stupid question

[finfan]

ok, this might sound wierd, but i would rather ask the stupid question than not

i am thinking about getting a 100 gallon with a mixed african setup (plan on doing a lot of holeyrock), so from what i understand, 100 gallon should end up being 1000 lbs once water/rock is in the tank, i live in an apartment on the second floor, i am worried that 1000 lbs of weight concentrated in such a small area would break the floor and fall through!!!!  is my fear warranted?  do any of your guys live in apartments and have 100 gallon tanks on the second floor??

[76dragon]

Re: stupid question

I've never done a 100g tank, but did lots of 55g when I was living in an apartment upstairs

[turtle]

Re: stupid question

Typically (commercial) floors are designed for a 100lb/sf ... you should probablly confirm this with mgmt (if they know)

[CichlidFan]

Re: stupid question

Some apts will not allow any aquariums over 55 gallons be set up in upper floors, nor lower floors for that matter.

CF

[SteveCGG]

Re: stupid question

Do you know if the floors are solid concrete or studs on 12 or 16" centers? If the floors are concrete should be no prob if management says ok. If it is wood, the studs should be strong enough if your tank is across them instead of parallel with them.

[Zulaab]

Re: stupid question

Until you get to a massive tank size .. your Fridge is the heaviest object in your apartment.  I did at some point back in time do a square ft weight ratio, and the bigger the tank the lower the weight to square foot measurement became.   This is believing your stand puts the pressure over the complete circumference of the tank (ie not like a metal stand which just has four posts it stands on.

Use this website to give you an idea of the weight of your tank

http://www.alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm

The weight they give for their tanks are water/rocks/substrate ... because if only water weight was given a 50g tank should only weigh about 430 lbs.. not the 600 they list...

(55g) Take 48x13 = 624 square inches of surface.  Being weighted down by 600 lbs ... giving you about .96 lbs/square inch.
(180g) Take 72x24 = 1728 square inches of surface.  Being weighted down by 2100 lbs ... giving you about a 1.22 lbs/square inch.

(Zulaab at prime weight standing on floor) 12x11 = 132 square inches of surface.  Being weighted down by 383 lbs ... giving you about 2.90 lbs/square inch.

In all that.. you learned that you standing on the floor is most likely as stressful to the floor as a 180g tank.

[finfan]

Re: stupid question

LOL, zulaab, thanks for the informative while funny advice, so does that mean a 72 * 18 100 gal tank shuld be ok!

[Zulaab]

Re: stupid question

Yeah you are not going to have an issue.  The issue most builders look at is how much weight are you going to hit over a single beam.
You just have to make sure that you are running across as many as you can if you want to make really sure there is not going to be problem
I know people who have a 125 or 150 *I cannot recall* on the third (yes I didnt help him and I promised him there is no way in HELL if he ever moves that I am going to help him) move the tank down all those stairs... his comment was damn after all the work getting it up here... its going over the railing next time I move and if it survives the fall I keep it.. else I am going to clean up the mess.
Here is the bad part.. he built the stand at his parents house.. then assembled it inside the apartment...  ie I doubt unless he disassemble it he will ever get it out of there.
I need to call him and see if he and his GF have moved ... its been like 4 yrs since I last talked to him about it...