Too heavy for 2nd floor??

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by ickmagnet

I currently have a 135 gallon on the second floor of my home. At the time I bought it, it served my purposes as I wasn't very familiar with saltwater. Now, I am realizing that I should possibly upgrade the tank quality and hopefully the size as well. The only question is, how much more weight can my floor handle? I really don't know much about construction but it is obviously wooden and probably pretty standard stuff. The 135 seems to be doing just fine. I was really really hoping to get a 215 gallon (along with a small sump) that caught my eye. Could this work?

Hey there,

I too run a tank on my top floor. Mine is 180G with 105G sump/refuge. I have a customer who is a contractor who said it is probably about 3000 pounds. My tank is on a corner over-top of my garage (bonus room). I didn't need any extra supports as he stated, because this is one of the strongest parts of my house and I have 3-4 floor joises underneath it. I have silent floors so the joises are also glued board with laminated 2X4, supposedly the best.

I don't mind having a support in the garage for it, but he said I didn't need it. After almost 2 years, nothing has changed, no walls cracking, floor buckling and tank is still exactly level as when it was first set up.

The only thing he said I would have to fix if I ever remove the tank is the underlay, he says this type of weight will just turn it into dust over time.

I do believe it will depend on where you put it, wall construction and floor joises underneath.

I hope my tale helps,

Rick