what size tank

[annanymous]

All the reefers out there who live in apartment buildings on 3rd floor or higher, what size tank you have and has it had any effect on your floor?
Im on 3rd floor and am thinking of 75gal to be on the safe side but was recently told by someone who lived on 11th floor he had a 125 and was perfectly fine. Just rtying to see how big I can go before I end up downstairs in the neighbors place
:groupflip

 

[roc5288]

What type of building do you live in? Is it a highrise? Made of steel & concrete?
If so your good to go basically with what ever you choose. Now if its a walk up. Basically wood building I would choose carefully. Due to weight.

 

[annanymous]

im in a 7-story post war building. Not sure what materials used to build it but we can hear neignbors breath (so I assume crappy materials).

 

[annanymous]

:bigeyes: bump...no one in NYC living in apt building?

 

[NYCEnglish]

I'm looking to upgrade to a 75g as well. I live in a pre-war elevator building with very solid construction. Put it against a supporting wall and it'll probably be ok.

If in doubt, check with your super / mgmt co.

 

[annanymous]

I'm looking to upgrade to a 75g as well. I live in a pre-war elevator building with very solid construction. Put it against a supporting wall and it'll probably be ok.

If in doubt, check with your super / mgmt co.

thanks NYCEnglish!
iused to have a 90 in a pre-war building and it was still ok. My concern is that its post war elevator. i guess ill have tio ask the super again. last time he said he doesnt know about supporting walls or even which way the beams in the floor are! Arggggh....

 

[NYCEnglish]

Doesn't sound like much a a super to me! Is there a mgmt company you could ask?

 

[ctrayer]

I had a 125 on the third floor of a 3 story walk up
and it cracked the wall from the weight on the floor

 

[annanymous]

Doesn't sound like much a a super to me! Is there a mgmt company you could ask?

not sure im allowed such a large tank in my coop so dont want to call and ask before i make sure im within the rules
wish i had a house or at elast a condo

 

[NYCEnglish]

Do you know if it was up against a supporting wall?

I had a 125 on the third floor of a 3 story walk up
and it cracked the wall from the weight on the floor

 

[NYCEnglish]

Yeah, I understand that!

not sure im allowed such a large tank in my coop so dont want to call and ask before i make sure im within the rules
wish i had a house or at elast a condo

 

[duke62]

If your apt is made of concrete and steel you can put a 2000 gallons system. You will need to find out what type of building it is.You will need to find out if its wood which way the supports in the floor are going .

 

[annanymous]

If your apt is made of concrete and steel you can put a 2000 gallons system. You will need to find out what type of building it is.You will need to find out if its wood which way the supports in the floor are going .

I know for a fact that the floor is wood beams, but dont know much of anything else.

Should I just got with a 75 and save myself the ehadache? or is 75 too much also?

 

[duke62]

Is it a private house or a apt building? Most apt building are made of concrete and steel especially if its a older building. I would say 5 stories and up is most likely a heavy duty material building. If your 100 percent sure its made of wood a 75 is fine. I would advise to use 3/4 plywood under the tank if your not comfortable to spread the weight. A 75 gallon is not that heavy. Its around 400 lbs or so

 

[annanymous]

Is it a private house or a apt building? Most apt building are made of concrete and steel especially if its a older building. I would say 5 stories and up is most likely a heavy duty material building. If your 100 percent sure its made of wood a 75 is fine. I would advise to use 3/4 plywood under the tank if your not comfortable to spread the weight. A 75 gallon is not that heavy. Its around 400 lbs or so

3/4 plywood it is then! would it help with uneven surface as well or should I use shims and/or foam sheet for that?

 

[NYCEnglish]

I would pick up some shims from Home Depot as well - $1 for 5/6.

 

[annanymous]

thanks guys! cant wait to get that monster up and running :groupflip

 

[Reef Art]

If you can't ask your super or the mgmt company, try dept. of buildings. Sometimes a little bit of social engineering helps. Also, propertyshark has blueprints for a few bldgs. Look for a small link by the floorplan. (must create account and login to see). Know who your board members are and make sure they don't you with bags of livestock. Some are very nosy. Good luck

 

[tomtoothdoc]

A 75 gallon is not that heavy. Its around 400 lbs or so

i disagree. a 75 gal. reef with a sump and various equipment is likely going to be over 800 lbs.

guesstimate on the safe side, 1000lbs total weight /(48"x18") foot print, you're looking at approximately 167lb/sqft.
if a 170lb person doesn't fall through your floor, the tank will be fine.

putting it near a load bearing wall and perpendicular to the floor joists will also help.
generally hard wood flooring are laid perpendicular to the joists themselves. therefore putting the tank parallel to the flooring long axis should get you perpendicular to the joists also.

if you wanna be anal about it, a good stud finder will help you find the direction of the joists.

that said, i had a 125 by a load bearing wall and perpendicular to the floor joists, yet i see the vibration on top of the water every time my kids jump around the room. i ended up combining all my tanks to one system in the basement on a solid cement floor.

 

[albano]

i disagree. a 75 gal. reef with a sump and various equipment is likely going to be over 800 lbs.

guesstimate on the safe side, 1000lbs total weight /(48"x18")

+1...'75'g tank holds about 60 actual gallons without LR or sand ... water and tank alone is over 600lbs