Build the platform out of 2x6 or 2x8 and put it on an outside wall across as many joist as possible. If your really worried about the weight...run the tank at 120 - 130 g you shouldn't lose that much height in water, and you can use black paper to cover up the gap. At least you get to keep the tank.
150 Gal on 2nd floor? Moving soon
- Thread starter KRSwop1
- Start date
In the UK, what you would call "first floor" stateside is called the ground floor here, "2nd floor" being our first floor - just to confuse things!
Just to make matters worse, I live in a 100 year old tenement (google it if you don't know what that is - I'm in a Glasgow West End tenement - the best!) and it's officially an "elevated ground floor" flat (apartment) which you would term to be on the 2nd floor!
In other words, I'm in a similar predicament as I currently have a 48 x 15 x 12 and I'm upgrading to a 6 footer - approx 100 gallons - and I'm concerned about weight on wooden floor joists as well!
See this thread for details....
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81164
Just to make matters worse, I live in a 100 year old tenement (google it if you don't know what that is - I'm in a Glasgow West End tenement - the best!) and it's officially an "elevated ground floor" flat (apartment) which you would term to be on the 2nd floor!
In other words, I'm in a similar predicament as I currently have a 48 x 15 x 12 and I'm upgrading to a 6 footer - approx 100 gallons - and I'm concerned about weight on wooden floor joists as well!
See this thread for details....
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81164
as long as you set your tank perpindicular to the floor joists you will be fine.i had a 125 on the second floor of my condo. good luck.
Thanks for all the info guys. I just found out that the APT building was built in the early 80's. Does this help with identifying which type of floor joists were used?
If the building is fairly large then the support Ibeams would run the shortest distance with the joist running perpindicular to them. This would just be a guess though. I think you can actually get records of the blueprints for the building though. Try checking with your local building inspector.
Most apartment floors are rated at 100 lbs per square foot. Now, assuming your tank is 72 x 20 that equals roughly 10 square feet. The average 150 gallon tank weighs around 1400 lbs when full so I would say you're pushing it but I have my 135 on the second floor with no issues after 4 months. Just do what I did and have the maintenance guy approve it. Just make sure it's on a load bearing wall. Also, the floors are rated at 100 lbs per square foot at the weakest point, in the center. So the wall area can probably handle more.
