Moving my 300g

ChimolaFish · 10/11/2018, 03:09 PM

Hi, All,

I'm finishing up my master's in the spring and will be moving somewhere in New England, possibly to Boston metro area and was wondering about how to deal with finding an apartment that would support the weight of my 300g. Right now I'm in a house with a basement and have it down there, but was wondering if most highrises (that would allow a 300g) would be able to support the weight of a 300g not being reinforced. Don't they generally have concrete slabs inbetween each floor plate?
Ideally I'd find a house to rent somewhere, but don't know where I'm going to end up. Does anyone use floor jacks on each corner to reinforce their large aquariums? I know someone who kept their 240 (8') on an outside wall on the ground floor with one jack under each side of the tank and it was fine there for 10 years, but my tank is a tad larger and spaced worse. How does everyone else not in a house they own and on a concrete foundation dealing with their large tanks?

6'x3'x30" Penninsula

lpsouth1978 · 10/11/2018, 04:45 PM

I would be EXTREMELY leery about putting a 300 anywhere other than ground floor. Without proper reinforcement specifically under the aquarium, it is just inviting a MAJOR disaster. We are talking in the 4000lbs (2 ton) range after water, rocks, equipment, and the tank itself. I had a 300 on the ground floor with a steel stand (weighed ~1000lbs) and it put dents in the concrete. I would sure not want that in a highrise!

benbarfield · 10/11/2018, 07:05 PM

Ground floor only! Please

ChimolaFish · 10/11/2018, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the reply, guys.

I'm aware of how much they weigh, haha. So, ground floor is rather ambiguous, at least where I am now. Ground floor is never actually on the ground, there's either a basement underneath or a crawl space. Obviously the ground floor can support more weight, but no standard floor from wood construction is going to be able to support a 300g.

How did your tank put dents in the concrete? How long was it there? Also, your stand weight 1000 lbs?

Anybody rent and have a large aquarium?

Reefer1991 · 10/24/2018, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChimolaFish

Thanks for the reply, guys.

I'm aware of how much they weigh, haha. So, ground floor is rather ambiguous, at least where I am now. Ground floor is never actually on the ground, there's either a basement underneath or a crawl space. Obviously the ground floor can support more weight, but no standard floor from wood construction is going to be able to support a 300g.

How did your tank put dents in the concrete? How long was it there? Also, your stand weight 1000 lbs?

Anybody rent and have a large aquarium?

I had a 300 gallon(about to start it up again) in my basement. Even though it was in the basement I was concerned about a leak as it would ruin my carpet, drywall and possibly even start a fire. Now imagine if something went wrong in an apartment with people living below you. If it leaked you would be stuck with one hell of a mess and have some angry neighbors on your hand.... or worse. I would not put a 300 on anything other than a ground floor. Meaning no crawl space, dead weight straight into the earth. Unless it was seriously reinforced underneath. Like others said, I did notice a few cracks in the concrete where the tank was sitting(it was only up for 6 months). Maybe they were already there, but I'm sure I would've noticed. Plus I'm not sure any apartments will allow a tank that big.

Reefer1991 · 10/24/2018, 04:28 PM

And your tank is more so around 340 gallons if those dimensions are accurate.

Crusty Old Shellback · 10/24/2018, 08:00 PM

You need to figure out pounds per square inch in the footprint of the stand. That needs to include total weight of a full stocked tank.
Then you can figure out if the floor can support it. Part of that will be age of construction. Different methods of construction was used over the years.
You may be surprised what you find out.

Pslreefer · 10/24/2018, 08:16 PM

Largest I went in an apartment was a 180. Only had an issue once in an old building that had wood floors and supports, it actually made the floor sag and bouncy lol tank ended up busting a seam due to that.

Luckily it was an ex gf so she lost the deposit!

Pslreefer · 10/24/2018, 08:18 PM

A guy I bought a fish from had his 180 in a high rise in south beach Miami with no issues as they are all concrete and steel. But still a 300 almost double...

10/11/2018, 03:09 PM	#1
ChimolaFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 560	Moving my 300g Hi, All, I'm finishing up my master's in the spring and will be moving somewhere in New England, possibly to Boston metro area and was wondering about how to deal with finding an apartment that would support the weight of my 300g. Right now I'm in a house with a basement and have it down there, but was wondering if most highrises (that would allow a 300g) would be able to support the weight of a 300g not being reinforced. Don't they generally have concrete slabs inbetween each floor plate? Ideally I'd find a house to rent somewhere, but don't know where I'm going to end up. Does anyone use floor jacks on each corner to reinforce their large aquariums? I know someone who kept their 240 (8') on an outside wall on the ground floor with one jack under each side of the tank and it was fine there for 10 years, but my tank is a tad larger and spaced worse. How does everyone else not in a house they own and on a concrete foundation dealing with their large tanks? 6'x3'x30" Penninsula __________________ 300 Penninsula: Mixed Reef, 3 Hawaiian Dwarf Morays, 3 Watanabe Angels, 4 Molucca Damsels, 3 Staghorn Damsels, 1 Sgt Major, 1 Springer's, and 1 Magnificient Foxface.

10/11/2018, 04:45 PM	#2
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	I would be EXTREMELY leery about putting a 300 anywhere other than ground floor. Without proper reinforcement specifically under the aquarium, it is just inviting a MAJOR disaster. We are talking in the 4000lbs (2 ton) range after water, rocks, equipment, and the tank itself. I had a 300 on the ground floor with a steel stand (weighed ~1000lbs) and it put dents in the concrete. I would sure not want that in a highrise! __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

10/11/2018, 08:22 PM	#4
ChimolaFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 560	Thanks for the reply, guys. I'm aware of how much they weigh, haha. So, ground floor is rather ambiguous, at least where I am now. Ground floor is never actually on the ground, there's either a basement underneath or a crawl space. Obviously the ground floor can support more weight, but no standard floor from wood construction is going to be able to support a 300g. How did your tank put dents in the concrete? How long was it there? Also, your stand weight 1000 lbs? Anybody rent and have a large aquarium? __________________ 300 Penninsula: Mixed Reef, 3 Hawaiian Dwarf Morays, 3 Watanabe Angels, 4 Molucca Damsels, 3 Staghorn Damsels, 1 Sgt Major, 1 Springer's, and 1 Magnificient Foxface.

10/24/2018, 08:00 PM	#7
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	You need to figure out pounds per square inch in the footprint of the stand. That needs to include total weight of a full stocked tank. Then you can figure out if the floor can support it. Part of that will be age of construction. Different methods of construction was used over the years. You may be surprised what you find out. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol

10/11/2018, 07:05 PM	#3
benbarfield Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Colorado Posts: 127	Ground floor only! Please

10/24/2018, 04:28 PM	#6
Reefer1991 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Delaware Posts: 312	And your tank is more so around 340 gallons if those dimensions are accurate.

10/24/2018, 08:16 PM	#8
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	Largest I went in an apartment was a 180. Only had an issue once in an old building that had wood floors and supports, it actually made the floor sag and bouncy lol tank ended up busting a seam due to that. Luckily it was an ex gf so she lost the deposit!

10/24/2018, 08:18 PM	#9
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	A guy I bought a fish from had his 180 in a high rise in south beach Miami with no issues as they are all concrete and steel. But still a 300 almost double...