Safe size for 2nd floor apartment???

[AngeloM3]

I have a 90g reef and 30g sump/fuge. Would you trust that on a 2nd floor apartment? I will be able to find out where the floor beams are.

And just a random question cause I'm curious... whats the largest size tank you would trust on a 2nd floor?

-Angelo

 

[cdangel0]

I would trust it only running perpendicualr to the floor joists, and near a supporting wall, which will be the sturdiest place in the apartment.

Check with the apartment management first - some will not allow large fish tanks or water beds becasue of the weight / potential water damage from a flood.

 

[reefkoi]

most apartment buildings have concrete floors, you can park a car on them no problem, they usually are not built like a house with floor joists, A 90 is nothing, I've seen 240's in apartments

 

[Icefire]

I live in a very old app. on 2nd floor.

Total 83G near exterior wall on crappy wood floor

 

[alan214]

What are the tank's dimensions? Hopefully it's not a cube.

If you locate the tank near a load-bearing wall and perpendicular to the floor joists (which may be hard to know in an apartment), you could have a 180G in an apartment.

 

[rooroo]

I had my 65 in a 2nd floor apartment that definetly was not concrete floors. I just put it next to a load bearing wall. Did the same in my Townhouse, its on the 3rd floor there.

 

[clekchau]

i had a 180 gallon on a 3rd floor on a load bearing wall, no problems for 3 years before i moved.

 

[shullat]

I have a 210G tank in my 2nd floor apartment, I guess it's just down to building standards. I checked with the owner before hand....

 

[rickh]

First check with the management to see if they have a maximum size tank--in writing. I would hate for you to have a leak, the apartment sues you and your insurance won't pay. Do you have renters insurance and is a tank accident covered?? R

 

[marmonduke]

I had a 55Gallon on 3rd floor with no problems. I got renters insurance just incase and made sure it would cover a worst case situation. I always worry about a cracked tank and water all over my neighbors below.

 

[Johnson7]

This page has all the info you need.

 

[engine]

How are you able to find out wich way the floor joist are running, im having an impossible time figureing that out in my apt?

 

[davocean]

You could use a stud finder.
You may have to go to under unit.
They actually should have a crawlspace where you can see joists.
Weight tollerance depends on joist size and spacing, so that varies.
I'm sure you have no problem 90g.
Think of four or 5 dudes standing real close, they aren't falling through, and neither will your tank unless you have some kind of structural damage or something.

 

[davocean]

By the way, if your stand doesn't have a bottom, you may want to put plywood down as a means to spread the load.
I'm not talking whole sheet, just the same size as your stand.

 

[engine]

stud finder does not work.......i guess the subflooring etc is too thick for it to get an acurate reading

 

[davocean]

I can hear the difference in density when I knock on walls, floor, but I'm a carpenter so I'm used to it.
My knuckle is my stud finder!
You can try that.
Or if you have carpet, pull it up and look for where they nailed subfloor down.
Seams tell you where joists are.

 

[engine]

seams telling where the joists are is a good idea. And if i pull some of the carpet up in a corner or near a wall, it shouldnt be noticable afterwards I wouldnt think....would it?

 

[alan214]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9188503#post9188503 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by engine
seams telling where the joists are is a good idea. And if i pull some of the carpet up in a corner or near a wall, it shouldnt be noticable afterwards I wouldnt think....would it?

If you have a concrete subfloor under your carpet and padding, then it will probably not be at all obvious which way the floor joists run.

 

[cdangel0]

If you have a concrete subfloor then it doesn't matter which way the floor joists run. It'd be like putting the tank on the basement floor.

 

[kraftyforu]

i have a total of 95~100g on the 3rd floor up against the wall between my living room and bathroom(not a load bearing wall) with no problems. according to the blueprints of the building the floors are about 2 feet of concrete.
just go to management and ask to see the blueprints of the building. they should let you see them with no problems.