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Multi-question about aquarium weight / house structure?
I live in a house built in the late 80's. Ive always lived in a 1 level house with my aquarium set up. We are renting. I have a 55 gal. acrylic with stand. The water weight alone will be 458 lbs. plus the stand, sand, tank and equipt.
1) Will the weight damage the carpet (put a piece of wood under?)
2) Location in the house is above a garage next to wall support. Will the floor supports hold it.
1) Will the weight damage the carpet (put a piece of wood under?)
2) Location in the house is above a garage next to wall support. Will the floor supports hold it.
3 Answers
I am not sure if the floor being so old will hold it. I had a 55gal. tank sitting on a half wall and it did just fine. The only thing is my house was built in 2004. Are the owners hassling you over the tank? If they are then I would not set it up there. If something happens then you could really be in some hot water.
The weight alone will over time compress the carpet and pad, but not directly damage it and nothing a quick vacuum or cleaning won't bring right back to life.
As to the position of the tank, I would attempt to place it along an outside wall or above any support structure ( ie post) available. It shouldn't be a serious concern either way, but if it can be located in this manner it's one less thing to ever need to worry about.
People will point out that the tank weighs less than a couch with 2-3 adults sitting on it so it should be fine. How many people do you know that will sit 2 people to the couch 24/7 for years and never move? Long term stress vs short term stress is or can be a factor in tank placement.
MM
As to the position of the tank, I would attempt to place it along an outside wall or above any support structure ( ie post) available. It shouldn't be a serious concern either way, but if it can be located in this manner it's one less thing to ever need to worry about.
People will point out that the tank weighs less than a couch with 2-3 adults sitting on it so it should be fine. How many people do you know that will sit 2 people to the couch 24/7 for years and never move? Long term stress vs short term stress is or can be a factor in tank placement.
MM
You shouldn't have anything to worry about. It won't matter if it's an outside wall or not as the floor is built ontop of the walls of the lower level. If your worried about weight choose an area that has a wall near it in the level below. The floors are much stronger in these locations. Cyclic stresses such as the 3 people on a couch sometimes are actually worse than a steady stress of an aquarium with the same weight 24/7. I would be more worried about an overflow or leak damaging the ceiling in the lower level than weight.
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