Many Tanks in an Apartment?

[VR28man]

So I was talking with a buddy who's thinking of getting a reef, and he said that he can't have a tank bigger than 100 gallons in his apartment. I jokingly told him "well then get two 75s". But that got me thinking......


.... to my understanding the main concerns of having a big tank in an apartment is the weight of the thing on the structure, the weight of the thing on the floor, and then the risk of leaking.

Throwing out the last concern (on the possibly flawed assumption that a 40 gallon leak is still a big problem like a 200g leak, just 1/5th the size)........

It would seem that having 2x 75s or 3x 40 breeders would actually get around the structural concerns? Especially the 3 40B's - it distributes the weight much more evenly over a floor (36x48 area with 16 inches of depth) versus a 120 (48x24x25) or even a 90 (48x18x 25)? (Even assuming you have them right next to each other, to say nothing if you spread them accross the room). In fact, if my understanding is correct, 120 gallons spread over three 40B's poses less structural problems than a 90?

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I was always told it was because of potential water damage in the apartments that I have rented. I was actually never allowed to have anything over 10 gallons lol

 

[Hemmdog]

I’m only supposed to have 10gals or smaller. 150+gallons later.... shhh...
hahah

As a real estate professional though, the concern is water damage not weight, if it was weight there would be no-piano clauses and all sorts of crazy stuff which I’ve never seen on a rental agreement.

 

[Brian_68]

Saltwater dripping thru the ceiling to the tenants below is a very expensive liability and mess.

 

[VR28man]

Aaagh. I thought weight would be the main issue. It’s true though that a leak would be a problem, but again I’m not sure that it’s exponentially (vice linearly) greater than a smaller tank.

One thing, though, is that the chances of a catastrophic tank failure dropping 120 gallons of water is much less if you have three 40 breeders. (though a failure is 3x as likely to happen )

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Mical]

Last place we lived was 3 story condo/townhouse - no pets- lease. We had a 60 gal & 65 gal tank + 90 lb german Shepherd for 4 1/2 years - landlord nor mgmt co never said squat.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Only issue I see is water damage and why would someone want a reef tank in an apartment, renting just doesn’t scream stability, as once it really matures you end up moving.