75 gallon aquarium weight??

[SeaHorsie*03]

Hi,
I was thinking about getting a 75 gallon aquarium w/ a sump.... But it would have to be on the 2nd story of my house. My house is pretty new, but would it be risky to keep that size of aquarium on the second story because of the weight?

Thanks!
-Nicole

 

[jenglish]

water weighs roughly 8.6 lbs/gallon, a glass tank filled you need to estimate 10-12 lbs./gal for total tank weight. If the tank crosses a few joists it shoudl not be a problem. I had a 75 and 72 sitting on the same joists in my old house. But that house was so old the 2x4s were actually 2x4 :lol:

 

[returnofsid]

Think of it this way... A 75 will typically weigh in the neighborhood of 750-800 pounds. Once you add the weight of the stand and misc. equipment, figure about 900-1000 lbs. The footprint of a 75 is 48"X18", which equals 6 square feet. If you take the total weight, divided by the square feet, you get about 167 lbs/sq. ft. This is less than most full grown men, standing in one spot. Your floor is easily capable of holding 167 lbs/sq. ft., as long as your tank spans a couple floor joists, instead of running the same direction of your floor joists. It will also be best if put against a "bearing" wall.

 

[SeaHorsie*03]

Thanks!
This might be a stupid question, but how do know the direction of my floor joists?

 

[firemedic0135]

blueprints would be my first option.

 

[RobbyVonAwesome]

Blue prints, or if you have a crawl space, do some crawling and see for yourself.

 

[Mike31154]

Get a 'stud' finder, fairly inexpensive these days, and you'll be able to find your floor joists that way. Generally they will run perpendicular to your 'long' outside wall.

 

[snorvich]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15089579#post15089579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike31154
Get a 'stud' finder, fairly inexpensive these days, and you'll be able to find your floor joists that way. Generally they will run perpendicular to your 'long' outside wall.

I agree, easy and cheap.

 

[inovrmyhd]

If you have wood floors just look at how the boards of the floor run. The joists run the other way.