Moving...Horrible idea?

cubuffs · 05/11/2006, 10:09 PM

I am moving into a very nice second story apartment with my 180 reef. The complex was build within the last few years, so how much should I worry about the floors collapsing, or any other potential dangers?

Anyone this crazy to do such a thing? Should I reinforce the floors? Please advise if possible.

cubuffs

VengefulSakhmet · 05/11/2006, 10:54 PM

My father tried to have his 150 gallon tank in our apartment when I was growing up, but due to fear of it literally going through the floor we had to take the tank down. Apartments really aren't that solid. If there is anyway you can reinforce the floor, I would do it, though I'm not sure how you would do it without putting supports below the floor. Much luck to you.

LazyD · 05/11/2006, 11:13 PM

I wouldnt try it, Ive never heard of someones setup actually falling through but like Vengeful said most apartments dont seem all that sturdy and that is alot of weight in a pretty small footprint. Ive been thinking of moving out and in an apartment building I dont feel comfortable setting up my 85 unless im on the first floor.

pitt_prodigy · 05/11/2006, 11:49 PM

Like was state above i would really investigate the supports before going any further. If your hell bent on pulling it off, i would definitely recommend that you put it in a corner as close to the 2 walls as possible as that would be the most supportive. At roughly 10lbs per gallon your talking about some serious weight for a 180g.... and thats not even taking into account the rocks and sand/substrate. All said and done it would be kinda like the equivalent of parking a volkswagon rabbit in the corner of your appartment. Good luck.

bertoni · 05/11/2006, 11:49 PM

If you go ahead with the setup, I'd talk to an insurance company about some protection. I'm not sure I'd have the guts to set up a 180g in an apartment, but you'll probably find people who've done it.

tkeracer619 · 05/11/2006, 11:56 PM

Since it was biult recently you might be able to get some info as to the floor structure. I doubt you would have a problem and I would defenitly get renters insurance.

Fmellish · 05/12/2006, 12:01 AM

Only fill it half way

cubuffs · 05/12/2006, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the info. Since these are really high end apartments ($1,000,000+), I thought that there may be a chance. I do know of someone who lives here with a 210 gallon, but I am not sure if he re-enforced the floors or not.

I will check with the office to see if I can get some information on the construction of these apartments. Keep the advice coming!

darrelljm · 05/12/2006, 04:47 PM

I had a 180gal reef in a second floor apartment before. I checked with maintenance there to find out about the supports and which way they ran in the floor and setup the tank running the opposite direction. If your really nervous, put a 3/4" sheet of plywood under the stand first to spread the weight out.

jcraft · 05/12/2006, 09:43 PM

$1,000,000 apartments?

are you sure they're not condo's?

In my experience, which I admit is not much, Condominiums are built a lot better (read: more solid) than apartments. This would equate to better support and be better able to support the weight of a large tank.

When's the last time you heard someone above you when you rent a condo on the beach? how about at an apartment?

FWIW, I know of a guy with a 140g tank on the second floor and he's had no problems . . .

erm.chan · 05/12/2006, 10:01 PM

shoot! I'm on the 43rd floor! I'll have to check with my builder asap.

Alaskan Reefer · 05/12/2006, 11:09 PM

180 gallon tank should weigh around 1500 pounds with stand and such. If you can find 6-7 beefy fellas to gather and jump up and down in a 6'X2' space, you'll know how strong the floor is.

VengefulSakhmet · 05/13/2006, 12:57 AM

I found a nice article to help figure out your floor safety. Hope it helps.

Wood Floor vs Aquarium

cubuffs · 05/13/2006, 10:35 AM

Thanks...It is a condo. There are some newly built places in downtown Boulder (4th most expensive place to live in the US), and I quickly bought one for living and investment purposes. Thanks to everyone for thier thoughts.

05/11/2006, 10:09 PM	#1
cubuffs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 570	Moving...Horrible idea? I am moving into a very nice second story apartment with my 180 reef. The complex was build within the last few years, so how much should I worry about the floors collapsing, or any other potential dangers? Anyone this crazy to do such a thing? Should I reinforce the floors? Please advise if possible. cubuffs __________________ Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer Current Tank Info: 8 gallon Innovative Marine Nano

05/11/2006, 10:54 PM	#2
VengefulSakhmet Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 101	My father tried to have his 150 gallon tank in our apartment when I was growing up, but due to fear of it literally going through the floor we had to take the tank down. Apartments really aren't that solid. If there is anyway you can reinforce the floor, I would do it, though I'm not sure how you would do it without putting supports below the floor. Much luck to you. __________________ -Sakhmet "I type 101 words a minute. But it's in my own language." -- Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: 80 gallon FOWLR

05/11/2006, 11:49 PM	#4
pitt_prodigy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 751	Like was state above i would really investigate the supports before going any further. If your hell bent on pulling it off, i would definitely recommend that you put it in a corner as close to the 2 walls as possible as that would be the most supportive. At roughly 10lbs per gallon your talking about some serious weight for a 180g.... and thats not even taking into account the rocks and sand/substrate. All said and done it would be kinda like the equivalent of parking a volkswagon rabbit in the corner of your appartment. Good luck. __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 72 gallon RR Oceanic, heavily modded ASM G2 skimmer, 30g sump/refugium, AI vega lighting x 2, apex controller, Phos Reactor, etc.

05/11/2006, 11:49 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you go ahead with the setup, I'd talk to an insurance company about some protection. I'm not sure I'd have the guts to set up a 180g in an apartment, but you'll probably find people who've done it. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/11/2006, 11:56 PM	#6
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Since it was biult recently you might be able to get some info as to the floor structure. I doubt you would have a problem and I would defenitly get renters insurance. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/11/2006, 11:13 PM	#3
LazyD Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Petaluma, CA Posts: 122	I wouldnt try it, Ive never heard of someones setup actually falling through but like Vengeful said most apartments dont seem all that sturdy and that is alot of weight in a pretty small footprint. Ive been thinking of moving out and in an apartment building I dont feel comfortable setting up my 85 unless im on the first floor.

05/12/2006, 12:01 AM	#7
Fmellish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,111	Only fill it half way

05/12/2006, 04:22 PM	#8
cubuffs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 570	Thanks for the info. Since these are really high end apartments ($1,000,000+), I thought that there may be a chance. I do know of someone who lives here with a 210 gallon, but I am not sure if he re-enforced the floors or not. I will check with the office to see if I can get some information on the construction of these apartments. Keep the advice coming! __________________ Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer Current Tank Info: 8 gallon Innovative Marine Nano

05/12/2006, 04:47 PM	#9
darrelljm Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lancaster, SC. Posts: 66	I had a 180gal reef in a second floor apartment before. I checked with maintenance there to find out about the supports and which way they ran in the floor and setup the tank running the opposite direction. If your really nervous, put a 3/4" sheet of plywood under the stand first to spread the weight out.

05/12/2006, 09:43 PM	#10
jcraft Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Baton Rouge, La Posts: 274	$1,000,000 apartments? are you sure they're not condo's? In my experience, which I admit is not much, Condominiums are built a lot better (read: more solid) than apartments. This would equate to better support and be better able to support the weight of a large tank. When's the last time you heard someone above you when you rent a condo on the beach? how about at an apartment? FWIW, I know of a guy with a 140g tank on the second floor and he's had no problems . . .

05/12/2006, 10:01 PM	#11
erm.chan Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 38	shoot! I'm on the 43rd floor! I'll have to check with my builder asap.

05/12/2006, 11:09 PM	#12
Alaskan Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 2,360	180 gallon tank should weigh around 1500 pounds with stand and such. If you can find 6-7 beefy fellas to gather and jump up and down in a 6'X2' space, you'll know how strong the floor is. __________________ Unattended children will be given double shot espresso and a free puppy. Current Tank Info: 125g FOWLR -- Conversion Back To SPS In Progress

05/13/2006, 12:57 AM	#13
VengefulSakhmet Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Island Posts: 101	I found a nice article to help figure out your floor safety. Hope it helps. Wood Floor vs Aquarium __________________ -Sakhmet "I type 101 words a minute. But it's in my own language." -- Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: 80 gallon FOWLR

05/13/2006, 10:35 AM	#14
cubuffs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 570	Thanks...It is a condo. There are some newly built places in downtown Boulder (4th most expensive place to live in the US), and I quickly bought one for living and investment purposes. Thanks to everyone for thier thoughts. __________________ Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer Current Tank Info: 8 gallon Innovative Marine Nano