240 gallon on the 2nd floor

[Big Business]

i want to get a 240 gallon but i seem to have 2 major problems.

my first problem is i'm on the 2nd floor of a condo, so how can i tell if the floor will hold up? if there is no way to tell then what is a safe size to get? i don't want over a ton of water and glass coming down on my neighbors

the second is getting it up the stairs. most of the tanks i've been looking at are glass. i guess this is a stupid question but, is there an easier to grip the tank? i was thinking about building some kind of a frame around it, to protect it and make it easier to grip.

I’d appreciate any help, thanks!

 

[Mourinho18]

might want to check with the contractor to see whats the pounds per square foot the floor can hold. Shouldnt be too hard lifting it with the help of a few friends.

 

[REC]

FIRST - I would not go with anything over a 125 on the second floor unless you can get to the floor bracing underneath and add extra 2x4 supports. If not then a 120 or 125 long would be the safe max....

SECOND- I have never seen a tank over 120 gallons that didnt have a frame around it. It needs to have bracing on top and bottom if not i wouldn't buy it. If it is acrylic then your fine. As far as grip, use some thick dishwashing gloves or get extra help because a big tank is just heavy and kills the hands....lol

 

[magic]

I agree with JACKOSCAR.
I would not do it unless a contractor checks the condo out and tells u how much load it can hold. Depending on the house i think a 125 may even be pushing it.

 

[Oddball]

No frame? Sounds like a glasscages tank. They use thicker glass so, you're looking at 400lbs that has to go up a flight of stairs. Adios lower back.

 

[DeLgAdO]

you could increase your tank volume if you get an acrylic tank

 

[bmpower007]

Right now I have a 135 on my 2nd floor, had a friend who had a 180. Both tanks were glass.

 

[CentralMayhem]

i live in a modular(mobile) home and i had my 300 in there for 2 years before i moved it. it was all glass and heavy as ****. never any problems with the weight although i did dream that it fell through the floor one night. but getting that bastard up my little(6) stairs was a pain in the ass. you can only fit one person on each end if you are going through a standard doorway though so get some muscle to do it for ya if you arent 100% sure you can lift it the entire way up. me and my bro arent small guys and we had a hell of a time. it does a number on your fingers!!!!!!!! weight shouldnt be a problem but you will still have to check with the management on the regulations

 

[finsandfangs]

i just bought some large tanks and my lower back is still healing from carrying my glass 240 up my 2nd level porch and in the house.

when you do put a large tank in the house find the direction that the floor joist are run and put your tank across the floor joists and not parelle. and make sure you are near a load bearing wall

i also braced the floor under the tank with 4 x 4 pressure treated beams down to the concrete floor

 

[fishnutham]

i live in a modular(mobile) home and i had my 300 in there for 2 years before i moved it. it was all glass and heavy as ****. never any problems with the weight although i did dream that it fell through the floor one night. but getting that bastard up my little(6) stairs was a pain in the ass. you can only fit one person on each end if you are going through a standard doorway though so get some muscle to do it for ya if you arent 100% sure you can lift it the entire way up. me and my bro arent small guys and we had a hell of a time. it does a number on your fingers!!!!!!!! weight shouldnt be a problem but you will still have to check with the management on the regulations

your modular probably had steel beams for the substructure not really a good comparasion to a second floor in a house .

have to give you the though you are a true MFK to keep a 300g in a modular that must neede a few beers after the move