This entry was posted
on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 6:08 am and is filed under Fish Tanks.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
13 Responses to “Can I put a 50 gallon fish tank in my upstairs apartment?”
Should be ok because people weigh 200 lbs and it concentrates down onto a small area the size of two feet – so this tank spread out over a wider area should be fine – it’s just like two people standing side by side.
Well if you have a place to sit it that will distribute the weight it should be fine. I have a 65 gal. tank sitting on what would be called the breakfast bar.But I would ask the landlord before I did it just to make sure he had no objections. CYOAF…
If this your own apartment, I would say try it and find out just make sure you have enough support from whatever you put it on. If you have leased your apartment I would check first with you leasing agreement to make sure it’s OK. Some apartment owners put a max on how many gallons you can have in the unit.
The floor should not be an issue.
I would be more worried about the support and base for the fish tank, as you shouldnt use any normal table. With that such weight, you need to buy a fish tank stand that fits your fish tank.
A lot of this is going to depend on the age of your apartment building, the quality of workmanship with which it was originally built, whether it has been properly maintained, if there is any existing damage to the subfloor or ceiling/floor beams/joists and where you intend on putting the tank. I am not certain what to suggest to you. I think if you are concerned, I would seek the advice of a contractor or other expert in the field of building/construction and have them check out your apartment and its structure. Good luck!
I would check your rental agreement first. They may not allow it. If nothing is there then you might want to ask the apartment manager and see if it’s okay or if you need extra rental insurance (just in case something does happen).
Floors are built to support a certain amount of pressure over an prescribed area.
If you look at a refrigerator, the entire weight (over 300 pounds, filled) sits on four feet, each around 1 square inches. Your floor is looking at 75lb per square feet.
If your aquarium’s base is more than 4 feet, that is a metal or wooden rail (board) the weight is distributed over a greater area. no problem.
I’ve had waterbeds on the second floor with no problem.
Have you ever had three adults sit on a couch in your apartment? Well over 500 pounds!
As stated before, check with the landlord, see if you can have fish. and yes, the tank will be fine. If you’re worried, go get a couple chunkier people and have them stand in a small space. :p Just kidding!
I live on the third floor of an apartment building and have my 55 gallon aquarium all set up and it looks like it’s doing fine. I don’t think you should have a problem.
You might want to check with your landlord just in case. They may have a few guidelines for you before you set it up. Pretty much the only guideline my leasing office had for my aquarium, was getting renter’s insurance (which is a good idea any way).
I live in an apartment and have 3 fish tanks in my room. 55 gallon, 29, gallon, and a 10 gallon. You will be fine. I always think my floor is gonna break but it hasnt yet. Enjoy the new tank!
If it’s a well-built house,it should be fine. I live in a 90-year-old apartment and in my living room I have a 55-gallon tank on a stand that also has a 10-gal. and a 30–gal. on the bottom shelf of the same stand. A few feet away, I have 4 tanks in one area: a30-gal.on the top of a stand,and a 20-gal. on the bottom. Right next to that I have a stand with 2 20-gal. tanks on top of each other. I also have 4 bookcases filled with books from floor to ceiling,about 7 feet high.
So far,my floor has not fallen down to the level below.
You have to worry more about leaks or spills (while doing water changes) so 55 gallons of water doesn’t come cascading down through the ceiling of the apartment below.
Buy some home-owner’s insurance to cover yourself if you have an accident.
December 17th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Kurt Beckert
You should be just fine. Your bed weighes a good bit and it is fine right?
December 19th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Jeremy Comeaux
Should be ok because people weigh 200 lbs and it concentrates down onto a small area the size of two feet – so this tank spread out over a wider area should be fine – it’s just like two people standing side by side.
December 21st, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Ethel Holliday
Well if you have a place to sit it that will distribute the weight it should be fine. I have a 65 gal. tank sitting on what would be called the breakfast bar.But I would ask the landlord before I did it just to make sure he had no objections. CYOAF…
December 21st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
Miriam Uhl
If this your own apartment, I would say try it and find out just make sure you have enough support from whatever you put it on. If you have leased your apartment I would check first with you leasing agreement to make sure it’s OK. Some apartment owners put a max on how many gallons you can have in the unit.
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:53 am
Jack Story
The floor should not be an issue.
I would be more worried about the support and base for the fish tank, as you shouldnt use any normal table. With that such weight, you need to buy a fish tank stand that fits your fish tank.
December 25th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Philip Hightower
A lot of this is going to depend on the age of your apartment building, the quality of workmanship with which it was originally built, whether it has been properly maintained, if there is any existing damage to the subfloor or ceiling/floor beams/joists and where you intend on putting the tank. I am not certain what to suggest to you. I think if you are concerned, I would seek the advice of a contractor or other expert in the field of building/construction and have them check out your apartment and its structure. Good luck!
December 25th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Glenn Flora
I would check your rental agreement first. They may not allow it. If nothing is there then you might want to ask the apartment manager and see if it’s okay or if you need extra rental insurance (just in case something does happen).
December 27th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Caroline Curry
Yes.
Floors are built to support a certain amount of pressure over an prescribed area.
If you look at a refrigerator, the entire weight (over 300 pounds, filled) sits on four feet, each around 1 square inches. Your floor is looking at 75lb per square feet.
If your aquarium’s base is more than 4 feet, that is a metal or wooden rail (board) the weight is distributed over a greater area. no problem.
I’ve had waterbeds on the second floor with no problem.
Have you ever had three adults sit on a couch in your apartment? Well over 500 pounds!
’nuff said.
December 29th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Lawrence Benford
As stated before, check with the landlord, see if you can have fish. and yes, the tank will be fine. If you’re worried, go get a couple chunkier people and have them stand in a small space. :p Just kidding!
December 31st, 2009 at 8:24 am
Scott Devine
I live on the third floor of an apartment building and have my 55 gallon aquarium all set up and it looks like it’s doing fine. I don’t think you should have a problem.
You might want to check with your landlord just in case. They may have a few guidelines for you before you set it up. Pretty much the only guideline my leasing office had for my aquarium, was getting renter’s insurance (which is a good idea any way).
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:40 am
Rosie Gish
I live in an apartment and have 3 fish tanks in my room. 55 gallon, 29, gallon, and a 10 gallon. You will be fine. I always think my floor is gonna break but it hasnt yet. Enjoy the new tank!
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Carolyn Bardwell
i live on the 15th floor of my apartment and I have a 60 gallon saltwater tank, and I have no problems
January 4th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Larry Stovall
If it’s a well-built house,it should be fine. I live in a 90-year-old apartment and in my living room I have a 55-gallon tank on a stand that also has a 10-gal. and a 30–gal. on the bottom shelf of the same stand. A few feet away, I have 4 tanks in one area: a30-gal.on the top of a stand,and a 20-gal. on the bottom. Right next to that I have a stand with 2 20-gal. tanks on top of each other. I also have 4 bookcases filled with books from floor to ceiling,about 7 feet high.
So far,my floor has not fallen down to the level below.
You have to worry more about leaks or spills (while doing water changes) so 55 gallons of water doesn’t come cascading down through the ceiling of the apartment below.
Buy some home-owner’s insurance to cover yourself if you have an accident.