Biggest tank above basement?

[TChristman]

I will go about this another way. What is the biggest tank that anyone has above a basement without any special reinforcement? I will be contacting a builder tomorrow but the house is 1 year old and I am getting a 225 this week. Thanks for your input.

Tim

 

[Bebo77]

i wouldnt go above 180 gallons without reinforcing the floor...

 

[monkeyreefer]

all depends upon the joist spacing, the dimensions of the tank (ie footprint) and how you position the tank. more details are needed. If you place it near a where the floor is supported by the foundation or the main support beam you should be fine. it all comes down to psi on the floor though.

 

[TChristman]

I can place on a load bearing wall but I prefer not to. I have a contractor coming tomorrow to look at it.

 

[monkeyreefer]

well, imo you should place the tank perpendicular to the floor joists, and have it near the foundation wall, otherwise youll need to renforce the floor. If your tank is 7-8 feet long by 24-30" wide, it will better spread out the weight

 

[Bono]

I didn't know anyone if florida had a basement, especially only 1 year old.

 

[Bono]

I didn't know anyone in florida had a basement, especially only 1 year old.

 

[enamdjd]

getting a contractor is a good idea

 

[TChristman]

Just moved to the Atlanta area from Florida. I do not know anyone in Florida with a basement. Our Atlanta home has a daylight basement. Contractor should be here any minute. I am going to reinforce the flooring. It works well as it would be where we would section off an area of the basement for storage so we can kill two birds with one stone with this project. Have to justify the aquarium somehow to the boss.

 

[pennyguy23]

If you don't put it on a load barring wall your houses floor joists will sag(which means you drywall will crack all over the place) or may even shear/brake apart. There is no if's and's or but's about it. It must be on a load bearing wall for that big of tank and if you don't you will be very upset you didn't.