Largest tank possible?

HomeSlizzice · May 16, 2012

I am going to be moving soon, and it looks like I'll be going to be on the 2nd or 3rd story of an apartment complex. I know it truly depends on how the building is built, and what the apartment complex says. But what do you guys think is the largest aquarium I could get for the apartment? I know its super vague, but what is the largest you would try? 40 gallon? 50? 90? 120? Or maybe a 4ftX3ftX12in frag tank used as a shallow display. I wanna see if I can start the planning stages now. Thanks guys.

k2parkstar · May 16, 2012

HomeSlizzice said:
I am going to be moving soon, and it looks like I'll be going to be on the 2nd or 3rd story of an apartment complex. I know it truly depends on how the building is built, and what the apartment complex says. But what do you guys think is the largest aquarium I could get for the apartment? I know its super vague, but what is the largest you would try? 40 gallon? 50? 90? 120? Or maybe a 4ftX3ftX12in frag tank used as a shallow display. I wanna see if I can start the planning stages now. Thanks guys.

I live on the 3rd floor and have a 45g cube with 20g sump. I'd say I'm about maxed out on size and weight. It's hard to say though without having an engineer do the math for you.

-Logzor · May 16, 2012

I wouldn't go larger than a 120. 90 is a good fit.

CalmSeasQuest · May 16, 2012

Disregard - You already mentioned checking with the Apt management

BarbH · May 16, 2012

I am on the second floor with a 72g which I am running sumpless. I was able to figure which way the floor joist run with having a basement in this place and I also placed my tank onto a weight bearing wall.

Teeb · May 16, 2012

My tank is upstairs, 70g display with a 20g sump.

kschweer · May 16, 2012

I'm on the second floor and I have a 46 bow with 20 gallon sump, 30 frag tank with 20 gallon sump and my 20 long freshwater setup.

HomeSlizzice · May 17, 2012

Thanks guys! Like I said, I'm just trying to get an idea of what will be possible. I will check with the apartment complex when I am moving. It looks like I'll be able to do something fairly large. I've only had a 24 gallon aquapod as my tank, and I've had it for 6 years now. I want something bigger desperately. I want something at least large enough for like a Regal and/or Majestic Angel, and a nice tang or two. I tired of looking at fish I want, but can't have haha. Hence the 4ftx3ftx12in frag tank idea. But I also like wrasses a lot, they are one of my favorite families of fish. So a shallow open top tank is not the best tank for them. I'm thinking a custom 48inX30inX18in aquarium would be perfect, and its about 112 gallons which might be doable.

J Rog · May 17, 2012

im on the second story and have a 120 gallon but its a long a load barring wall.

chort55 · May 17, 2012

I had a 180g in my apartment for a while, main level w/ basement underneath so it wasn't any different then a house really .... never had an issue, took it down after about 5 months when we bought our house.

HomeSlizzice · May 17, 2012

J Rog said:
im on the second story and have a 120 gallon but its a long a load barring wall.

How do you tell if it is a load barring wall?

cdness · May 17, 2012

I had a 75G in 2 different 3rd floor apartments. Make sure it is on a common wall or an outside wall as they are typically load bearing.

You may need to get a separate insurance to cover water damages to convince them to allow a larger tank, or at some places any tank. They let me at my last place due to my insurance wiaver. My first one... we just didn't tell them about it

brahm · May 17, 2012

I had a 225 over a "floating floor", one side was against a load bearing something it was stable, but when you walked around the other side the whole tank shook it was sketchy. I currently have a 65 + 15 gallon frag tank in the same spot no issues.

HomeSlizzice · May 17, 2012

cdness said:
I had a 75G in 2 different 3rd floor apartments. Make sure it is on a common wall or an outside wall as they are typically load bearing.

You may need to get a separate insurance to cover water damages to convince them to allow a larger tank, or at some places any tank. They let me at my last place due to my insurance wiaver. My first one... we just didn't tell them about it

Haha thanks for the info. That's pretty basic for figuring out which is load bearing. A outside or common wall. Thanks man.

brahm said:
I had a 225 over a "floating floor", one side was against a load bearing something it was stable, but when you walked around the other side the whole tank shook it was sketchy. I currently have a 65 + 15 gallon frag tank in the same spot no issues.

Ya 225 I can see as being too much. I think I should be able to get away with something between the 75-120 range though. Thanks!

debben69 · May 17, 2012

I have a 90g with a 30g sump in my 2nd floor apartment. I used a stud finder to locate which direction the floor trusses went and put it next to a "common wall" with the tank perpendicular to the trusses. I had to pay a pet deposit to have my tank in there.

HomeSlizzice · May 18, 2012

A stud finder is a great idea, plus they aren't too expensive which is always a plus. To me its looking like a very real possibility that I will be able to have a fairly large tank.