My dad works for our local council as a Building survier he says it all sepends on the thicknest of the floorboards.Search on google Deputy Priminster Building there will be some sort of page for your questions.
Thanks
Mat
Thanks
Mat
Tanks Upstairs
- Thread starter Fishkeeper2004
- Start date
Fishkeeper2004
Fish Addict
Well I am trying to decide on the size now, im thinking maybe in the range of 180-225 litres? 
piper
Fishaholic
I would say thats fine. You know its going to end up being 225L 
yeah but if you took the chance on a big tank on the second floor and it fell through or cracked and you turned it in to the insurance company your interest rates will go through the roof and you won't be able to afford it and in the end it would be cheaper to have it fixed your selfThis would be interesting. I never thought of putting a tank more than 100gallons on the second floor. Its much too risky. I suggest you get insurance on your tank. Flood insurance I think. It would help if the tank or your floor is insured so that if your tank falls over you wont have to pay the dreaded cost of rotting wood. and then its going to seep through the second floor and leak to the first floor. Big mess. Its just a suggestion dont wanna be a Jinx. Just go with your instinct.
-Arrowhead.
Fishkeeper2004
Fish Addict
yeah but if you took the chance on a big tank on the second floor and it fell through or cracked and you turned it in to the insurance company your interest rates will go through the roof and you won't be able to afford it and in the end it would be cheaper to have it fixed your selfThis would be interesting. I never thought of putting a tank more than 100gallons on the second floor. Its much too risky. I suggest you get insurance on your tank. Flood insurance I think. It would help if the tank or your floor is insured so that if your tank falls over you wont have to pay the dreaded cost of rotting wood. and then its going to seep through the second floor and leak to the first floor. Big mess. Its just a suggestion dont wanna be a Jinx. Just go with your instinct.
-Arrowhead.
I suppose it would be covered under house insurance, but if they find out you had a tank upstairs which was too heavy for the floor, then they may get out of paying for the damages anyway..
Griz
Fish Herder
Just to give some perspective, most 2nd floor bedrooms will handle a waterbed with no difficulty. I had a kingsize years ago and I figure that it held about 300 gallons. Thats about 3000lbs just for the water! One important consideration is to look at the direction that the floor joists run and their position. The tank must be distributed evenly across the joists or you could have some serious problems. The total weight of the tank is not the only issue, it's the number of floor joists supporting it that matters.
As an example, let's take a four foot 75 gal tank. I figure that would weigh about 1000 lb. If that tank is oriented parallel to the joists, it will sit on two of them. That works out to 500 lbs per joist. Now if the same tank is oriented in the other direction it could sit on four joists. That's omly 250 lbs per joist.
Compare that to a smaller 40 gal tank. Sounds like it should be safer right? Wrong! If it is situated so that it is only supported lengthwise by 1 joist, that's still about 500 lbs.
Lets look at a 20 gal. If it's sitting between the joists, thats about 250 lbs supported only by the plywood on the floor!
As an example, let's take a four foot 75 gal tank. I figure that would weigh about 1000 lb. If that tank is oriented parallel to the joists, it will sit on two of them. That works out to 500 lbs per joist. Now if the same tank is oriented in the other direction it could sit on four joists. That's omly 250 lbs per joist.
Compare that to a smaller 40 gal tank. Sounds like it should be safer right? Wrong! If it is situated so that it is only supported lengthwise by 1 joist, that's still about 500 lbs.
Lets look at a 20 gal. If it's sitting between the joists, thats about 250 lbs supported only by the plywood on the floor!
Hey, don't know if you've made your decision yet or not but just thought i'd add that i've got a 180litre tank in my bedroom upstairs.
It rests on a piece of wood which is just wider than the tank (to spread the weight), which in turn rests on top of my chest of drawers.
As most people on here have said, it's just about using your common sense and making sure you spread the weight evenly and place across your joists.
Enjoy!
It rests on a piece of wood which is just wider than the tank (to spread the weight), which in turn rests on top of my chest of drawers.
As most people on here have said, it's just about using your common sense and making sure you spread the weight evenly and place across your joists.
Enjoy!
camshaft
Fish Fanatic
i dunno about in the UK but in the US almost all subfloor is 3/4 tongue and groove. on 16" joists it will hold plenty of weight.
like the others have said, make sure you run it perpendicular to the joists.
if you are unsure of how to locate which direction the joists are running, get a studfiner and a ladder and locate them from the 1st floor ceiling.
like the others have said, make sure you run it perpendicular to the joists.
if you are unsure of how to locate which direction the joists are running, get a studfiner and a ladder and locate them from the 1st floor ceiling.
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