Aquarium weight limits

[BlueSallymandr]

I see a number of members on here with larger tanks - do you have them on the ground floor? I'm asking because I'm starting to get worried about my planned aquarium upgrade. Right now, I have a 40 gallon breeder freshwater tank set up in my living room with a 16 gallon BioCube reef next to it. I was planning on replacing the Biocube with a 40 gallon IM tank, in place, so that two 40 gallon tanks would be side by side. That's like, 500 lbs a pop, once filled and decorated I think, not counting the stands. Basically my problem is that I live in a condo, above my garage. I did some reading about aquariums vs structure, and where they are now, both aquariums are running parallel to the floor joists (they should be perpendicular for a big tank).

My current thinking is that I should put the new tank across the living room from the existing 40g, so that even though they are in the same room, the weight is distributed over more joists. It would be a tight fit but I think I could make it work. (It's a very small living room, lol) This would have the small bonus of making the actual tank transfer a lot easier, too.

Am I way overthinking this? Would you worry about having the tanks side by side, too?

 

[MichaelB]

I see a number of members on here with larger tanks - do you have them on the ground floor? I'm asking because I'm starting to get worried about my planned aquarium upgrade. Right now, I have a 40 gallon breeder freshwater tank set up in my living room with a 16 gallon BioCube reef next to it. I was planning on replacing the Biocube with a 40 gallon IM tank, in place, so that two 40 gallon tanks would be side by side. That's like, 500 lbs a pop, once filled and decorated I think, not counting the stands. Basically my problem is that I live in a condo, above my garage. I did some reading about aquariums vs structure, and where they are now, both aquariums are running parallel to the floor joists (they should be perpendicular for a big tank).

My current thinking is that I should put the new tank across the living room from the existing 40g, so that even though they are in the same room, the weight is distributed over more joists. It would be a tight fit but I think I could make it work. (It's a very small living room, lol) This would have the small bonus of making the actual tank transfer a lot easier, too.

Am I way overthinking this? Would you worry about having the tanks side by side, too?

I would be concerned if the floor squeaks when you walk on it, or say it's a pretty old building, if you combined both tanks and had 80 gallons plus a sump i wouldn't be worried. Once you cross the barrier of 150 gallons i would be concerned on the second floor. There are guys here with 225 gallon tanks some 500 gallon ones they have to be concerned even on ground level unless they are on a solid slab foundation.

If you could place it across the joist that couldn't hurt. Neither could your plan of placing them across from each other.

I would only label it a light- moderate amount of concern if they were side by side. Just my opinion not based on research or data - which probably isn't worth alot.

 

[BlueSallymandr]

a light- moderate amount of concern

LOL! That's a bit more concern than I would like to have. I think I'm set on them being across from each other on different floor joists.

 

[CaseyP]

To confirm when you say the tanks would be parallel to the joists, it would look like the diagram below? If that's the case, then there would indeed be some deflection in the joist from the weight, but the consensus seems to be that anything less than 100 gallons wouldn't be an issue. Also the closer it is to the end of the joist where it's being supported, the better, versus in the middle of the joist span.

You mentioned your garage is directly below? If you wanted a peace of mind you could install floor jacks to support the joist directly beneath the tanks. @Turkeysammich did this for his tank.

 

[Turkeysammich]

The advice everyone has given is true. A 120 gallon aquarium is fine for the 1st story.. Anything larger can stress out the floor. The more stories you go up the smaller aquarium as the floor isn’t designed to hold the weight.
Floor jack supports can be used. The diagram is correct. Aquarium should be placed perpendicular to the floor Joist to spread the load. Making sure the aquarium touches as many Joists as possible. Joists are normally 16” apart. Then a supporting wood beam from the underside perpendicular to the joints, then floor jack to support the wood beam to the concrete floor. Also in the diagram. The wall should be a load bearing wall for extra strength.
Since the room is small. ( small meaning 10’x10’)You should be fine with it running parallel as there isn’t much flex in a small room.