Whats too heavy for an office?

JoshInSF · 09/01/2016, 04:34 PM

Thinking about putting a 139 gallon setup in my office. It's a 4 story office building built in the 80s. Should I have any concern about having something 1200-1300 pounds on the floor? I'd prefer not to ask the building since I don't want them telling me not to put in a tank...

billdogg · 09/01/2016, 04:57 PM

It will have reinforced concrete floors. Park whatever sized tank you want on it and hope it never leaks.

scar79 · 09/01/2016, 05:07 PM

I have a 135 in a late 70's concrete floor building. Never thought twice about weight!

Dkuhlmann · 09/01/2016, 05:34 PM

Yep they use concrete on the floors in commercial buildings.

Desert Sea · 09/01/2016, 07:22 PM

Don't take for granted that the floor is concrete. Some smaller commercial buildings use wood framing and there are even some buildings that have concrete floors but whose load rating is not much more than a typical single family home. A wood framed floor with a gypcrete topping can be deceiving to how it feels under foot.

If the floor is a typical 5" thick slab on deck, you can figure its probably rated for 100 lbs/sqft and the tank should not be a problem. You need to determine what/how the floor is constructed to safely answer your question.

Keep in mind that office space is not typically constructed to the highest load ratings in order to keep the construction costs in line with the anticipated lease revenue performa.

Desert Sea · 09/01/2016, 07:32 PM

Just an idea, if you need to approach the Building Owner or Facilities personnel to determine what the floor is rated for and you don't want to tell them what your up to or they ask why, tell them you are looking into purchasing fire rated file cabinets and they weigh (insert the approximate weight of your tank here) xxxx lbs.

JoshInSF · 09/01/2016, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert Sea

Just an idea, if you need to approach the Building Owner or Facilities personnel to determine what the floor is rated for and you don't want to tell them what your up to or they ask why, tell them you are looking into purchasing fire rated file cabinets and they weigh (insert the approximate weight of your tank here) xxxx lbs.

Great idea!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

billdogg · 09/02/2016, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert Sea

Just an idea, if you need to approach the Building Owner or Facilities personnel to determine what the floor is rated for and you don't want to tell them what your up to or they ask why, tell them you are looking into purchasing fire rated file cabinets and they weigh (insert the approximate weight of your tank here) xxxx lbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshInSF

Great idea!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

IMHO, not so great an idea. If you lie to them and something does happen with the tank, you will be out on the street looking for a new office in about .01 milliseconds, and liable for any and all damages to the building.

JoshInSF · 09/02/2016, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

IMHO, not so great an idea. If you lie to them and something does happen with the tank, you will be out on the street looking for a new office in about .01 milliseconds, and liable for any and all damages to the building.

There is nothing in the lease that prohibits having a tank.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

billdogg · 09/02/2016, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshInSF

There is nothing in the lease that prohibits having a tank.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Regardless, if you mislead the management by asking about a "heavy filing cabinet" and then something happens with an aquarium, they most likely will not look to favorably on you for the untruth.

Not trying to start an argument, I just prefer honesty over deceit.

jm.02

Desert Sea · 09/02/2016, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

Regardless, if you mislead the management by asking about a "heavy filing cabinet" and then something happens with an aquarium, they most likely will not look to favorably on you for the untruth.

Not trying to start an argument, I just prefer honesty over deceit.

jm.02

The OP was contemplating on installing a new aquarium. The suggestion was made in order to determine the floors capacity without raising undue suspicion on the part of the Building Management. A fire rated filing cabinet would not be out of line to be found in an office environment. Some people like to make the rules up as they go. This suggestion saves the OP from having to have an argument with some building management person about something that the lease should already spell out until he decides what he is going to do. There's no deceit in that.

ReefsandGeeks · 09/02/2016, 06:53 AM

I wouldn't see an issue in talking to the building manager about adding in a tank. Sure, you could ask about the file cabinets just to try to get a weight rating, and yes they do weigh a lot, though I don't know that I've seen any quite that heavy. There are quite a lot of office buildings that have aquariums put in them. ever been to the dentist? about half of them seem to have a tank in the waiting room. I can't say if they reinforced the floors or not though. Personally, I'd just say there's a lot of interest in adding a tank to keep the office more relaxing and increase company moral or something like that. It's a legitimate reason.

BigDave · 09/02/2016, 07:02 AM

Not only what devastator said, but telling them you're putting in a tank and asking about floor rating tells the building owner that you're serious about what you're doing and taking all precautions. If I was the builder owner, I'd feel better about you asking then just doing it and hoping for the best.

Just make sure whatever insurance you have for the office space covers anything the aquarium might do.

JoshInSF · 09/02/2016, 07:03 AM

I am in agreement that there's no need to be deceitful. I should be OK. Building maintenance was in my office a few times last week to repair something. I have a Biocube 32 there at the moment and nobody mentioned it. More important, the lease does not prohibit fish tanks.

C.Eymann · 09/02/2016, 07:17 AM

I completely agree with Bill, be honest. Back when I was an aquarium tech we were delivering a tank for a dentist office and as we were rolling the tank through the lobby the property manager told us "whoa! hey guys we don't allow our tenants to have aquariums". It was going to be a sweet reef, 120 oceanic tech tank that ended up as a African cichlid tank at the dentist's house.
The dentist was pretty upset, he really didn't want an aquarium at his house.
Just an example of how not asking can end up being a disappointment and headache down the road.

As far as the structure integrity, I agree with what has been said, it's all concrete and steel, nothing like a house.

Dkuhlmann · 09/02/2016, 04:48 PM

You can also look up the state building code and see what the floor load bearing is per square foot and go from there. The building would have to be at least what the state building code requires.

Ya be honest, you already have one tank and tell them you're thinking of a larger tank and go from there.

View Poll Results: Does a standard office building floor need reinforcements to hold a 139 gallon tank?
No - just don't add too many overweight fish	6	100.00%
Yes - put that thing in at your own risk...	0	0%
Voters: 6. You may not vote on this poll

09/01/2016, 04:34 PM	#1
JoshInSF Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 57	Whats too heavy for an office? Thinking about putting a 139 gallon setup in my office. It's a 4 story office building built in the 80s. Should I have any concern about having something 1200-1300 pounds on the floor? I'd prefer not to ask the building since I don't want them telling me not to put in a tank... __________________ Current tanks: Red Sea Reefer 250, Ecotech Radion XR15 G4, Vectra M1, MP40, Nyos Quantum 120 LED Biocube 32, Maxspect Gyre 130, AquaEuro USA 1/10 Chiller Current Tank Info: Current tanks: Red Sea Reefer XL 525, Ecotech Radion XR30G4 (X3), Vectra M1, MP40 (X2), Nyos Quantum 160, JBJ 1/4 Chiller - Office Tank currently cycling Red Sea Reefer 250, Ecotech Radion XR15 G4, Vectra M1, MP10 (X2), Nyos Quantum 120 - Home tank -

09/01/2016, 04:57 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	It will have reinforced concrete floors. Park whatever sized tank you want on it and hope it never leaks. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/01/2016, 05:34 PM	#4
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	Yep they use concrete on the floors in commercial buildings. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

09/02/2016, 07:03 AM	#14
JoshInSF Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 57	I am in agreement that there's no need to be deceitful. I should be OK. Building maintenance was in my office a few times last week to repair something. I have a Biocube 32 there at the moment and nobody mentioned it. More important, the lease does not prohibit fish tanks. __________________ Current tanks: Red Sea Reefer 250, Ecotech Radion XR15 G4, Vectra M1, MP40, Nyos Quantum 120 LED Biocube 32, Maxspect Gyre 130, AquaEuro USA 1/10 Chiller Current Tank Info: Current tanks: Red Sea Reefer XL 525, Ecotech Radion XR30G4 (X3), Vectra M1, MP40 (X2), Nyos Quantum 160, JBJ 1/4 Chiller - Office Tank currently cycling Red Sea Reefer 250, Ecotech Radion XR15 G4, Vectra M1, MP10 (X2), Nyos Quantum 120 - Home tank -

09/01/2016, 05:07 PM	#3
scar79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southwestern CT Posts: 534	I have a 135 in a late 70's concrete floor building. Never thought twice about weight!

09/01/2016, 07:22 PM	#5
Desert Sea Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 294	Don't take for granted that the floor is concrete. Some smaller commercial buildings use wood framing and there are even some buildings that have concrete floors but whose load rating is not much more than a typical single family home. A wood framed floor with a gypcrete topping can be deceiving to how it feels under foot. If the floor is a typical 5" thick slab on deck, you can figure its probably rated for 100 lbs/sqft and the tank should not be a problem. You need to determine what/how the floor is constructed to safely answer your question. Keep in mind that office space is not typically constructed to the highest load ratings in order to keep the construction costs in line with the anticipated lease revenue performa.

09/01/2016, 07:32 PM	#6
Desert Sea Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 294	Just an idea, if you need to approach the Building Owner or Facilities personnel to determine what the floor is rated for and you don't want to tell them what your up to or they ask why, tell them you are looking into purchasing fire rated file cabinets and they weigh (insert the approximate weight of your tank here) xxxx lbs.

09/02/2016, 06:53 AM	#12
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I wouldn't see an issue in talking to the building manager about adding in a tank. Sure, you could ask about the file cabinets just to try to get a weight rating, and yes they do weigh a lot, though I don't know that I've seen any quite that heavy. There are quite a lot of office buildings that have aquariums put in them. ever been to the dentist? about half of them seem to have a tank in the waiting room. I can't say if they reinforced the floors or not though. Personally, I'd just say there's a lot of interest in adding a tank to keep the office more relaxing and increase company moral or something like that. It's a legitimate reason.

09/02/2016, 07:02 AM	#13
BigDave Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wylie, TX Posts: 473	Not only what devastator said, but telling them you're putting in a tank and asking about floor rating tells the building owner that you're serious about what you're doing and taking all precautions. If I was the builder owner, I'd feel better about you asking then just doing it and hoping for the best. Just make sure whatever insurance you have for the office space covers anything the aquarium might do.

09/02/2016, 07:17 AM	#15
C.Eymann Cnidaria lover Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Winterpark FL Posts: 1,483	I completely agree with Bill, be honest. Back when I was an aquarium tech we were delivering a tank for a dentist office and as we were rolling the tank through the lobby the property manager told us "whoa! hey guys we don't allow our tenants to have aquariums". It was going to be a sweet reef, 120 oceanic tech tank that ended up as a African cichlid tank at the dentist's house. The dentist was pretty upset, he really didn't want an aquarium at his house. Just an example of how not asking can end up being a disappointment and headache down the road. As far as the structure integrity, I agree with what has been said, it's all concrete and steel, nothing like a house. __________________ "I glue animals to rocks" Current Tank Info: 80gal build in the works

09/02/2016, 04:48 PM	#16
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	You can also look up the state building code and see what the floor load bearing is per square foot and go from there. The building would have to be at least what the state building code requires. Ya be honest, you already have one tank and tell them you're thinking of a larger tank and go from there. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300