New tank not level!

[Brew12]

All the joists are pretty level from one to another in the basement. The idea of draining it is hard to swallow.

Do you have empty totes you can drain it into?

 

[Matt Miller]

I do have some but most of what I used left with my help lol.

 

[Matt Miller]

It could be the carpet is compressing and the tac board is pushing the tank forward. shim it from the front and problem solved. If you really want to do it right I would, yes drain the tank. cut up the carpet around the system, pull the tac board, and brace the system with 2x4's between the joists and then come back with some molding to hide the 2x4 bracing

It's a few inches away from the trim so I thought I would miss the tac strip.

 

[TylerS]

You need to drain and reinforce the joist. You've got over 500 pounds on each joist and the one away from the wall is deflecting downward when you add water.

Talk to a structural engineer.

 

[Brew12]

I do have some but most of what I used left with my help lol.

I feel for you.

Not sure what to tell you. It really sounds like your joist is sagging if it isn't sitting on a tac strip, and I'm not sure how it could be sitting on a tac strip.

Personally, I wouldn't leave a tank filled with that much of a lean but the picture could be deceptive. I've heard of leans getting worse over time, not likely to get better over time. :(

 

[Joey waid]

Can you move the tank to a new location. Might save you a lot of time and money.

 

[Matt Miller]

I'm about sick to my stomach...

 

[Joey waid]

I'm about sick to my stomach...

I know you are...

 

[Matt Miller]

Can you move the tank to a new location. Might save you a lot of time and money.

Not really anywhere else I can go with it.

 

[Brew12]

Not really anywhere else I can go with it.

These might be an option for you if you can verify it is the one joist sagging.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Tiger-Brand-Super-S-Series-8-ft-4-in-Jack-Post-J-S-100/100022783

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm just not sure what else it could be. :(

 

[cracker]

How far off of level is it?

 

[Matt Miller]

How far off of level is it?

5/16" front to back, 18"

 

[Joey waid]

5/16" front to back, 18"

That's a lot..

 

[Matt Miller]

These might be an option for you if you can verify it is the one joist sagging.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Tiger-Brand-Super-S-Series-8-ft-4-in-Jack-Post-J-S-100/100022783

I hope I'm wrong, but I'm just not sure what else it could be. :(

The joist doesn't seem to be sagging, but maybe I could brace it..

 

[TylerS]

Put your level across the bottom of the joists on the ends, and then in the middle. The level should be the same. If it changes in the middle of the span where the tank is you've found the problem. The giveaway here is that it was level when dry.

 

[Matt Miller]

Put your level across the bottom of the joists on the ends, and then in the middle. The level should be the same. If it changes in the middle of the span where the tank is you've found the problem. The giveaway here is that it was level when dry.

Joists are almost dead on down the wall.

 

[Matt Miller]

I guess I'm cleaning the old tank out to put water in it

 

[TylerS]

Hrm.. if they are level while the tank isn't then my thought goes to deflection of the stand. But that would surprise me. Measure the length to the floor at each corner of the tank.

One other possibility is the joist is normally not level.

Are the front feet right on the OSB on top of the joist, or are they on the OSB spaced away from the joist by 4 inches or so. Maybe the OSB is deflecting right under the feet?

5/16 should be measurable somewhere to figure out where the problem is.

 

[Joey waid]

Hrm.. if they are level while the tank isn't then my thought goes to deflection of the stand. But that would surprise me. Measure the length to the floor at each corner of the tank.

One other possibility is the joist is normally not level.

Are the front feet right on the OSB on top of the joist, or are they on the OSB spaced away from the joist by 4 inches or so. Maybe the OSB is deflecting right under the feet?

5/16 should be measurable somewhere to figure out where the problem is.

That's my thought, that the joist is normally higher before a load.

 

[Matt Miller]

Thx for all the quick responses, my panic has partially subsided and I'm cleaning the extra tank to siphon water into. Tomorrow I'm going to brace it in the basement and rip down a spacer shim to raise it up.

So far the fish seem good in the 10g and hopefully tomorrow I'll get back on track