Jack Posts Supporting Engineered I-joists

Thanks to all. I will seek the opinion/advice of a professional.

Maybe the attached sketch can help clear up what I am trying to say, what I am thinking about doing and what the layout be.

The double I-joists on the left in the photo is under the half wall. The aquarium will be beside and parallel to the half wall. The aquarium will also be directly over and parallel to the middle I-joist in the photo. 3/4" plywood panels will go between the I-joists laying flat in the basement ceiling. 4X4 lumber will be laying horizontal underneath the plywood and 4 jack posts will hold the 4X4 up against the ceiling. The proper amount of pressure from the jack posts should support the weight of the aquarium.

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Hi. I am in the home renovation business and I would start by contacting a builder of the engineered joist. I realize it might be harder for you to do than for me, as I know the people that build them 45 minutes from here (I am in Canada). I am guessing Home Depot or places like that will be able to give you a company name. Here, there is a stamp on every joist, that will determine the bearing weight. It will mean little to you but it will mean the world to the builder. You will need that, or a measurement at least. If I am looking at the picture properly, it appears that you will be almost on top of a main support for the house. I would think you will be okay. For example, a 55 gallon tank probably weighs less than 4 average size people standing in the same place. Having said that, you are right--you want to be able to support the tank and 4 people standing beside it, admiring it. One last thought--you might want to consider building a beam instead of using a 4 x 4 post. Again, I am not sure of availability where you are, but here we can only get treated 4 x 4's. Although minimal, there are chemicals in treated lumber that you might want to keep outside of the house. I hope my 2 cents helps.
 
Rbarr, if I understand your drawing, you intend to brace the floor jacks against the floor sheeting as opposed to the joists? Again.. non-professional here, but I would avoid that.
 
Thanks to all for your advice and comments. I hired Geotech-Environmental Solutions, LLC of Midlothian, VA to give me some solutions on how to support my 180 gallon aquarium. I should get a report from them in about a week. The cost for this engineer report is $450.00. I will post the recommendation when I get it.
 
I received recommendations from the engineer company today. They recommended that I attach a 1&3/4" x 11&7/8" 2.0E Laminated Veneer Lumber to each of the three 13' I-joists that will be underneath or close to the aquarium.
 
Now I have to find someone who knows what they are doing to install the 3 LVL. It's going to be a tight fit because of the a/c duck, water and gas lines.
 
Rbarr said:
I received recommendations from the engineer company today. They recommended that I attach a 1&3/4" x 11&7/8" 2.0E Laminated Veneer Lumber to each of the three 13' I-joists that will be underneath or close to the aquarium.
Click to expand...

Are the boards they recommended you attach going to also be 13 feet long?
 
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