Weight of Tank

[jcolon2]

Hi everyone. I'm looking to upgrade my tank because well, a 20 gallon tank is more difficult to sustain. However, my mother has a fear of too much weight in my room so I am seeking some help.

My room is approx. 9 ft. 10 inches by 12 ft., assuming I measured correctly. I'm looking to upgrade from my 20 gallon tank. Realistically, I was looking to purchase a 40 gallon tank. However, 40's are way harder to come by than 55 gallon tanks.

The room supports a very heavy dresser that is 61x55x 18 inches (which is against the wall). Not sure of what wood it has, but it also has a granite top.Three of us couldn't move it. My bed is the same wood with a granite headboard and is 90x56x21 excluding the mattress. The room also supports a ladder bookshelf and a self-assembled desk (against the wall across from the dresser), that I can pick up by myself, not very heavy.

The room also supports the current fish tank set up I have which is probably 220 lbs. in total. However, the new tank if I bought a 55 would weigh about 545 lbs. excluding the weight of a sump.

Will the room support the weight of a 55 gallon tank. If not, even if so, what do you guys think the estimated tank size is I could get away with at tops? I am sorry this thread is pretty vague. I wish I knew all about the beams, then the issue would be solved. Thanks in advance.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

I'm sure you will be ok..this is pretty much the only way you will know for sure..get the tank and stand and fill it up..look at the floor if it looks like it's denting then no it won't work..but I'm pretty sure it will hold.

P.S I have a 55 and iron stand if you are interested.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

I actually have a 45 high with black pine stand I might be looking to move also. Let me know.

 

[albano]

anyone, including myself, could only guess, at an answer...based on the info given. How old is house/apt.?, what type construction ?, which direction do floor joists run?, are there load bearing walls under your room?, when you walk or bounce on floor now, do you see waves in your tank? The only way to be 100% sure is to have a structural engineer look at construction plans and check out house. You mention alot of other heavy things, but it also depends where that weight is distributed....

 

[jcolon2]

When I jump on the floor the tank does not produce waves. The floor does not even seem to be affected at all when I jump. I am going to attempt to find information about the construction of the house.

 

[albano]

When I jump on the floor the tank does not produce waves. The floor does not even seem to be affected at all when I jump.

Based on that statement...MY GUESS is a 55 would be NO PROBLEM! I didn't call an engineer until I installed a 300g in my living room. I didn't even question the 130g, and 170g that are presently there!

 

[jcolon2]

Lol. Once I find out about the bearing walls and the floor joists, I will post that information. I believe there is one bearing wall, I am not sure. The room is in the corner of the house. The house is about 60 years old. The large dresser is on the left side of the room. The beds headrest is on the opposite wall and faces perpindicular to the dresser. The desk is against the same wall as the bed. However, all the furniture will be re-arranged when, and if, i get the new tank. I will post the details later. Thanks for your help thus far.

 

[Dre]

Sounds like your on the right track now but for the 55gal.My first tank was a 55gal ,it's too high and too narrow IMO.A 50gal or a 40 breeder is better but what ever you decide is totally up to you.

 

[aznt1217]

It really depends on when your house was built. Going with NYC building code standards and what not you can definitely do a 55/40 gallon tank with no problems, depending if you have a sump and other things.

You can't use the jump test or anything like that as a measure. Once you get into the 90+ start worrying about the weight.

 

[Klewis]

Where on long island do you live? What type of house is it? ( Levit cape, ranch, split level ranch,colonial, high ranch etc...) Is your room on the first floor or second floor? What is the rooms postion in the house - determined by the type of house? Are you looking to set the tank up against an exterial wall or against an interior wall? Answers to these questions might be more informative to someone familiar with long island houses.
To determine the directions of the joists and load bearing walls just knock a couple of holes in the ceiling below your room.:tongue1::joke:

 

[akma]

If you put it in your room I would get a canopy to cut down on the evaporation. My room feels terrible in the summer with the humidity caused by the tanks.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

oh come on with all these structural questions it's a freakin 55..it's gona be fine lol especially if he's got all this other heavy stuff and he's jumpin around and nothing is being affected. get your 45, 55 whatever you wanna do kid..don't even worry about it.