Tank weight

[austin95]

Hello all, I live on the second floor of a building and I guess wanted to know if there’s a certain gallon threshold I should avoid. I’m wanting to run a 40 breeder with a 16 gallon sump or something. But wpild this he too heavy fully stocked? Thanks

 

[UncommonSense]

Hello all, I live on the second floor of a building and I guess wanted to know if there’s a certain gallon threshold I should avoid. I’m wanting to run a 40 breeder with a 16 gallon sump or something. But wpild this he too heavy fully stocked? Thanks

This will be fine on a second story of anything resembling modern construction!

Assuming you’re not living in a Victorian, I wouldn’t worry about 40-50gal of water weight (~8.5lbs/gal for salt water, and aquariums are typically measured by outside dimension volume; so subtract ~10% for actual tank volume)

Here’s a great stick on floor support, definitely worth a look through if you’re getting into much larger tanks not placed on a concrete pad!

Do I Need Floor Supporting?!?

Do I Need Floor Supporting?!? I always ran across differing opinions on floor support when it comes to our hobby. This was written by a structural engineer, but in what I feel, easy to understand language. Thought maybe someone might be interested... "By: Kevin Bauman One of the questions...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Johnd651]

This will be fine on a second story of anything resembling modern construction!

Assuming you’re not living in a Victorian, I wouldn’t worry about 40-50gal of water weight (~8.5lbs/gal for salt water, and aquariums are typically measured by outside dimension volume; so subtract ~10% for actual tank volume)

Here’s a great stick on floor support, definitely worth a look through if you’re getting into much larger tanks not placed on a concrete pad!

Do I Need Floor Supporting?!?

Do I Need Floor Supporting?!? I always ran across differing opinions on floor support when it comes to our hobby. This was written by a structural engineer, but in what I feel, easy to understand language. Thought maybe someone might be interested... "By: Kevin Bauman One of the questions...

www.reef2reef.com

Hahah... why Victorian? My Victorian has full size rough cut, dense 2x8, 16" on center.

But OP, your looking at around 500 lbs. If you think about furniture and everything else you have in your home, that should be easily supported. Staying near an outside wall is what I try to do since the supports usually run down to the foundation.

 

[sangria517]

Glass or Acrylic? I am assuming but glass.

40g=50lb
20g (sump)= 30lb
if you do sand=40lbs
rocks=40lbs
water we will say 50g total and at 8lbs per gallon=400lbs
I am assuming a table for it to sit on so like, 30lbs ish.

So all together you are looking at 590 so say 600-700lbs to be safe.

Your average apartment sized fridge weighs 200lbs

Stove is also 200lbs.

Dishwasher is 100lbs

a stacked washer and dryer weigh 300lbs

So those all together are 800lbs.

I would think you would be safe with a 40g. I would maybe have maintenance come out and show you were the crossbeams are and load baring boards are and get on top of one of those.


will want to also think about setting up a RODI so you do not have to haul water up the steps. I had a third floor apartment with no elevator. Did not have any fish tanks running for that reason. Groceries alone were a PITA.

 

[UncommonSense]

Let’s note for the record that this is a question of pounds per square inch on the floor, and its subsequent structural support!

The total weight will be across a 3ft span, 4.5ft2

The thing to consider here, but moreso for larger tanks is the orientation of the floor joists!

Off a ground floor in a wood construct; you ideally want your larger tank oriented to lay across as many floor joists as possible, not spanning along a single joist… also, as others have mentioned, close to a structural wall (vertical floor support nearby)!

Anyone considering installing a larger aquarium outside a concrete slab should definitely do some careful math, reference the above floor support sticky, and possibly hire an engineer if still uncertain.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

Do it and worrry about it later. ;) find which direction the supports go and set up the tank across them you will be fine

 

[steveschuerger]

I had a 90 running on the 3rd floor for 3 yrs. Nonissues

 

[Johnd651]

Let’s note for the record that this is a question of pounds per square inch on the floor, and its subsequent structural support!

The total weight will be across a 3ft span, 4.5ft2

The thing to consider here, but moreso for larger tanks is the orientation of the floor joists!

Off a ground floor in a wood construct; you ideally want your larger tank oriented to lay across as many floor joists as possible, not spanning along a single joist… also, as others have mentioned, close to a structural wall (vertical floor support nearby)!

Anyone considering installing a larger aquarium outside a concrete slab should definitely do some careful math, reference the above floor support sticky, and possibly hire an engineer if still uncertain.

Agreed. I am doing a 130+sump on the first floor over a crawl space. I am over-engineering it, but it is going against a wall with a foundation below it, with 2 additional beams going in perpendicular to the floor joists for additional support, on double 2x8s.

Pics here...

Build Thread - Possibly... the World's Slowest Tank Build

Almost... just need to paint the door, and make some cabinet doors! Also need to finish reinforcing the floor. I want to be done with the painting and cutting, make sure there's no dust floating into the tank.

www.reef2reef.com