Where to put 55 Gallon Aqarium

[FishForFun]

Hello,

I have an opportunity to get a 55 Gallon aqarium. I want to put it on the second story. My husband thinks that it will be too heavy for the second story? Where do you all keep your larger tanks? The other place is our basement (has a family room and my office there), but it is so cold in the winter months. Thanks for your suggestions and comments.

FishForFun

 

[nightlife20]

my house, id fit it in lovley

 

[FishForFun]

I don't think so

 

[nightlife20]

meanie

 

[drobbins27]

I reccomend basement...I have the same problem but a great heater and possibly a cheap back-up heater would fix that problem...Or you could just make it a cold water tank

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I have my 55 gallon on the second floor and I've never had any problems.

 

[Sid]

I do a lot of remodeling work on houses and I would say that most
floors would easily support a 55 gallon tank. I don't think you'll have
a problem on the second floor.

 

[fishfever]

The main question is weight and if your floor can support it. We had to check it out for our 125. A fellow lfs patron was talking to us one day, and he ripped up his floor to build a foundation for his 300gallon. Talk about devotion. If I remember correctly (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong) it like 8 lbs. per gallon. plus, add the weight of substrate, tank, and stand.

 

[Great Lakes]

55 gallons is still pretty small really. I would put one anywhere that the floor feels solid with your weight on it.

GL

 

[Bol]

It's impossible to say for sure, of course, without seeing your house. But, I would agree that most residential buildings should be able to support a 55 gallon tank on any floor -- especially if it's properly placed. If weight is a concern, I'd suggest the following:

1) Use a stand with a solid or frame bottom to spread the weight; i.e., don't use one that just has four (or six) legs.

2) Place a tank with the long dimension parallel to load-bearing walls (so that the tank spans as many floor joists as possible).

3) Place the tank as close to that load-bearing wall as possible.

For info, water weighs roughly 8.4 pounds per gallon. A 55 gallon tank and stand should end up weighing roughly 600 to 650 pounds.

 

[FishForFun]

Thanks for all of the information! After all of your info, I definately think that my tank can handle being on the 2nd floor. My china hutch must weigh about 700lbs...pointed this out to my husband...and it is in our living room on the 2nd floor.

You guys are AWESOME and I am learning so much from everyone. Thanks for your help.

Sue

 

[Vam]

If you have a weak floor you can always have it reinforced.

About 500lbs? If your floor can not hold that then your house is not safe.

 

[Patrick333]

It would hold it fine because when u think about it what are water beds filled with.

 

[Captain Canuck]

You shouldn't have any problem on the second floor. Houses are typically soooo overdesigned it isn't funny, but (this is the conservative civil engineer coming out in me) I would agree with Bol's tips and place it parallel to a load bearing wall.

 

[Patrick333]

How many people actually know where the load bearing wall is