Largest tank you would put on the 2nd floor??

[reefbroao]

Im wondering what people think would be too large for the 2nd floor.

Its the only place I am "allowed" to occupy with the fish obsession.

I have an 80g but I want to upgrade again, I want about 5'x 2' tank

 

[anthonys51]

really depends on how the house is built. i had a 265 gallon tank on my second floor, but the house was built with the support beams ever 12 inches

ps i am not a contractor

 

[reefbroao]

haha Man that's what I want. I've worked construction and i'm renting so I don't know what the guts look like. I do know there's a wall below about 4' from the window which would be under the tank, just not sure if its load bearing or not.

 

[reefbroao]

I really want a 180

 

[anthonys51]

yes some houses are built like crap. lol does renter insurance cover tanks going threw the floor lol

 

[reefbroao]

I doubt it would get covered haha. I am assuming by the terrible dry wall job in here that the guts are junk, BUT i've never heard of a tank actually going through the floor, just breaking from sagging supports.

 

[anthonys51]

i actually saw an episode of tanked where they had to build a tank that could only put like 15 lbs pre square foot or something like that. they built the stand bigger than the tank to spread the weight out. so basically a 250 gallon tank would be 3000 lbs, the stand normally would be 2 x 8 so 187.5 lbs pre square feet. if you made the stand 4 x 10 its 75 lbs pre square feet.

 

[reefbroao]

ahh that Is a good idea.

 

[anthonys51]

well it wasnt my ideas it was wade's

 

[ReefTeacher]

I have my 180 on my second floor, but I checked with an engineer before I put it there. My house is built like a tank! The drama of falling through the floor is a fun thought, but very rare. More likely is sag caused over time. Check with experts about how your floor is rated....it will pay for itself in equity when you go to sell your house! Also make sure the tank runs parallel to the weight bearing walls; this helps to distribute the weight.