Supporting a tank on a crawl space

[chopper320]

I am considering upgrading my 4’ 80 gallon tank to a 5’ 125 gallon tank.

The current tank is running perpendicular to the floor joists. The location that I would like to put the new tank would be running parallel with the joists but it would be in the corner of 2 exterior walls. The dimensions would be 5’x30”x16”. I would also have a sump under the tank that would be about 60 gallons.

I’m not the most handy diy’er but I can usually follow directions pretty well. Some people have told me they wouldn’t be concerned with that weight while others have said that I should support the joists.

I’d like to get everyone’s thoughts. Also, if I need to support the joists, I live in the Midwest and my crawlspace is dirt. Would I need to be concerned about frost heave? Part of me thinks I could do more harm than good if I support it and then frost heave ends up pushing upward on my joists. I would have a really hard time digging anything out in my crawl because there is not much room to maneuver under there.

 

[Tinnerito]

I am considering upgrading my 4’ 80 gallon tank to a 5’ 125 gallon tank.

The current tank is running perpendicular to the floor joists. The location that I would like to put the new tank would be running parallel with the joists but it would be in the corner of 2 exterior walls. The dimensions would be 5’x30”x16”. I would also have a sump under the tank that would be about 60 gallons.

I’m not the most handy diy’er but I can usually follow directions pretty well. Some people have told me they wouldn’t be concerned with that weight while others have said that I should support the joists.

I’d like to get everyone’s thoughts. Also, if I need to support the joists, I live in the Midwest and my crawlspace is dirt. Would I need to be concerned about frost heave? Part of me thinks I could do more harm than good if I support it and then frost heave ends up pushing upward on my joists. I would have a really hard time digging anything out in my crawl because there is not much room to maneuver under there.

I'm no expert in this kind of work(or most topics on this forum) so I hope this bump will get you some answers.

 

[Yooper Reef]

How old is your house?

 

[chopper320]

About 40 years old

 

[LoLo1221]

We are having the same discussion I have a 65 now. I have a friend that is literally trying to give me their 200 gallon and I’m worried about the floor supporting it.

 

[Yooper Reef]

Do you have a picture of the area in the crawl space? How well insulated is it? My crawl space does not freeze. If you’re concerned just level the ground below and compact some sand. Place a pier with a support beam across the joists

 

[chopper320]

I don’t have a picture. I have no idea how cold it gets under there.

When you say a pier, are you referring to those deck blocks? Would that be in place of a floor jack?

 

[chopper320]

We are having the same discussion I have a 65 now. I have a friend that is literally trying to give me their 200 gallon and I’m worried about the floor supporting it.

That would be tough to pass up! The floor thing can be scary though

 

[chopper320]

Anyone else have thoughts on this? I’m thinking that supporting the joists is beyond my capabilities at this point. I just don’t know if it’s even needed.

 

[chopper320]

So I got under and measured and my joists are 2x10s with a 16” spacing. The ground actually is pretty thick pea gravel. I have no idea how deep it goes.

What are everyone’s thoughts on a 100-150 gallon tank running parallel with the joists on an outer perimeter wall?

 

[chopper320]

Here is a diagram showing the placement of the tank in the room. The tank would be less than 2' from the corner where the 2 exterior walls meet. There is a beam that is 3 boards wide supporting the joists about 14' from the exterior wall.

 

[chopper320]

Anyone?

 

[hoffmeyerz]

That placement should be fine with it being along two exterior walls, sitting on two joists, and in-between the exterior wall and beam. I would, however, sister the joists three or four joists out and add blocking for added support. Without doing more than that though I wouldn't go bigger than a 125gal.

 

[chopper320]

Thanks for your help! Do you think I could get by without sistering the joists if I stuck with an 80 gallon 4’ tank?

I’m trying to avoid having to do anything in the crawl space because I’m not sure how I would do it. I literally have to stay on my hands and knees because there is no space under there.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Yes, I run a 75gal tank in literally the same placement you drew with the same crawlspace setup lol

 

[chopper320]

That’s good to know. I may have to cross the bigger tank off of my wishlist but at least I can move the one I have to that spot.

 

[Pntbll687]

Spend $100 for two jack posts, and put them on either side of the joists where the tank is going to sit. You could put two 2x4 or 2x6 on edge and span two joists.

I used a single one of these in the 7ft length to support my 5ft 190g tank when I had it.

Tiger Brand Super S Series 36 in. Jack Post J-S-36 - The Home Depot

Tiger Brand - Super S 3 ft. Jack Post - Strong galvanized plates. 1 ft. 7 in.-3 ft. adjustment range. Tested to 18,000 lb. at minimum extension and 16,000 lb. at full extension. Double carriage bolts and nuts. - THD SKU# 527207

www.homedepot.com

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I'm no structural engineer but thoughts on a 2x6 in the center of the tank down towards the wall where you are not contacting the ground but the wall on an angle? might alleviate some weight.

 

[BryanM]

I'm in this boat right now.. Not enough room for jack posts... So I'm just going to do more of what's in this pic, concrete footer with a piece of 4x4 that fits quite snug. But I'm going up to a 230 gal. I doubt you need it for where your tank is being placed, but if you can do this its just a bit of added piece of mind.

 

[chopper320]

Spend $100 for two jack posts, and put them on either side of the joists where the tank is going to sit. You could put two 2x4 or 2x6 on edge and span two joists.

I used a single one of these in the 7ft length to support my 5ft 190g tank when I had it.

Tiger Brand Super S Series 36 in. Jack Post J-S-36 - The Home Depot

Tiger Brand - Super S 3 ft. Jack Post - Strong galvanized plates. 1 ft. 7 in.-3 ft. adjustment range. Tested to 18,000 lb. at minimum extension and 16,000 lb. at full extension. Double carriage bolts and nuts. - THD SKU# 527207

www.homedepot.com

I would do this but I’m just not sure how to do it. I see some people saying that they dig out a couple of feet and pour concrete to set the stands on. I don’t think I’m going to be able to do that under there. I can barely crawl because it’s so tight under there.

Is that required? The floor in the crawl is pea gravel.