large reef question need help

[wjake]

just started filling up my 210 gallon aquarium, we live on the 3rd floor (top floor) of our apartment.. i am getting a bit scared half way through because i am worried the floor will collapse... (no signs of it at all just worried)

anyone got any info on floor load capability for residential buildings/apartments etc

they are regular carpeted floors and i am almost positive that i am running perpendicular to the floor joists

please some input real quick

the tank is 65" long and 22" front to back... the floors are wood, and it is on against the outer wall of our living room...

the apartment was built in 2003

ok this is wierd. i just pealed back the carpet and the floor underneth is white.. it isnt cement, it looks like plaster or something wierd.. but isnt cement..!! again the building was built in 2003ok i took a drill and a 1/4 drill bit and put a small hole (across the room) into the subfloor.. you can use drywall as a subfloor can you? the reason i ask it looks like drywall when you drill into it. and its white like a gypsum or something.. again we live in a really nice apartment this isnt the slums or something so i have to expect they were well built, or at least they should be for 1600/ month...

but none the less i am still stuck about what to do with the tank

 

[yoboyjdizz]

Maybe you could ask them, might even be smart to let them know you have a tank? Sorry can't help much but it would suck if it did collapse on you.

 

[yaktop]

if you are against a load bearing wall, perpendicualr to the joists you shoud be fine. is there a basement? go down there and check it out maybe theres a drop cieling and you can see whats up. it would likely be the same for the other floors. Its always best to ask though, whats your lease say?

 

[steve the plumb]

you should ask the owner who might be able to contact the builder

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I would stop right now and empty (or almost empty) the tank. You dont know what kinf of structure you have there. And I am sure the people below you will not be happy if a 210 comes crashing through their ceiling!!!

Talk to the property manager and get some answers before you try it...

 

[RoWall]

Well. I Wouldn't be worried. I have mine 200g on a 10th floor apartment in a block of flats from the 80'. I talked to the fellow engineer, he told me I can put like 4000 pounds if it's near the outside wall of the building. I called to the admin, he told me that I can have 600 pounds on 1 square meter, but that's a laugh, Imagine a party when there is like 10 people dancing in one place, does the floor collapse? If you are not sure invite like 10-15 of your friends and told them to stand in one place, will the floor collapse? Offcourse not! Buildings are not from paper! All the weight of the roof and walls is much, much more then your aquarium, fill it up!

 

[DSP]

Generally speaking, if the tank is running perpendicular to the floor joists and is situated against a load-bearing wall, then no the tank will not fall through the floor. The concern is that the load will, over time, cause problems to the floor, the walls, and even the tank. This link offers some food for thought.

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html

Dave

 

[92cg60]

Renters insurance... better safe than sorry.

 

[tinmanny]

if you are worried then why don't you put a plank under the feet to spread the weight out even more. There has to be something substancial below the white floor
good luck Manny

 

[nattydread]

I wouldnt worry, I am sure they built that building better than i built my stand.

BUt the real issue is you are worrying, sleepness nights lie ahead if you dont do something or get some re assurance.

 

[TIMMYE]

What did you end up doing?

The white stuff yo saw is gypcrete. It is a concrete type material that is poured in a real liquid state. It is used to level out the sub floor and for fire proofing.

 

[bmcq]

I would have to ask what kind of stand do you have. If is the usual stand that comes with a purchased aquarium, it is distributing the weight of the aquarium over a wide area. If so I would drain the tank, move it and put a piece of 3/4" plywood under it. Do you have a refrigerator in your apartment? how much does it weigh fully stocked? The trick is to spread the weight over a large footprint. I agree if you are running across the floor joists and against an outside wall, you should be fine. I have a king size waterbed on my second floor that has been there for 20 years ... I still sleep very well at night!!!!