[jlombardi29]

I am in the process of setting up a 125 gallon reef tank in my living room. This will be above a basement and I am not sure if the floor will support the weight. Has anyone set up a tank in this manner?

[pogodzib]

A lot of people have set up 125 gal tanks on their main floor. Even worse is setting up a 120 gal tank on the main floor since the weight is only spread out over 4'. Depending on how well your house was built and how old it is, you may be able to set it up without adding any additional support under your floor, but most often, adding some additional support in your basement is a good idea. If you can get an architect or civil/structural engineer over, they should be able to tell you what you can and cannot do.

[Mr_X]

it will be fine.
i've had a 200 gallon system in a 2nd floor apartment for 2 years with no trouble. wooden flooring as well.

[jimw369]

It might be OK and might not.

I would listen to the engineer that already posted in your thread...lol...

[Hosser]

If you can, underneath where the tank is see if there is a 2x10 or 2x12. If its a 2x10 or 2x12 you will be fine as long as there isnt any splits in the wood. Thing is , you NEED to make sure the span is across the joists not running with them. Generally, speaking joists run from front to back, on a house with two stories you can ussually tell by wall placement.

[jlombardi29]

I have 2x12 supports, and the wall the tank will sit against has the main support beam under it. thanks for every ones help

[likemike99]

most importantly make the tank perpendicular to the floor 2x4's

[Hosser]

depending on your decking , you should be able to run it perpindicular or parallel. if the decking is 3/4-5/4 you would be fine if its less then it NEEDS to run perp.
Id also make sure the stand is level as possible. The floor will move a bit when the tank is filled (not much mind you, but some) and you wouldnt want it to be more unlevel after its full Let us know how it goes

[pogodzib]

Originally Posted by hosser

If you can, underneath where the tank is see if there is a 2x10 or 2x12. If its a 2x10 or 2x12 you will be fine as long as there isnt any splits in the wood. Thing is , you NEED to make sure the span is across the joists not running with them. Generally, speaking joists run from front to back, on a house with two stories you can ussually tell by wall placement.

Having the tank setup along an outside (or load bearing) wall is a much better location than along the middle of a floor span or non-load bearing wall. It doesn't matter if the home has 2x10 or 2x12 as much as how the floor was designed. A 2x10 floor joist under a 20' wide house with a center beam may flex less and be much stronger than a 2x12 that has a longer span section. Most homes that use 2x12 joists instead of 2x10 joist is because they are being used to span longer sections, hence the need for a larger joist. I've seen a couple different floors bow due to people setting up large tanks over too weak of floors, to the point that people added large amount of shims to level a tank even though the tank started off level. Will the weight of the tank bring the floor down, probably not. Can it make the floor deform and crack drywall on a finished off ceiling under the tank, yes. I'd rather be safe than deal with trying to fix a floor.

Originally Posted by Mr_X

it will be fine.
i've had a 200 gallon system in a 2nd floor apartment for 2 years with no trouble. wooden flooring as well.

All floors, and homes, are not created equal. Codes for apartment building very often exceed single or double family homes.

Originally Posted by jimw369

It might be OK and might not.

I would listen to the engineer that already posted in your thread...lol...

[Hosser]

I agree if its an apartment Id count on sketchy building, a 2x10 and 2x12 have a load bearing allowance for that weight but against a wall IS a better choice, I thinks its a given that most tanks are set such a way. The decking has alot to do with the strngth as well.
your looking at having between 1000-2000 pounds spread over what five , six feet?
Its not that much weight to be honest.... a normal couch with three adult men can weigh 1000 pounds.....
thing is though when you get close to the threshold of too much weight it quickly becomes trouble. I built a 25,000 lb fireplace a few years ago on a house and we had to have it sit on a solid 5'x5'x5' block, if you doubt it then dont try it, but common sense goes a long way. Do the math, look at structural integrity and placement and do whats best for the home first, because if if something happens to the house bye bye tank.
Pogo is exactly right though, against a wall is the strongest point of any joist, that is if they arent rotten and chose not to use hangers.

[pogodzib]

If you look at the weight of a tank and compare it to how many people equal the same weight over a certain area or to how much a house weights per lineal foot of bearing wall, you will see that a tank doesn't weigh that much, BUT, since it stays in one spot, it can be considered a "dead" load, whereas will people, it is considered a "live" load since the load moves over relatively small time periods. Dead loads are more critical when it comes if your floor will end up deflecting over time. IMO, it is always better to be safe than sorry and you should verify that your house can handle the weight.

[jlombardi29]

the tank will sit perpindicular on the joist against the load bearing wall which is the center of my house and the decking is 3/4 plywood, right now there is a up right piano where I whant the tank to go. I don't know how much the piano weights but it took 4 guys to get it there. even with the weight of the piano my floor dosn't even make the slighest squeak like some homes when you just walk through. so maybe it will hold ???

[demonsquirt]

Under normal conditions i would say of course. Can you see the floor joist from down there. If you can check out the area and add extra support.