[GhostMic]

I want to put a 125 gallon tank in my house. The issue is the tank filled and operational will weigh 1200 to 1500 pounds. The 2 by 10 floor joist is 13 feet long. One end rests on a steel beam and the other the basement foundation wall. The tank and stand is 6' by 18" by 22". Can the one joist handle the weight. If not, could I build a wall to support the weight under the joist? Plan to finish the basement soon, so I would just do this one wall and double studs where the tank ends are and the center of the tank. What do you guys think?

 

[danpik]

Sounds like a nice size tank. The floor joist you question should be able to handle it as the load will be spread to the joists on either side of it as well by the floor boards. My brother-in-law had a tank the same size oriented in the same situation as you have. It sat on a ceramic tile floor directly over one floor joist. If there would have been any deflection the tile floor would have shown cracks. 10 years later and it is still fine. If you are unsure, have 6 or 7 friends come over and stand in the foorprint of where the tank will go. When they are there measure any deflection in the floor from below and see what you have. I think you will be surprised

 

[Maintenance 6]

You could sister a second joist to the original and then add blocking between that paired joist and the ones adjacent to it. I would do that to be safe.