Fish tank falling through floor

Deadeye

Deadeye

Premium Member
OK, I want to get a 125 gallon tank and I am on second story apartment, so of course I did searches, etc. on fish tanks falling through people's floor due to weight.. I haven't found anyone who has had this happen to them or seen it.

Does anyone here have actual stories of a tank going through a floor or have seen this? I am just curious.

I'm sure it has happened, but what were the circumstances I wonder? Did you put your 200 gallon in the middle of the room then have a overflow and leave it for a week and boom!! down it went.
 
I think what more or less happens is that if you don't put your aquarium on a load bearing wall, where the joices are 2' apart, you run into the problem of the floor severly sagging do to the stress on one joist as compared to several which would therefore distribute the weight of the aquarium. The next problem is that if you don't know the condition of the joists in the floor it could very well, eventually fall through the floor, I guess, but no, I have never heard of this happening.:D
 
Is there anyway to tell where a load bearing wall would be, by looking at the layout of an apartment/house? I have a 55 gallon I set up that I am not to worried about(up against a long wall in between bedroom and family room), but I want to make sure if I set the 125 gallon up that it is on a load bearing wall... But I don't know how to tell. I wanted to put it directly across from the 55.
 
I've never heard of a tank actually falling through the floor. However there have been several posts of previously level tanks leaning, sometimes dangerously due to the floor sagging because of the weight.
 
I believe that a load bearing wall will usually run parallel with the peak of your roof, and it is usually the longest wall in the center or near center of your house, which will usually tell you that all of the joists of the floor will run opposite of the peak of your house or be in alignment with the trusses in the roof, spaced every 2'.
 
I was wondering also, i think ours are 2x6 i beleve and i think there 12' or 16" so do you think that will be ok for a 90? I just want to make sure before i set it up, its on a 2nd floor also, but i dont want to loose $ setup.
 
Hello There Deadeye, I did a bunch of research on this topic. I live in an apartment building on the 4th floor, so there was definately alot at stake. Basically what I would recommend that you do is go out and buy or borrow a stud finder. The stud finder will not only help you find the direction of the joist, but it will also help you setup the tank accross as many joists as possible. Second, take a look at your ceiling, depending on the age of your building, settling occurs, and the floor joist tend to sink a little, which will then in turn show through. I've also read the joist are setup to go in the direction of an exterior wall, say a wall with a window. Of course this is not fail safe if you live in a corner apartment. Last thing I read that I would recommend also, Place the tank as close to the wall as possible, greatest level of support. But don't forget to leave room, for the endless amount of equipment needed. Good luck with it
 
My apt is so old and god only knows i cant even keep a 55 without worring about the floor which sags in many areas, the kitchen, dining room and living room all sag, this is due to settling for like 50 years. Anyways i keep my 40gl system right up against the central load bearing wall and if i scrub the glass hard enough the tank will still sway back and forth but not too bad. I cant wait to get the heck out in febuary. Ill move to some new apts and be able to get a bigger tank at that point. I'm currently replacing the bathroom floor (found out it was rotting so im taking it out of my rent) Cant stand landlords that dont take care of there building!
Ryan

Oh im on the first floor too but the house sits above pilings or something
 
the subflooring in my condo is concrete, does this make a difference. what type of joists are used in these situations?
 
It's probably steel reinforced then... you have really nothing to worry about. They design these new places to stand up to some pretty major abuse... especially in hurricane prone areas like Miami, or earthquake prone areas like California. The danger isn't "falling through the floor". It's leaking water and damaging the property by that. I'd ask "How many of you have ever pumped more than a gallon onto your floor by mishap?" I bet most of us have. Pump 10 gallons onto the floor and it will make a noticable mess.

For the landlord up there... It's your place, do with it as you want. If the renters in your area are plentiful, and you keep your place full, you're profiting. But leaving a place open because people don't want to put up with your rules is costing you a lot more than the risk of a waterbed or aquarium. I'd have them put an extra deposit, but not prohibit either.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8250077#post8250077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kingzeus
Meanie.
Click to expand...
maybe....however imagin your the apartment below the guy with a 55g tank and that tank breaks. Guess whos stuff gets ruined Yours :D Then on top of that now I have a wet floor and a ****ed off tenant who will likely sue me for damages cause I allowed a tank.

And I Take good care of my apartment :)
 
Another way to tell. If you have hard wood floors down in your apartment. The joist usually runs opposite of the direction of the hard wood floors.
Also the joist usually runs the shortest span. So if you apartment is long left to right.then it runs front to back or vice versa.
 
I lived in a second floor apartment for several years and assumed which was my load bearing wall. I promptlly placed a 150gal there with no troubles at all. I have since moved and sold that tank in favor of a 225gal. For this tank I simply reenforced the living room floor joists.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8266337#post8266337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jallard
maybe....however imagin your the apartment below the guy with a 55g tank and that tank breaks. Guess whos stuff gets ruined Yours :D Then on top of that now I have a wet floor and a ****ed off tenant who will likely sue me for damages cause I allowed a tank.

And I Take good care of my apartment :)
Click to expand...

You should set a limit on aquarium size say like a 20 or 30gallon tank on a firm level stand. I have lived in apartments or townhouses for the most of my life until recently we purchased a home and would have never ever even considered moving into a apartment who didnt allow aquariums.
 
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