account your soil type, the structure of your existing building, local building codes, etc. etc. to make sure it is done right the first time. Putting a call out to a group of not necessarily qualified people on the Internet is just begging for trouble IMHO.

Dave.M

+1
We added an 8'x18' addition to our home to "house" the aquarium and all the equipment..BUT we first contacted a structural engineer who recommended that we poured a concrete slab...

I wouldn't take a chance.......

Good Luck!!!

 

[ashish]

Call multiple contractors who build homes/deck/foundations. If they seem hesitant to answer or just take a shot at it - don't call them back. If they immediately say "you will need to re-due the entire foundation, to much weight, etc" take it with a grain of salt. Contractors will tell you that work needs to be done just to get your money. So calls some friends who have trusted contractors for there honest opinion. Just some advice from a guy that builds restaurants & gotten skrewed....Best of luck