How big a tank can the main floor support?

[Rapunzelle]

Hi,

We will be moving soon (again) and when we're in our new house, I would like to buy a new aquarium. How many gallons (taking into consideration gravel etc) can I go without it being too heavy for the main floor without problems? I wouldn't want it to go through the floor ! :D

tks

[NJ Devils Fan]

You don't want a tank to be over 3 feet tall because the floor might not support the weight. You can have a large tank in your house where the weight is distributed over a large area of the floor.

[djlen]

Don't you think that depends on the type of floor and construction? There's no way of telling what the max weight should be without knowing some of those things. I think that up to 55 gallons would be safe especially if you don't put the tank in the middle of the room whick most people don't.
Once you start getting into the "larger" tanks you have to be more selective on location. Water weighs about 8.5 lbs per gallon plus substrate so 50 gals. goes 425lbs. and with, IMO, adequate gravel you're talking close to 500lbs. Most floors, especially 1st floors are ok with that. If you're in doubt, have a builder or building inspector check it out.
Len

[beviking]

The more area the tank is spread over the better, to a point. Try this link. It should help.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/aquarium_weight.php

edit- i fixed your link :D

[AikidoGuy]

450gallon, 220gallon, 120gallon tanks on my first floor! 150gallon, 55gallon second floor. your floors should be more than able to hold a large tank, if they cant your house has soem serious problems to begin with. unless your putting into your attic.. you should not have a problem even on the second floor with say 150 gallons. think if you put 4 200lb men on your couch you looking at close to 1000lbs and you never would worry about that would ya..

i know other peopel who have 180s 220s even a 340 on the first floor snad dont sweat it. heck i know a guy who has a 150, 110, and a dozen 75galls on the 24th floor of a nyc apartment building.

[Rapunzelle]

Good point Aikidoguy. Thanks everyone for your response. Not sure my hubby will be thrilled to know all this though :p

[OrionGirl]

While I agree that you shouldn't have any problems, the analogy between 2 men on a couch is misleading. Unless you have some serious couch potatoes on your hands, the weight on a couch won't be there all the time. The weight from your tank will be there all the time, 24/7. That's a big difference. Long term exposure to such stress can cause a problem for an inadequately supported floor. Occassional wetness (which will dry very slowly in a confined environment) can contribute to problems. It might be worth looking into more closely. The link provided above is a lot of reading, but well worth it if you really are concerned.

[Gumby7]

Originally posted by AikidoGuy
...i know a guy who has a 150, 110, and a dozen 75galls on the 24th floor of a nyc apartment building.

I wouldn't want to live on the 24th floor of a frame building! (I know it’s concrete).

I had a 90 on the 21st and in a wind storm you could watch the water sway back and forth about a 1/4" in height. A great curiosity for visitors.

Gumby7

[Wulfy]

Easy,

Find your building regulations code.
Your local council should have them.
Umm... You call them Counties in the US I think.

Here in Australia all the floors
are rated at 700kg per square meter.
You going to have to convert it into your anachronistic
system (ducks).

But in the US you may not have a uniform building code.

[Rapunzelle]

Wulfy, I'm not in the US - I'm in Canada. House of course will be built according to building codes - which are quite strict. I know the house will be well built, but it is still nice to know from other people's experiences what is considered reasonable in terms of constant weight in one spot. I was just curious to see what other people had to give me an idea.

thanks,

Rap. (Canada) :p

[beviking]

Just in case you didn't check that link out...

*Perpendicular to the floor joists
*Against a load bearing wall
*100 gallons and up, I'd do some serious investigating!

As OrionGirl pointed out, AikidoGuy's point isn't really a good one. Sounds good in theory, but those who know about load support and distribution have said otherwise.

Good luck!

edit - thanks mysterious link fix-er!:D

[Rapunzelle]

Thanks beviking. I did go to the link tks. I don't think I would go any higher than 77 g. Maybe even lower like 55 or 66. One of those three probably. According to what I read here I think I should be safe, but I will enquire with the builders anyway to have their opinion.

Rapunzelle

[Bantam]

...i know a guy who has a 150, 110, and a dozen 75galls on the 24th floor of a nyc apartment building.


I wouldn't want to live on the 24th floor of a frame building! (I know it’s concrete).

it'd be the 23rd floor of that building i wouldn't want to live on :D

[somefinnfishy]

Oh god if I was going to build I would talk to the framer and slip him $50 to add extra joists around the tank.
The plumer a $50 for a drain pipe behind tank.The electric contractor $100 for the two extra 4outlet GFI's on there own fuse.

I've moved a plenty of times last few years and would pay the 200 dollars On the items just mentioned to never worry about a electrical fire or finding a outlet,Never worry about the weight incase I want the 220g later and never carrying another bucket or hose would thrill me.
If you can locate the tank on a wall with a bathroom or utility room behind it all the plumbing should be there.

[Alex]

Originally posted by Wulfy
are rated at 700kg per square meter.
You going to have to convert it into your anachronistic
system (ducks). [/B]

That would be about 143.37 lbs/sqft.

Alex
(and maybe someday, before I die we will go metric)

[slipknottin]

Originally posted by Wulfy

You going to have to convert it into your anachronistic
system (ducks).



And youll need to learn how to drive on the correct side of the road. :p

[Wulfy]

Originally posted by slipknottin


And youll need to learn how to drive on the correct side of the road. :p

Touche :D

[Rapunzelle]

No our house is not built yet Somefinnfishy. We are working on the plans right now. First I have to convice hubby (once plans are finalized), then we can talk business :D ha ha. Good tips. Thanks.

Rapunzelle

[slowlyburn]

So what about say over a garage that is all cinder block with a 6 inch slab of concrete over it... no wood joists as far as i know??? all i see is cement... How much ya think that could hold?