will this tank fall my floor? haha. seriously!

[biocube8]

i know someone who has several large saltwater aquariums and has decided to only keep one. The last one to go is a 150 gallon aquarium that comes with sump, stand, rock, mhx3(all-in-one w/ flourescent) etc etc. I have to decided to buy the entire getup and my only concern is the WEIGHT! I live on the third story of a newly built condminium complex. i want to know if anyone out there thinks it may be dangerous to put such a heavy aquarium on the third story. Like i said my place is fairly new( buit in 2008) but that doesent mean it wont fall through the floor! haha
thank you, and any insight is very much appreciated,

SIZE]

 

[biocube8]

i forgot to say in the original, this is a 72" tank- meaning the pounds per square inch wont be as high as like a taller 150 gallon tank (48" long)

 

[shrimpy brains]

Of course, this is JMO. I am not an expert. But if you figure your tank is 6 foot by 18 inches(I think that's right for this tank) That's 9 sq. ft.
If your tank+live rock+water is about 2500 lbs.(I think this is an over estimation) That would be 277.77778 pounds per sq ft.
I would think most floors could handle this.

 

[gill again68]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3246096
Of course, this is JMO. I am not an expert. But if you figure your tank is 6 foot by 18 inches(I think that's right for this tank) That's 9 sq. ft.
If your tank+live rock+water is about 2500 lbs.(I think this is an over estimation) That would be 277.77778 pounds per sq ft.
I would think most florrs could handle this.

Wouldnt large people fall through floors if it wouldnt? I know that sounds bad but really if you think about it it makes since. Im not saying Im just saying.....

 

[biocube8]

Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3246098
Wouldnt large people fall through floors if it wouldnt? I know that sounds bad but really if you think about it it makes since. Im not saying Im just saying.....

: lol. 277 pounds per square foot really puts it in perspective. THANK YOU

IF I COULD POST MORE THAN 10 BANANAS I WOULD, AND PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE THE REASON WHY YOU CANT

JK JK

 

[justin21xx]

This is kinda funny. becuase i am getting a 150g and thinking the same i am on a first floor apartment with basement lower...

 

[socalnano24]

most residential floors are designed for 50 psf uniformly spread over the entire floor. So since you don't have fish tanks everywhere in your condo. You are probably fine.
However if you happened to get your 18" by 72" tank to land on only one joist, that could be a serious issue. (and since most floor joists are spaced at 16" O.C. this is very possible)
I wouldn't recomend a large tank to go on the skinny end of a rectangular floor plan; such as joists typically run in the short direction. It would be best to make sure it is somewhat close to a bearing wall below (not in the mid span), and somewhere along the long direction of your floor plan. You can always use a 5/8" or 1" plywood or OSB by 24" or 30" wide piece below the tank if you are still concerned at all to spread the load further

 

[tim514]

In a house, I wouldn't recommend it but i'm sure it would be fine if you ran it across multiple joists.
Although, a condominium complex that was built fairly recent, I would bet money that they used steel joists and beams to build the complex. You should check with someone who might know.

 

[reefraff]

You should check your complex rules, MANY of them will have prohibitions on large fish tanks and water beds. Like was stated before as long as the tank is over multiple joists it isn't going anywhere.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Tim514
http:///forum/post/3246602
In a house, I wouldn't recommend it but i'm sure it would be fine if you ran it across multiple joists.
Although, a condominium complex that was built fairly recent, I would bet money that they used steel joists and beams to build the complex. You should check with someone who might know.

Safe or not safe, I don't know and I am not offering an opinion either way.
I do know that the houses built today are actually made of cheaper materials. I would trust an older house any day over a newly built house or apartment for sure.

 

[kylev]

I'd say your fine and I myself would be much more comfortable with newer construction. The materials may be cheaper but engineering advances have done a lot of help as well. Plus you dont need to be concerned with rot and the stress of time. I also believe that the building codes would typically be higher for an apartment due to their size and occupancy than a house.

 

[tim514]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3247147

Safe or not safe, I don't know and I am not offering an opinion either way.
I do know that the houses built today are actually made of cheaper materials. I would trust an older house any day over a newly built house or apartment for sure.
I do not agree with that statement. Cheaper materials maybeee... but as and engineer and my father being in the construction business, a newer house would have stronger joints and more supports because of changes in building codes. An older home would be grandfathered in under older codes. Anyways, most newer condominiums would probably be built with steel joists, beams, ect because of such building codes.
Im not saying he should go ahead and put the 150 on the 3rd floor but you will probably be ok if you can find out how the place was built.