Floor Supports for Large Tank

[tervman]

Do any of you use floor supports for your tanks? I am looking at a 300G tank. My house is on a crawl space, with a drop of about 5-6 feet between the floor and the ground of the crawl space. I know I need support, so the tank does not crash through the floor, and was thinking some of you might tell me what you use, and (if possible) include some photos.

Thanks much!

 

[Guy W]

I read on another forum a long time ago someone having this issue with their basement. I guess they went to home depot or similar home supply store and bought some kind of telescoping struts that they placed in their basement between the floor and the ceiling. It worked out for them as far as I know.

I am on the 2nd floor condo and have a 125gal tank with no supports below and i don't even think it's against a load bearing wall. I've never had any problems. A 300gal might be a different story, I don't know.

 

[WharfRat]

Is the house newer or older ? If its an older home you may want to add some screw jacks just to be safe. Alot depends on where you are goin to put this tank..is it going along load bearin walls or is it going to be out in the middle of the house where the structure isnt as inter woven?

 

[got_nailed]

If you use jacks or anything else you will need to think of the fact that the ground will sink under that kind of weight. If it’s 5 feet it would not be that bad to dig a 12” deep footing the size of your tank right under it and build a 4X4 support that goes under the floor and attaches to your joist. If you get water down there you should dig it about 18” or more.

If you used screw jacks you still need to think of what it’s sitting on and there foot print is about 8 square inches. So that would be putting way to much presser per an inch, and would sink with time. So it might be a weekly thing of jacking the tank back up. With a hard rain and a little bit of water down there could cause lack of support.

IMO I would say you should do some digging and poor a footing and do it right. The 4x4’s would be good if you don’t plan on any of the house settling but a few screw jacks could be lowered with time (still would need to beef up the framing to spread the load to the jacks.