upstairs weight

[MrZ2u]

In getting all excited about getting a green light from the wife to build up another tank I have suddenly become a little unsure about part of this. My 200 without question is downstairs but I am looking at setting up a 58gal with a 30 gal fuge but it will be upstairs.

It will be on a exterior wall so its on the strongest wall I have but does have me concerned...the weight that is.

Anyone think this is a problem. It’s a modern house built in 2000 so I would assume code would be more than adequate for the load but there is that nagging paranoia of coming home to find the tank downstairs on its own.

[hammondegge]

your setup is going to be around 800#. the footprint will probably be around 8 square feet. that is only 100# per sq ft. you probably apply more force than that when you walk around the room. you will be fine.
oh btw, i am not a professional anything!

[alton]

If you would have a party would you tell your guest that only 10 people could go upstairs at one time? If you are upstairs and you stand on one foot that would be around 5lbs per sq. inch. Your tank will come out to less than 2 lbs a square inch? Of course I am just a dumb electrician, may an engineer will pop in? Go for it!

[hobogato]

i had a 58 gallon reef tank with about 100 lbs. of live rock in it and it was no problem. our house is also a newer house - built in '99.

[MrZ2u]

actualy never thought about it interms of lbs/sq ft....even under an assumed 1000lbs its only 222 per sq ft. I'll rest easier now I think.

[lachrimae]

Maybe you should question yourself and bring that 200gal upstairs. I'll help you move it ;)

[MrZ2u]

Well lets see...its 7ft long, weighs over 500 lbs empty and my stairs have a 90 degree turn about half way up...I am thinking the answer is something like hell no! :)

[hobogato]

aww - where's your sense of adventure??

[LoneStar]

I got a sawzall for the 200 gallon move up stairs! We can make it happen...

[astrong]

Standard pier and beam floor are rated at 50lbs/sq foot. Concrete is greater and steel is even more. Technically you are over that (if its wood,) but ive seen too many 180's on wooden floors to be worried about a 58. However, if the sheetrock starts to crack that means the floor is shifting, not necessarily a bad thing because wood expands and contracts frequently but it'll ruin the paint job. And you'll definately get in trouble, so hang a tapestry.... Now thats something we dont see enough of these days, that and frescos and freizes!

Oh and the "walking around" theory doesnt apply here because this is static weight and the mass tranfers to the horizontal support. Just because your fridge perches on 1"D feet doesnt mean its 2000lbs/ft2. It still has a 3'x3' base.

I say go for it.

Keep SA Lame, thats funny! I just saw that!

Anyone know of any good FW clubs in SA?

[astrong]

BTW the way they determine the 50lbs/ft2 value is by stacking weight on a floor until it breaks. Then divide that mass by 10 to be safe and account for irregularities in wood. Or so thats what my carpenter buddy tells me. So by being double the recommended value you are still 20% or critical mass.

[blueboy]

if at all possible, i would try and determine were the floor joists are, and span as many as possible.

[cpreefguy]

good FW club
Isnt that an oxy-moron?
Lol, just kidding, I think there is a local ciclid club???

[MrZ2u]

and that Cichlid club is...

http://www.xdeleon.com/hccc/

[Bill S]

My 55 g is upstairs. I didn't put it on a wall - and there's a noticable tilt to it. When I get the 215 set up, I'm going to move it. I have 2 300lb friends who both stood in front of it at the same time - and no problems.

[Ram_Puppy]

I have my 120 cube on the second floor... but my floor is lightweight concrete, I seriously doubt I could put enough weight up here to make the buliding collaps. :)

that being said, I am keeping the fuge smaller than I want. :)