Tank on 3rd floor condo
- Thread starter madmike
- Start date
justinm0424
New member
I was wondering the same thing. I just put my 150gal on the 2nd floor of my apartment.
InvaderJim
Coral Junkie
I'm also worried about this. I live on the 3rd floor, and I am too scared to put my 90g up here. I think I'm going to buy a 65 just for a third floor tank. lol
How big is the tank your talking about putting on the 3rd floor?
How big is the tank your talking about putting on the 3rd floor?
InvaderJim
Coral Junkie
I may also be too paranoid. You can always call whoever owns/built the condo and ask them.
InvaderJim
Coral Junkie
I think what that means as the floor can hold up to 2000 pounds. So a 200+ gallon tank would not work.
karlmarx
New member
Do what i did get the blueprints and find out where the load bearing wall is and ask a professional if the wall could support the weight of the tank (Gallons * 8 = lbs not including tank). If it's a wood beam and it starts to sag it could be a very exensive repair.
ps. in my case it is a cement floor and a metal beam so everything is fine.
ps. in my case it is a cement floor and a metal beam so everything is fine.
Right now I have a 110 tall with a 20 gallon sump on the 3rd floor of a college condo with no problems so far (knocking on wood as I type). I would definalty make sure you figure out which way the beams go and which way the planks go. Also putting the tank as close to wieght bearing wall is a major part.
InvaderJim
Coral Junkie
My apartment complex doesn't tell me squat about how its built. How do I tell if the floor is cement?
davidryder
Claris or Elliot?
You will have better luck getting in touch with the people who designed/built it. The floor is 100% not concrete if it is above ground level unless it has some serious pillars throughout the floor. Concrete is way too heavy to use as an above ground floor without using many pillars to support it. I would say with quite a bit of certainty that it will be safe. I am on the third floor and never even though there would be an issue - I also have a 90g.
InvaderJim
Coral Junkie
Alright well I guess I will give it a shot then. 
Thanks
Thanks
Mojo Jojo
In Memoriam
Dont take any advice from what people have in any floor. It all depends on the age of the house, and the material used to make/support the floor. *Hint* keep it as far away from the middle of the house. Put it against the wall and closer to a corner. A 200g tank will be too much. That will easy hit 2,000 lbs with equipment, etc. I could go into the physics behind it, center of gravity, force, blah blah all that good stuff. I just came home from school, and tired of learning. Too lazy to calculate everything. 
O yeah and a gallon of water equals 8.345lbs to be exact so you do the math.
O yeah and a gallon of water equals 8.345lbs to be exact so you do the math.
davidryder
Claris or Elliot?
If it isn't safe there will be a lot of warning signs: bowing, unlevelness over time, sinking, etc... it's not just going to fall through the floor.
jobob
New member
Im going though kinda the same thing. Im setting up a 120g tank on my 1st floor, but have a basement. I currently have a 75g system, and the new 150g system will be on the other side of the same room for 2 weeks as it cycles. I heard something about anything over 100 or 150g(Cant remember) you have to resupport the floor. The new tank is going in the corner of 2 load bearing walls, so its probably ok. But just in case Im going to put up 2 new 4x4 supports and some 2x4 between beams.
I have a 75G on the second floor in a condo. In my case I had my father, who is a contractor, ok it for me. He said he would not go any larger than a 75, however all buildings are different. You need to make sure your tank is not horizontal to the floor beams so that more than one beam takes the weight. It is also best to have it along an outside wall.
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