I want to raise a 50 gallon water tank in the loft 600mm above the joists. Any body care to describe the construction? I've thought of making a 'fish tank' type of support with diagonals all around just like scaffolders use. The only thing is, I dont want to over engineer it with timber that's far too big or worse, under.... The joists are currently 5' between centres and made from 5 x 2s. Would appreciate your comments. Thank you.

Roy, March 2009

50 gallons weighs 245 kilograms, so it's going to have to be sturdy and the base of the construction needs to be spread over a wide area, otherwise your joists will sag and you'll get cracks appearing in the ceiling.
One trick is to centre it over an internal wall. Where two walls cross is ideal, that way the joists already crossing the wall at the top take all the strain and hardly move.

Nick from sunny Sale, March 2009