The Upstairs Aquarium

[pinegun]

All right, so I'm not new to the hobby but I think this is the right place to put my topic.
After a LOT of begging, my father finally agreed to let me get a bigger aquarium (for those of you who aren't familiar, trying to persuade a parent to let you get an aquarium is just as bad, or worse, than trying to convince your spouse, because in this instance you have no rights and there's sometimes two of them). We're looking at something to the effect of 55 gallon, but the catch is that I have to keep it upstairs.

Now, my dad is a engineer and I don't necessarily... doubt that people can keep such large aquariums upstairs (as he put it, people have waterbeds, and this is a newer house), but I'm still very paranoid here. Is there anyone here who can share some stories about keeping aquariums upstairs and not having any problems? Because I just know I'm going to be tip-toeing past the aquarium otherwise, convinced that the slightest move either way will send it tearing through the floor/ceiling and crashing down on my sister, whose room, by my rough calculations, would be directly below it (although I will be making her sleep on the couch for the first few days, just to be safe).

So if anyone that has been in my situation can share their experiences with this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

 

[CruX]

All right, so I'm not new to the hobby but I think this is the right place to put my topic.
After a LOT of begging, my father finally agreed to let me get a bigger aquarium (for those of you who aren't familiar, trying to persuade a parent to let you get an aquarium is just as bad, or worse, than trying to convince your spouse, because in this instance you have no rights and there's sometimes two of them). We're looking at something to the effect of 55 gallon, but the catch is that I have to keep it upstairs.

Now, my dad is a engineer and I don't necessarily... doubt that people can keep such large aquariums upstairs (as he put it, people have waterbeds, and this is a newer house), but I'm still very paranoid here. Is there anyone here who can share some stories about keeping aquariums upstairs and not having any problems? Because I just know I'm going to be tip-toeing past the aquarium otherwise, convinced that the slightest move either way will send it tearing through the floor/ceiling and crashing down on my sister, whose room, by my rough calculations, would be directly below it (although I will be making her sleep on the couch for the first few days, just to be safe).

So if anyone that has been in my situation can share their experiences with this, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

I personally wouldn't see it as a problem. Although my aquarium is down stairs, the living room is constructed over an open area the way an upstairs room is. Try calcualting the weight and getting people to stand in the place you want it that weigh more, don't forget to factor in the cabinet and the glass as well as the water. Position it over beams too and you should be right.

On a side note, shouldn't you volounteer your room to your sister while you sleep on the couch? It's for your hobby after all.

 

[BigIan]

I had a 60 gallon in my bedroom when i lived at home. and this subject has beenraised time and time again, and the answe is always the same it really depends on you house as they arent all constructed the same

 

[Tolak]

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html

Any building that is built up to code will support a 55 gallon. If the building is very old, or you are in an area where building codes are rarely enforced it may be something to worry about. If you have 8"x2" joists 16" on center, which is pretty minimally up to code, you will not have a problem with a 55. If you place the tank perpendicular to the joists, along a support wall you will have the most support.

 

[BigIan]

Try calcualting the weight and getting people to stand in the place you want it that weigh more, don't forget to factor in the cabinet and the glass as well as the water. Position it over beams too and you should be right.

On a side note, shouldn't you volounteer your room to your sister while you sleep on the couch? It's for your hobby after all.

yes but how do you know that in a year the joists won`t have bowed?

 

[CruX]

Try calcualting the weight and getting people to stand in the place you want it that weigh more, don't forget to factor in the cabinet and the glass as well as the water. Position it over beams too and you should be right.

On a side note, shouldn't you volounteer your room to your sister while you sleep on the couch? It's for your hobby after all.

yes but how do you know that in a year the joists won`t have bowed?

Spirit level?

 

[rdd1952]

As mentioned, it shoudn't be a problem but the only way to be 100% sure is to have an inspector look at the house. And if you do put one up there, try to run it across the joists, not parallel with them. That way it offers more support. That actually applies to any tank in a home that isn't on a concrete slab.

 

[pinegun]

All right. Well, thanks for tolerating this question, and your replies were helpful. Tolak, really appreciated the article. I'll keep all of that in mind, with the joists.

And for the record, I was kidding about making my sister sleep in the other room... unless you were kidding as well. Hard to tell over the internet.