Need some new tank advice

[tdalessa01]

Hey Everybody,

Because I am absolutely addicted to fish tanks I am going to buy a new one tommorow to upgrade from my 15 gal because I want to double my Tiger Barb group and my Raphael Cat needs a bigger home.

I had my eyes set on a nice 30 gal with a black wood stand, however a guy at a LFS told me that he would give me the same price as the 30 set ($220!) for a 55 gal. So what's the problem?

Well, I live in a condo building on the 6th floor. I was fine with the idea of the 30 gal because I figured around 300ish pounds. A 55 full weighs over 500 lbs. correct? Do you guys think that is to much weight for a 6th floor apt.?

I am going to buy one at 10:00am so I would really appreciate some opinions on if it is safe to get the 55 gal

Thank You

 

[Bmeasure]

From what I know of carpentry and framing houses, it would be fine. I don't know all the tolerance loads, but I can't imagine that the floor area the size of 4 foot couldn't hold the weight of 3 grown men (roughly 600lbs.) I've worked in tight quarters with men befor when framing a building and there has never been a problem. I'd worry when getting over a 75 gallon personally!

 

[Jericho]

If you are renting the condo check your lease and see if you can have a tank that large (for leakage and insurance issues) if you own it check your home owners association for the same. If that lets go then the people down below may get ticked. As for the weight if you put it on a load bearing wall you should not have a problem, but don't quote me I am not an expert on your building.

 

[jaymasta]

Ya, generally speaking, if the building is built to minimum standards, it should easily be able to hold over 2000lbs on that area, you have got to remeber that the weight is being split up over the whole area that touches the ground, eg 4sq ft = 576sq inches, say you have 600lbs worth of water and gravel, well thats not even 1.1lb per sq inch, you see?

If your really worried about it you can always get a much wider stand, perhaps a stand that gives you 6sq ft of surface which would spread the weight out even more so it would only be 0.7lbs per sq inch....