What's the heaviest tank a third floor condo can safely hold?

[steevareno]

I might be buying a condo on the third floor of a 34 year old building. I thought it would be concrete but the living room floor was definetly not! The guy said there was a concrete layer used for sound dampening but not intended to hold weight like a solid concrete floor. I just bought my 180! How can i find out if it can or can't support that weight? Anyone on upper floor condo's with big tanks?

 

[GinaD]

hmmm...first I would buy plenty of homeowners insurance...

 

[steevareno]

sounds like a good idea!!!!

 

[johnny]

as long as you put it running a cross the floor jouist on a out side wall you should bee fine

 

[steevareno]

The outside wall has a slider that takes up too much space to put a 6 foot tank in front of. No good on the side wall? How can i find out if there are joists/beams that can take it on the side walls? Will a stud finder work?

 

[johnny]

well only half the slider opens haha no i'll take a look for you if you want

 

[steevareno]

Here's a pic........

 

[johnny]

well when you pull that carpet out and do hard wood you'll know
or jost pull up the rug a little

 

[Scuba_Dave]

A room like that the joists should run from left wall to right wall

 

[IffersTankSlave]

Put the tank in, fill it up. If you wake up in the morning and it's in your living room, and not your downstairs neighbor, voila!

 

[Pat H.]

Steve, before you buy read the condo rules carefully. The association may not allow a tank that size. And it would be kinda hard sneaking it in
When we bought our condo a while back, I was surprised at all the fine print...

 

[nitrofish]

id say the left wall is the best place for it. id probley do it, but im somewhat nuts, so don't take my advice.

 

[steevareno]

LMAO!!!! You guys crack me up. Thanks for the help and laughs, i need it!

 

[Ray]

Ya I say the left wall as well. You have the heater near the tank and the AC to blow across it in the summer

 

[Ray]

Oh and Steve if it makes you feel better my tank does not run across the joists

 

[JenC]

hi steve is the condo your buying in Billerica?

 

[Dan Currier]

Also the stand does come into play....

if it's metal theres less of a chance since the weight will not be as evenly distributed as if it were wooden.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

A saltwater tank will rust that heater out in no time

 

[GinaD]

Ok, call my roots blonde, but I would think that keeping it away from the heat source - along the right wall - would be best, since the temperature changes would be less severe than if the tank were on top of the heater, and therefore go thru less of a stressful change. Opinions??

 

[ScottM]

I have done alot of research to floor supports and such, i'd get some blueprints first to determine the joist size. I wouldn't put anything over a 125 +sump on anything but a first floor. FWIW, my 220 was 30% OVER sheer...that means the joists sheering off at the wall... thats in a 12x13 room surrounded by foundation walls and a steel i-beam. regardless of which way the joists ran.
you also have to look at the differnt types of load a floor holds.
you might be able to put a tank there...
but its going to let go when everyone comes over after a meeting to check it out and they wind up downstairs and hurt.

if you bought a 180, find a first floor condo....