500 gallon tank on 2nd floor?

SharkaThon · 10/07/2020, 09:26 PM

Hi, I was wondering if it would be possible to have a 500 gallon acrylic tank on the second floor? The joists would be horizontal with the tank. The tanks dimensions are 6’ x 4’.

Thanks!

wtac · 10/15/2020, 01:40 PM

It is possible but without knowing the wall lay out on the main floor, structural walls within the floor plan, joist width used in the home construction, span, carrying point loads, etc, etc, etc...

Hopefully your home is under construction to easily address your desire for electrical water source/containment/drainage and maintenance needs.

If not:

Hiring structural eng is the best bet to assess and if you really really really really really want a 500gal on the 2nd floor, its going to be an expensive endeavor as my spidey senses tell me that you will need support beams to carry the point load down to the foundation and have footings poured.

Its going to really make a mess of the man floor and basement and you will spend $10's of k and at least a month of living inconvenience before you even get the aquarium on the 2nd floor not only to safely support the system but for electrical and water needs.

Then you have to consider maintenance requirements such as RODI, NSW, ATO, equipment underneath the system? Adjacent room? All the way down to the basement?

Lets not forget worse case scenarios for water containment and drainage for water leakage/seam blow out. Consider everything below a write off if you don't factor that in

That said with those base dims, the height will be about 33" so you will have to determine how you will be getting it into the 2nd floor location.

I'm sure there are more challenges but those are the main ones that come to mind.

stuccodude · 10/19/2020, 05:23 PM

water beds, good luck

10/07/2020, 09:26 PM	#1
SharkaThon Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 71	500 gallon tank on 2nd floor? Hi, I was wondering if it would be possible to have a 500 gallon acrylic tank on the second floor? The joists would be horizontal with the tank. The tanks dimensions are 6’ x 4’. Thanks! __________________ All tanks currently empty :(

10/19/2020, 05:23 PM	#3
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	water beds, good luck __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

10/15/2020, 01:40 PM	#2
wtac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto and Calgary, Canada Posts: 377	It is possible but without knowing the wall lay out on the main floor, structural walls within the floor plan, joist width used in the home construction, span, carrying point loads, etc, etc, etc... Hopefully your home is under construction to easily address your desire for electrical water source/containment/drainage and maintenance needs. If not: Hiring structural eng is the best bet to assess and if you *really really really really really* want a 500gal on the 2nd floor, its going to be an expensive endeavor as my spidey senses tell me that you will need support beams to carry the point load down to the foundation and have footings poured. Its going to really make a mess of the man floor and basement and you will spend $10's of k and at least a month of living inconvenience before you even get the aquarium on the 2nd floor not only to safely support the system but for electrical and water needs. Then you have to consider maintenance requirements such as RODI, NSW, ATO, equipment underneath the system? Adjacent room? All the way down to the basement? Lets not forget worse case scenarios for water containment and drainage for water leakage/seam blow out. Consider everything below a write off if you don't factor that in That said with those base dims, the height will be about 33" so you will have to determine how you will be getting it into the 2nd floor location. I'm sure there are more challenges but those are the main ones that come to mind.