75 gal. in apartment - floor strength?

[danhdesigns]

Hi,

I recently purchased a 75-gal. surfline aquarium. We live on the thrid floor of an apartment complex built within the last 3 years. It will be on the stand that came with it.

I have concern about if it will be too heavy when filled up for the floor to handle it. The floor seems very solid, but then again we are on the THIRD floor of the apartment complex. Should I have ANY worry about it being to heavy and causing issues (like falling through the floor)?!?!?

I want to know either way as I don't want it to cause structural issues and then have to pay for those.

Any and all replies are welcome and encouraged! Thanks in advance!

[gm72]

A 75 gallon tank with gravel and water will weigh approximately 800-850 pounds. Locate the tank in a corner where there is more structural support. Should be fine, but good job for being concerned and asking!

[Kuli_Loach]

Ditto, if it is that new then it should be fine. I have a 55 in an old house on the second floor and it don't do anything really.

[danhdesigns]

Thanks for the quick and info-filled responses!

The aquarium is going to be against the wall in the middle of the living room. If it were to be in the corner it would be right by the large windows and patio door which has a bit of a draft issue in the winter months. So, we figured that would not be a good spot to put it.

I very much value the current responses but is there anyone else out there that can continue to put my (and my girlfriends) minds at ease or to say that we should be concerned, etc.

Thanks again!

[Kuli_Loach]

I still say corner for the long run but depending on how long it is to stay there. If it is not gonna be there for like 10 years then I say it is fine. It will eventually warp any floor, not matter the size really, it just happens. Just he wait increases the time in which it takes. I would say it is fine for several years there. If you notice anything different take it out, if you don't then it is fine. Try it out man, I didn't know what mine would do until I tried it and it has done fine with no show.

[danhdesigns]

Ok....going to try it out. Should be fine hopefully. Thanks again.

[emjay8]

Honestly, the only way to know for sure is to talk with someone who knows how the building was constructed. It's not going to damage the floor joists overnight, but it's something that may happen over a 10+ year period.

I have a 75 gallon that has been in the same spot for about 15 years and it is leaning forward enough so that the water level when looking at it from the side is uneven (but not dangerous uneven).

The tank is running parallel to the floor joists so there's not much weight distribution. Ideally (in my case) it should sit perpendicular to the joists to spread the load across as many joists as possible.

But again... it really depends on what you've got going on under the flooring. In my case it's a converted garage. I don't know what's under there, but I'm guessing there is no joist support from the old garage floor in that area... that it's screwed at the end into a bordering joist and the weight of the tank is causing the joist's screws to dig down through the bordering joist over time, thus lowering the joist and the front of the tank. The next time the carpet is replaced I'm going to take up the plywood flooring and add support between the joist and garage floor.

[zackish]

Something I just thought of....what kind of stand is it?
I am assuming it is not a rought iron stand which is good.
Does the bottom surface of the stand touch with the ground or does the stand have something more like legs? If the bottom touchesthe floor completely I would say this is better. The reason in saying that is because in that case the weight wouold be spread out evenly rather than in 4 points. Probably wouldn't make much of a difference but it still makes sense to me at least.

[Drumachine09]

Find out the rated pound per square inch weight limit of the floor. The owners should know, and if they dont, contact the contractors and ask them.


You want your tank to be situated over as many joists as possible, and if you can, put it near a load bearing wall.

[Lady Hobbs]

Good idea for sure. Your apartment probably depends if it's in a house converted into apartments or built as an apartment which has different floor weigh restrictions. If it's a constructed apartment it's probably built of cement and steel girders. Whole different story if it's a converted house.

Also depends on the age as weight restrictions constantly change in new buildings.

Some apartments also have fish tank restrictions so you may not want to say much regarding this. They worry about water damage to floors below, of course.