Aquariums: Concerned about weight of aquarium in an upstairs apartment
So this will end up weighing about 350 pounds, and I'm worried about damaging the floor or worse
Posted by PoniesPlayingPoker
14 Comments
jonjeff108 on
I wouldn’t worry unless you want anything bigger than like 75 gallons weight wise.
toadsterrr on
I have a 36 gallon, 15 gallon, 2 5 gallons, and bunch of small aquariums in my upstairs room, and I haven’t had any problems. As long as the floor isn’t like paper thin, it should be alright. Just make sure you get a proper stand
Deputy_Scrambles on
It will be fine. Worry more about the furniture you’re going to set it on, but the weight of the tank isn’t significant over that floor area. Worry about water changes soaking into the rug, but not the weight.
You can ballpark the weight capacity to be able to easily hold 40 pounds per square foot, so if it makes you feel better, just make sure it’s up against the wall or on a wider cabinet. You’ll be good!
danerswanson on
I understand the anxiety, but it’s 350 lbs spread out over a 3 ft sq (ish) footprint. That’s only a little over 110 lbs per square ft. Would you worry about 3, 110 lb people standing shoulder to shoulder on your floor? If the answer is yes, you should move lol.
The_chair_over_there on
There are plenty of people who weigh more than 350lbs. Would you be worried to have an obese person in your apartment?
UncleJackPushedDad on
350lbs = 2.5 people. The floor will be fine, unless of course you spill 40 gallons of water on it. Just get an overbuilt stand.
breeezy420b on
I had a 55g on second floor. You’ll be good
MrDufferMan3335 on
Think about it this way. Are you worried about your fridge or oven or hot water tank or washer dryer damaging the floor? If not I definitely wouldn’t worry about a tank lol
Timmah73 on
As people have said 350lbs is no big deal. However I’d check your lease to see if they have any rules in there about aquarium sizes. The danger isn’t it breaking through the floor, its 40 gallons of WATER going into the carpet and through the floor.
phredbull on
If that’s a problem, then you’re one obese person going upstairs from doom.
soherewearent on
Bigger question is whether you’re allowed a fish tank at all.
GayGuyGarth on
My mom weighed at least that, and she was fine waddling around on a 1980 model mobile home floor for 35 years straight. Her weight was concentrated in a lot smaller area (I think she wore 9 in women’s shoes) than that tank’s footprint, and she never damaged the floor, ever.
atomic-moonstomp on
I live on the second floor of a building that was built in 1900, and I had, at one point, two 55g’s, a 35g cube and a 20 long all in one room with no problem
duckweedlagoon on
As a current book hoarder and former obese person, 350# of fish tank on a second floor is not going to be a problem unless you already have substantial structural issues. If that’s the case then the size of your tank is the least of your issues and how quickly you can start living downstairs before moving out is more important
Also, as a century home dweller, I’ve got an estimated 800# in one corner across two systems and am planning on swapping to a single 75g tank system soon which should be putting it at a similar weight, just shifting it slightly
14 Comments
I wouldn’t worry unless you want anything bigger than like 75 gallons weight wise.
I have a 36 gallon, 15 gallon, 2 5 gallons, and bunch of small aquariums in my upstairs room, and I haven’t had any problems. As long as the floor isn’t like paper thin, it should be alright. Just make sure you get a proper stand
It will be fine. Worry more about the furniture you’re going to set it on, but the weight of the tank isn’t significant over that floor area. Worry about water changes soaking into the rug, but not the weight.
You can ballpark the weight capacity to be able to easily hold 40 pounds per square foot, so if it makes you feel better, just make sure it’s up against the wall or on a wider cabinet. You’ll be good!
I understand the anxiety, but it’s 350 lbs spread out over a 3 ft sq (ish) footprint. That’s only a little over 110 lbs per square ft. Would you worry about 3, 110 lb people standing shoulder to shoulder on your floor? If the answer is yes, you should move lol.
There are plenty of people who weigh more than 350lbs. Would you be worried to have an obese person in your apartment?
350lbs = 2.5 people. The floor will be fine, unless of course you spill 40 gallons of water on it. Just get an overbuilt stand.
I had a 55g on second floor. You’ll be good
Think about it this way. Are you worried about your fridge or oven or hot water tank or washer dryer damaging the floor? If not I definitely wouldn’t worry about a tank lol
As people have said 350lbs is no big deal. However I’d check your lease to see if they have any rules in there about aquarium sizes. The danger isn’t it breaking through the floor, its 40 gallons of WATER going into the carpet and through the floor.
If that’s a problem, then you’re one obese person going upstairs from doom.
Bigger question is whether you’re allowed a fish tank at all.
My mom weighed at least that, and she was fine waddling around on a 1980 model mobile home floor for 35 years straight. Her weight was concentrated in a lot smaller area (I think she wore 9 in women’s shoes) than that tank’s footprint, and she never damaged the floor, ever.
I live on the second floor of a building that was built in 1900, and I had, at one point, two 55g’s, a 35g cube and a 20 long all in one room with no problem
As a current book hoarder and former obese person, 350# of fish tank on a second floor is not going to be a problem unless you already have substantial structural issues. If that’s the case then the size of your tank is the least of your issues and how quickly you can start living downstairs before moving out is more important
Also, as a century home dweller, I’ve got an estimated 800# in one corner across two systems and am planning on swapping to a single 75g tank system soon which should be putting it at a similar weight, just shifting it slightly