[HELP]Floor Sagging? New 150gal Tank not level after 5 days

[drkcurrent]

Hey All,

Just finished setting up a 150gal tank with a 40 gal sump. Tank has been rolling for 5 days and I noticed today that one corner the water level is leaning towards.

I checked the crawl space and do not notice anything but i fear this is a major issue.

How can I support the floor?

 

[ReefHunter006]

Am I missing where those joists are attached to anything that supports them?

Hopefully someone with more experience weighs in here. I am curious to know what’s going on in this crawlspace cause I’ve never seen joists that are bracketed to a 45 degree 2x6 or 2x4? Hard to tell. I hope you get a solution, but if it were me and it was this early I would drain the water until you figure out a solution. Slants will mess that silicone up fast in my experience.

 

[Reefer1978]

why are they laid out horizontally and not vertically????

 

[ReefHunter006]

why are they laid out horizontally and not vertically????

I assumed this is something new that I hadn’t seen, but I have never seen anything like this.

 

[Reefer1978]

Looks like engineered joists and to be honest, I had them at my old house between first and second floors and there was significant sag on a 20 foot run, about 2 inches in the middle. I actually hired a company to pen the ceilings up and re-enforce everything.

 

[Reefer1978]

I assumed this is something new that I hadn’t seen, but I have never seen anything like this.

It's this basically... and it's cheaper.

 

[ReefHunter006]

It's this basically... and it's cheaper.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s likely to sag over longer runs. I’m sure it’s great under 10ft. Thanks for sharing!

 

[drkcurrent]

I had that same question. The house was built in 2014 and I assumed it was because I am in an earth quake area that it wasn't attached to anything. I previous had a 112gallon system that didn't have any issues.

Here is another picture of it near the wall. Tank is on the first 3 closest

I am thinking of trying to put in some jack supports.

 

[Reefer1978]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s likely to sag over longer runs. I’m sure it’s great under 10ft. Thanks for sharing!

That's exactly the issue I had, it sagged under the house weight... no tank required.

I had that same question. The house was built in 2014 and I assumed it was because I am in an earth quake area that it wasn't attached to anything. I previous had a 112gallon system that didn't have any issues.

Here is another picture of it near the wall. Tank is on the first 3 closest

I am thinking of trying to put in some jack supports.

What I did, is use a hydraulic lift to straighten out each joist, and then attached a full length plywood for the extra support. But ply also adds weight. You might be better off with steel or aluminum, id you can get it at that length.

 

[HighlandReef]

Those are pre-engineered trusses / floor joists, contractors use them because it’s cheaper than traditional boards and less labor intensive. Pre-built off site.
Unfortunately, as your discovering they are not as strong as traditional floor joists.
You’ll need to brace the flooring or it’s just going to keep sagging.
I know it sucks but I would do it sooner then later, longer you wait, worse it will get.
I feel for you, contracted went cheaper route and now you have to deal with it.
Whatever you do, don’t ignore it.

 

[TheReefDiary]

get some 4x4 or even 6x6 (if you're extra nervous) treated posts and cut them exactly to size. put them under the corners on the tank. ensure that all joists are nailed properly and that hangers are attached and nailed.

will be cheaper than expandable jacks and just as reliable so long as you cut them to proper size.

 

[Harpo]

You need to reinforce your floor ASAP. The jack and box in your joists as recommended by Reefer 1978

 

[Beau_B]

Called web trusses. It's not an issue so much about cost of them... In our area they are actually more expensive.

Anyway, it has to do with the load calculation. The tank is adding a static (or dead) load that the floor designer didn't account for.

The first method of increasing the strength is to add plywood gussets. The second is to add blocking between all. Third would be supports to surface below, but without knowing what that is... Hard to advise. May require concrete footings to be effective.

If it were a new build there are additional methods that can be executed, but you're beyond that.

If there is an chance to get the plans or builder tag off the joists, you may be able to contact the company and find out the ratings and their recommended solutions.

 

[Zerodameaon]

So is only the top bit of the joist connected to the concrete?

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

Before you go down that rabbit hole, are you sure your floor is not level? If you have a level preferably a long one, check the floor. Then check the joists. Then check the aquarium. Then also check the stand. Those joists pre-built are dimensionally more accurate than stick built. If your floor had settled. There also would be cracks in the drywall on the lower level especially. Up in the corners. Little tank like that should not be causing this to that degree.

Edit: Trusses, not joists in the above. Typing with thumbs.

 

[drkcurrent]

 

[drkcurrent]

Before you go down that rabbit hole, are you sure your floor is not level? If you have a level preferably a long one, check the floor. Then check the joists. Then check the aquarium. Then also check the stand. Those joists pre-built are dimensionally more accurate than stick built. If your floor had settled. There also would be cracks in the drywall on the lower level especially. Up in the corners

No the floor is not level ... I checked the entire floor(not just below the tank) in the crawl space and it all sags towards the center. More noticeable where the tank is slightly though now.

 

[ReefHunter006]

Decided to read up on this a bit.

something seems off because atleast this little bit of googling leads me to believe that trusses should have an advantage. I am still suspect that the ones shown in the op are installed right. I can’t see where they are supported to the floor.

Floor Trusses vs Floor Joists: Explained

Floor trusses are an assembly of top and bottom chords separated by diagonal braces, while floor joists are horizontal members that connect beams. Floor trusses have a higher load-bearing capacity and provide greater span lengths,

mellowpine.com

Still think I prefer joists though haha.

 

[flashsmith]

Florida certainly isn't the best State but I love our concrete foundations...lol

 

[drkcurrent]

Temporary solution seems to have stopped the sag but need a better foot for the jack to hold as it is pushing into the soil below.

Still not level but better