Cubbies
Active member
+1000
My "Tanked" Tank
- Thread starter anicemess
- Start date
+1000
jcarlilesiu
Active member
I don't know why some people are so adversarial to professional services when it comes to construction.
That would be like going to the doctor and saying "I am having chest pain, I want you to do a quadruple bi-pass, and I am not wasting any money on tests".
Then again, I am doubting that anybody is going to give you advice in regard to their construction suggestions that comes with a warranty or that they will claim responsibility if anything goes wrong.
That would be like going to the doctor and saying "I am having chest pain, I want you to do a quadruple bi-pass, and I am not wasting any money on tests".
Then again, I am doubting that anybody is going to give you advice in regard to their construction suggestions that comes with a warranty or that they will claim responsibility if anything goes wrong.
I am not condoning or suggesting an adversarial relationship at all. The information needed to run this calculation accurately is time consuming and possibly expensive. Over-design it in the first place (4x4s or 6x6s) save the design fee and move on with life. Look at the way the stand was designed - figure out its capacity then mimic it to support the floor.
PS. I am a mechanical engineer who works in construction. The stuff to do this calc is learned by almost all engineers (except EE) during their 1st or 2nd yr.
No but even the structural engineer will have enough things to protect himself from warranting it at all. ie the load of the tank changed, the furniture in the room changed, people who live there got fatter, the humidifier wasn't keeping the correct RH, the contractor installed the wrong wood, the foundation wasn't properly installed originally, and etc etc etc.
onepoorreefer
Member
If you do not want to mess up the hight of your basement just buy some mircolams and glue and nail them to the floor joist so they are double up if you dont care about the hight put a double mircolam header under the floor joist and 4x4 to hold them up i would not waste my money on a engineer or architect 90% of them over engineer stuff to portect themself .There are a lot of good carpenter out there that do good work and will give a warranty on there work they do. I been building custom homes for 25 years and always warranty my work even when we have to fix all the engineer and architect mess ups some of them should go back to drawing cartoons
jcarlilesiu
Active member
The calcs aren't that difficult. Its straight compression load on a couple of columns after verify that the amount of deflection in the joists wouldn't cause issues. Then provide a custom column footing in the basement. Most structural engineers cost about $125 an hour with a loaded rate, so you are looking at under $500 to run the calcs, a sketch, and a stamp and seal.
If people want to just wing it with "over design" go for it.
I think its a poor solution to a complex question.
jcarlilesiu
Active member
Typical contractor attitude. Most don't even understand why they do what Architects and Engineers tell them to. Most can't even explain what rebar is put into concrete for.
Whatever though, this is getting off topic. I am done. I'm an Architect, and deal with know-it-all contractors daily who rarely have any clue what an architect even does.
Ill stay out of this thread now.
No offense but your missing the complex part. the math is easy and always is - its what goes into that matters (see the list of items above + a million others).
also you you forgot the cost of the site visit to the home and assessment of existing structure.
Its not winging. it a known strenth that exceeds the requirements.
Probably best to leave this to the professionals
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onepoorreefer
Member
Thats a typical architect attitude contractor are never right I made plans for my moms bird house that makes me an architect to. I have a good clue what architect do play connect the dots and the computer figure out the rest for you .bring an architect to a job site and he or she will have know clue on how to do most things and what can and can not be done because they are just book smart just because you can connect dots does not mean it can be or should be done that way .Any good carpenter should have the skill to build something to support that fish tank without an architect and have it work just fine and never have a problem and not cost the home owner a arm and a leg
EricTheRed
No, I'm not a communist..
Gentlemen,
This has become very personal. Although it has been interesting to listen to 3 different professional opinions, perhaps its time to let it rest as there appears to be no agreement. I think there has been ample discussion on this topic and Anicemess can decide from here which path to take.
This has become very personal. Although it has been interesting to listen to 3 different professional opinions, perhaps its time to let it rest as there appears to be no agreement. I think there has been ample discussion on this topic and Anicemess can decide from here which path to take.
mr_z
New member
Ummmm being Mexican I'm gonna tell u straight up hire like 2 or three of us mexicans and we got you!!!!! Lol but really there are some carpenters that really know what they're doing and with work being so slow right now u offer a job to any carpenter right now and they'll do a good job knowin that you might refer them to someone else. My dad just got laid off and is ready to do any carpentry, drywall, doors, windows, framing jobs. He's been working for Anning Johnson for about 20 years. 
anicemess
New member
jcarlilesiu please do not leave the thread because of all this and do not be angry with the other reefers. This is my thread (so to speak) and I asked for EVERYONE'S opinion. Who I listen to is up to me but I encourage comments but not arguments. Believe me, I am soaking it all up. I want you guys to agree to disagree but stick around to see how it ends. If it ends with a massive insurance claim then there's only me (and the contractor) to blame.
Do as you please - and you might be correct, but when it comes to $100 in extra supports and a few hours of labor vs the potential catastrophe, it seems like an easy decision.
Yes I am very excited to see this tank as well!
jcarlilesiu
Active member
I think your definition of "small" is much different than mine. 5000 pounds in a concentrated area in residential construction (most types) is definately something to be concerned about.