My parents are looking at getting a 90 gallon reef. If this was run parrallel to the beam in a pier in beam house would any additional support be needed. Also if it was perpendicular to the beams would it need any additional support?
Tank Weight on Pier and Beam house
- Thread starter gbolton
- Start date
as with any house, the floors are designed to support a minimum of 40 psf. A 90 gallon falls quite a bit below that weight, but should still be distributed as best as possible.
If perpendicular to the joists, I wouldnt bother reinforcing anything unless you notice very detectable deflection or if the tank water splashes around quite a bit when you walk in the room (the aquarium dampens the floor, so the floor will become less bouncy, not more bouncy, youll just percieve it being more bouncy as you now have an easy reference)
If perpendicular to the joists, I wouldnt bother reinforcing anything unless you notice very detectable deflection or if the tank water splashes around quite a bit when you walk in the room (the aquarium dampens the floor, so the floor will become less bouncy, not more bouncy, youll just percieve it being more bouncy as you now have an easy reference)
ok maybe im just doing my math wrong. Assuming on the low end that the weight will be 8lbs per gallon we are talking about 720 lbs. 8*90=720 ..... The tank is approx 48"X18" (not sure on the 18" will get exact). This makes for 6 sq. ft. 4*1.5=6. At 40psf this makes 240 lbs that could be supported in this area. 40 psf seems reall low to me I mean I weight 250lbs and when I stand I take up less than 1 sf. Is this an average the entire room should be able to support if so its reall meaningless when it comes to a single point right? Sorry only had a few structural engineering classes so I may just be looking at this all wrong.
the 40 psf is the uniform floor load spread throughout the room. So you could have a load of 1000 psf in one area and not cause a problem.
Its if you filled the entire room with aquariums and the load exceeded more than 40 psf that you can have problems.
In any case, its not really the psf that is the problem, as the subfloor is strong in punching shear, its the actual weight of the aquarium itself that causes the problems.
If you still want to test the 40psf rating, calculate the area of that floor, from each structural support, then take the psf of the 90 gallon and distribute it. Should be far less than 40psf.
Its if you filled the entire room with aquariums and the load exceeded more than 40 psf that you can have problems.
In any case, its not really the psf that is the problem, as the subfloor is strong in punching shear, its the actual weight of the aquarium itself that causes the problems.
If you still want to test the 40psf rating, calculate the area of that floor, from each structural support, then take the psf of the 90 gallon and distribute it. Should be far less than 40psf.
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