Anyone have a 50 gal or bigger tank upstairs?

[RHINO13]

Hi guys im not sure were I should post this question,so I guess ill try here and see how it goes.

My question is, im wondering if anybody out there has a 50 gal or larger tank set up upstairs?
If you do do you worry about it falling through?

The reason I ask is because I live in an upstairs apartment,I have my 46 gal bow w/ 40 lbs of live rock,60 pounds of sand.It is just about right in the middle of my apartment.I figure this wieghts roughly 500 lbs total with stand.
Now right on the other side of the wall is my 30 gal water heater probaly 300 lbs. So whats below as far as walls you might ask. Well none, below me is where 2 cars park so what I have is basicly the 2 outside walls(east and south) and one wall that divides the car port and someones apartment.(north wall)The trusses run north to south(right now my tank is set up the same way right to left is north and south)By the way there is no post or column are anything downstairs

From below ther seems to be a slight "bulge" where the tank/water heater would be,and there are some spots where I step in my apartment that make disturbing creeks now( I wieght about 210 lbs)

So far what do you think?

Im thinking of moving it to the north wall,do you guys think that would be better? If I do this my tank would most likely hit 3 trusses. plus the wall goes all the way down

Do you guys think my tank is to big to be upstairs? With the downstairs issue?

With a total of about 1000lbs (when im standing by the tank),I am truely worried about a falling out so to speak. Could you imagine the sound?

[jkeithh1969]

I have both a 75 and 55 gallon upstairs with no problems. Actually the 75 gallon is now gone to be replaced with a 90 gallon this weekend. Also, the 55 gallon has a 27 gallon underneath it also.

[CSeaSee]

I've moved my 55 from the 3rd floor to the 4th floor to the 3rd floor to the 2nd floor of four different apartments with no problems at any of them; new construction, old construction, etc.

[tray262]

At first read I don't think it's a huge deal, but I was just wondering if the tank is running the same direction as the joist, where there's only under it, or is it running perpidicular to the joint where it's sitting on 3-4 joist ? Also, I'm not exaclty sure of the size of of tank, but assuming 12"x48" or something close you're only talking 125 pounds per square foot. which is not bad at all.

[RHINO13]

Thanks for the replies,

Carl, did any of the places you moved to feel a little unstable after setting up your tank( floor feels like it has a slight bounce to it in certian spots when walking by)

Also there is one spot that feels as if a piece of plywood(under the carpet)is "coming up" this is happening about 2' away from where the tank stands.
Almost like the tank is sinking down and the plywood seam is lifting up to compensate(hope that makes sense)also when u step(and do a little "test bounce" No air or anything crazy) on this spot the tank sways back and forth,it is quite distrubing to say the least

I really dont want to move this thing it is in the perfect spot in my little apartment,but I also don' t want to come home one day and see my smashed to pieces tank in my parking spot or have someone walking down there and get hurt.

I am also guessing that in both of your guys case that when you lived upstairs, you were living "on top of someone else" If so I wouldnt be so worried because you had some more walls below you to distribute more wieght more efficiently.

[RHINO13]

Tray,yes it is going with the joist(so posibly just one joist) Wher im thinking of moving it would be opposite.

The tank is 36"x12"-15"(bow)

[tray262]

Tray,yes it is going with the joist(so posibly just one joist) Wher im thinking of moving it would be opposite.

The tank is 36"x12"-15"(bow)

Like I said above I typ. wouldn't worry about it. but, there is a lot on one joist, and I'm assuming it's probally towards the middle of the joist instead on near the end, becasue of you saying there is a car under you. So with all that being said, we are figuring about 1000lbs near the center (aka point load), which is approx 2000lbs even loading (easy engin. point load times 2 divided by length of joist gives you a pounds per foot) so I'll guess and say 14' joist length maybe a little more. 1000x2/14= 142.8lbs/ft assuming one joist. sleeping floors are typically designed for 30lbs live load and 15lbs dead, so max of 45lbs per foot, and maybe your floor is designed for 45 and 15 but still only 55lbs per foot, so on that joist your about 3x times the designed loading, so I'd say better be safe then sorry.


I don't think the joist would break and the tank would go thru the floor, I think it would be more likely that the floor would sag and create and uneven suface that your tank is sitting casue much stress on your tanks and stand which is not good at all. Also, if you flooded you tank, and the joist gets wet or the plywood gets wet, it's more likey the flex also.

Talk about over working the problem lol, I do architecture for a living so......., Good Luck, Hoped all my bs helped,

Tray262

[RHINO13]

Tray,

Thanks so very much I only dreamed of such a informative response!

I work construction as an electrician, most new commercial or industrial.
In doing so I have worked on a new (two story)school from ground up and they used trusses to support the second floor.

That being said, I was worried that something like what I saw at that school(one of those trusses) would simply not be able to support that kind of weight. But with a joist I feel a little better.(I could be completly wrong here,maybe a truss is stronger)

What do they usually use for a joist for second floors im guessing 1x6 (i hope)?

[tray262]

It really depends, typically 2X10's are min anymore, most houses now are using I-Joist in my area and they are a lot stronger.

And actually the roof trusss are stronger. thats because the side walls are part of the truss, so the floor is tied to the walls which are ties to the rafter part of the truss. so it spreads the load out much better. But that's off subject.

Back to your tank, I'd probally go ahead and start thinking about the move. as I know that's not a fun thing to do at all.

Take Care.

[RHINO13]

Thanks again Tray,

About the move I have been thinking about it about a week after I set up(Tank has been set up for about a month.)

I went and bought a couple of of 20 gal plastic bins today so I guess one will be for my live rock,and 2 turbo snails,2 Astrea,5 Nassarius) and the other for water.

I plan to not mess with the sand bed to much(except for removing live rock)and just kind of push the tank onto a table that is maybe an inch higher than the stand the tank sits on.From there I can move the stand into the new place,then get another person to help me carry the table (with the tank on it)over to the new location and reverse step one.

Does that sound ok to everyone?
Do you think it would be of any use(structurally) to put a piece of 3/4" plywood 3'x3' down either on top of or under the carpet( a friends suggestion),if so hopefuly under the carpet. Im sure it might help in shimming purposes if need be but as far as strengthing it I dont get it,there already is plywood down there.

Also what would the point load be at the point where the joist meets the wall?(tanks new location)At this new point I would hit at least 2 joists and wouldn't be far from another (I can tell from below that they are 12" on center)I guess what im asking here is maybe not for point load but maybe what the multiplier is if im only say 3' into the joist, rather than 7' into a 14' joist I dont know if I worded that right but I hope you know what I mean

[tray262]

Thanks again Tray,

About the move I have been thinking about it about a week after I set up(Tank has been set up for about a month.)

I went and bought a couple of of 20 gal plastic bins today so I guess one will be for my live rock,and 2 turbo snails,2 Astrea,5 Nassarius) and the other for water.

I plan to not mess with the sand bed to much(except for removing live rock)and just kind of push the tank onto a table that is maybe an inch higher than the stand the tank sits on.From there I can move the stand into the new place,then get another person to help me carry the table (with the tank on it)over to the new location and reverse step one.

Does that sound ok to everyone?
Do you think it would be of any use(structurally) to put a piece of 3/4" plywood 3'x3' down either on top of or under the carpet( a friends suggestion),if so hopefuly under the carpet. Im sure it might help in shimming purposes if need be but as far as strengthing it I dont get it,there already is plywood down there.

Also what would the point load be at the point where the joist meets the wall?(tanks new location)At this new point I would hit at least 2 joists and wouldn't be far from another (I can tell from below that they are 12" on center)I guess what im asking here is maybe not for point load but maybe what the multiplier is if im only say 3' into the joist, rather than 7' into a 14' joist I dont know if I worded that right but I hope you know what I mean

I think I get everything you where saying here, first I don't the extra plywood will do MUCH for you, it would make it be a little stiffer, but I say it's certainly not needed being only 3' from the wall. So I'll say the tank weighs 600lbs now where you have an advandage in this situation is you have more then one joist, so 2-3 joist. Also, being only 3 feet from the wall, (for this there is no simple eng. formula it's long math) and I don't have all my formulas here at the house. but, I can guess pretty well. Because you are so close to the wall about 70%+ of the weight goes directly to wall so there is not much going to floor at all so you are MORE then fine with this. I say go for it, you won't have any problems. If you really want the math Let's say it's only on 2 joist. so it's 300lbs x 1.2 (3' from 14' about 1/5 = .2) so 360lbs over 14' = 25.7. I'm not even factoring a lot of things in here like I listed above.

You're safe, Good luck with the move.
Tray262

[RHINO13]

Thank you very much Tray262 you have been great help!

[tray262]

No problem at all.

[felix5747]

my friend has a hundred gallon with 130lbs of live rock and 140lbs of live sand in his upstairs room

[tray262]

my friend has a hundred gallon with 130lbs of live rock and 140lbs of live sand in his upstairs room

Not unheard of, but with Rhino's case it was set the wrong way. I'd guess either your friends in on an out side wall or running per. to the joist both of which help a 1000x over.