Sugar house loft joists size

[n8hutch]

You are absolutely right I did have a mathematical error there. My tank in reality is closer to 800 gallons I was just rough estimating, it sits centered on a main carrying beam so the load is spread out over the whole up stairs and easily falls under the 100 lbs per square ft that I used to figure out my beam size, a 4x8 rough sawn timber spaced 24" is roughly equal to a dimensional 2x8 spaced every 10". It is supported by 10 floor joists that sit on 4x8 sills that are supported by 6x6 verticle posts that fit together. Everyone has a different way of doing things , and i have certain seen and participated in plenty of"i would have done it this ways" in my life. thats what makes visiting other sugarhouses neat. Not trying to repeat myself but if I was the OP I just wouldn't do anything that I wasn't comfortable doing considering all factors.