Large aquariums on second floor safe?

[Don_Jorge]

I feel like this might be a silly question but I have a 75 gallon with 20 gallon sump I've avoided putting back together out of fear if it falling through the floor. Am I being ridiculous, or is this something I should avoid?

 

[Saltyreef]

I feel like this might be a silly question but I have a 75 gallon with 20 gallon sump I've avoided putting back together out of fear if it falling through the floor. Am I being ridiculous, or is this something I should avoid?

Depends where its placed.
I honestly think, unless you live in an old victorian home to anything circa 1950, you have nothing to worry about ~125g and below.


That being said, keep the weight against a load bearing wall and running with the joists

 

[zukihara]

That's how I would sleep

 

[Saltyreef]

That's how I would sleep

Lol. I wouldnt.
But, maybe its because my Reef Room is over my garage lol. Still though, finished stucco >.<

Heres the worst that happened so far lol.

 

[ca1ore]

75 gallon just isn’t that big of a tank and will be fine on anything but an already-about-to-collapse floor. If you do the math, the tank probably only holds 65 ish gallons anyhow. I just saved you 80 pounds LOL.

 

[Jeepguy242]

How much water does a bathtub hold. They put bathtubs on second floors. Water weighs about 7 pounds per gallon.

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

I have a 55 gallon on my second floor, I put it on the exterior wall so it has the most support, almost all exterior walls are load bearing up to a point, I wouldn't sweat over a 75g with sump, I have 3 tanks in this room and I don't lose sleep over it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Depends where its placed.
I honestly think, unless you live in an old victorian home to anything circa 1950, you have nothing to worry about ~125g and below.


That being said, keep the weight against a load bearing wall and running with the joists

No heavier than a large couch or sectional and even a dining hutch. Yourte looking at Max 900# with sump and rock

 

[chadfish]

How much water does a bathtub hold. They put bathtubs on second floors. Water weighs about 7 pounds per gallon.

Up to about 50 gallons

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

No heavier than a large couch or sectional and even a dining hutch. Yourte looking at Max 900# with sump and rock

I agree are you scared of 5-6 people standing in one area at all? It's not over a ton I wouldn't worry much. Good point.

 

[mdb_talon]

There is only two ways to know. Test it and pray or ask the "experts" on R2R. Well i guess a third way is to ask a real expert. Seriously though i would have no concerns. I have had a 120g with sump in a second story and still was not concerned(other than being worried about a leak ruining ceiling below).

 

[ca1ore]

On Earth an American FW gallon weighs 8.3 pounds. Imperial gallon is over 10.

 

[DaddyFish]

Typical saltwater aquarium/ocean water weighs 8.57 lbs per gallon.

I'm just coming back here to edit for giggles...
Fresh Water weighs 8.33 lbs per gallon. Saltwater/ocean water is roughly 1.03 times more dense than fresh water, thus 8.57 lbs per gallon.

Come on people, how can the man sleep underneath that second floor tank if he's playing Russian Roulette with .24 lbs per gallon!
;Smuggrin

...and I'm back again with yet another edit...
LARGE tanks have been officially defined on R2R as...

... so OP's tank is barely halfway to Large, counting tank and sump.
My question is... "What does your homeowner's insurance carrier say about an aquarium on the second floor?"

 

[CMMorgan]

How much water does a bathtub hold. They put bathtubs on second floors. Water weighs about 7 pounds per gallon.

Close 8.33 lbs per gallon... plus the rock and glass and equiptment.
That said... a cast iron tub weighs about 385 pounds, dry.... add 267 pounds for water (32 gallon tub) and a 250 pound person. Not even counting the rubber ducky, that beats a 75 gallon reef tank all day long.
(And yes... I have had to do this same calculation for people who want to put a tub in mobile homes circa 1960 and they just don't get why not....)

 

[Jeepguy242]

Up to about 50 gallons

so 280 in water (40 gallons) then my fat butt 265 he’s good.

 

[Saltyreef]

How much water does a bathtub hold. They put bathtubs on second floors. Water weighs about 7 pounds per gallon.

Not really a direct comparison.

Most homes/complexes incorperate extra joist support under tubs

 

[Jeepguy242]

Close 8.33 lbs per gallon... plus the rock and glass and equiptment.
That said... a cast iron tub weighs about 385 pounds, dry.... add 267 pounds for water (32 gallon tub) and a 250 pound person. Not even counting the rubber ducky, that beats a 75 gallon reef tank all day long.
(And yes... I have had to do this same calculation for people who want to put a tub in mobile homes circa 1960 and they just don't get why not....)

that’s about exactly the route I was going. Thanks for the correct numbers as I was just guessing.

 

[Jeepguy242]

Not really a direct comparison.

Most homes/complexes incorperate extra joist support under tubs

True but the weight of a tub is gonna be a lot more than a75 gallon tank

 

[Don_Jorge]

I agree are you scared of 5-6 people standing in one area at all? It's not over a ton I wouldn't worry much. Good point.

alright you got me there lol

 

[zukihara]