weight in nyc apartments

[kasha]

with all the water and LR I'm guessing my new 90G weighs over 1000lbs. i'm kind of nervous...

Anyone know the weight allowance in a manhattan/nyc apartment? how large are your tanks?

thank

 

[stoneriff]

with all the water and LR I'm guessing my new 90G weighs over 1000lbs. i'm kind of nervous...

Anyone know the weight allowance in a manhattan/nyc apartment? how large are your tanks?

thank

I hope you don't mind, but I'm jumping on the band wagon here. I have a 72 bow front myself that weighs approximately 800 lbs. I'm curious as well. Anyone have any idea? I live in a pre-war apartment in Manhattan on the second floor with hardwood floors.

 

[ocholoco]

hey

Same reason why I havent upgraded to a bigger tank. I'm afraid it may sink.

 

[masterswimmer]

There is no way for anyone to make an all inclusive statement whether or not it is safe for everyone. It would require an inspection of the structure.

The best way for you to install any tank (that's not on a concrete slab) would be to put it against an outside wall, or an interior wall that is a bearing wall (has structural support underneath it). The tank should always run perpendicular to the floor joists.

As you can see, without doing a physical site inspection it would be impossible to determine if your tank is safe on the existing structure.

A 90 gallon tank SHOULD be safe though. Not definitely safe, but it SHOULD be ok.

Wish I could be of more definitive help but it's just not possible.

swimmer

 

[duke62]

http://www.umass.edu/bmatwt/publications/articles/calculating_loads_on_headers_and_beams.html

 

[kasha]

There is no way for anyone to make an all inclusive statement whether or not it is safe for everyone. It would require an inspection of the structure.

The best way for you to install any tank (that's not on a concrete slab) would be to put it against an outside wall, or an interior wall that is a bearing wall (has structural support underneath it). The tank should always run perpendicular to the floor joists.

As you can see, without doing a physical site inspection it would be impossible to determine if your tank is safe on the existing structure.

A 90 gallon tank SHOULD be safe though. Not definitely safe, but it SHOULD be ok.

Wish I could be of more definitive help but it's just not possible.

swimmer

Thanks. When you say outside wall do you mean a wall to the outside air only or a wall separating apartments as well? How can I know the direction of the joists?

Gracias

 

[masterswimmer]

Thanks. When you say outside wall do you mean a wall to the outside air only or a wall separating apartments as well? How can I know the direction of the joists?

Gracias

De nada.

A wall that has a window on it is considered an outside wall. A wall that separates apartments or even some rooms within an apartment that can't bear any weight is called a partition wall.

The joist direction might be visible in the basement if the ceiling is exposed somewhere. The joists in the building will all run in the same direction for everything directly above it.

Russ

 

[duke62]

usually and ill say this again usually the joists are running in the direction that the house has the shortest distance to.so if from front to back of ur house is 30' and side to side is 15' the joistd will be running side to side.

 

[ming]

I'm just thinking to myself, but would you guys have 4 or more friends over and say "Guys, spread out so you don't have 800lbs in the same place. I'm afraid my apartment can't handle it". And 4 friends is not a lot...

 

[duke62]

i need to ask.is this a wood framed nyc apt or steel framed.if its steel framed u wont have anything to worry about cause the floor will be concrete poured.

 

[aznt1217]

Hmmm... I always thought about this too. I wish there was a way to tell.

Some people have like 4 fish tanks that are substantially large in their house, so I would think it's okay.

 

[DCG1286]

There is no way for anyone to make an all inclusive statement whether or not it is safe for everyone. It would require an inspection of the structure.

The best way for you to install any tank (that's not on a concrete slab) would be to put it against an outside wall, or an interior wall that is a bearing wall (has structural support underneath it). The tank should always run perpendicular to the floor joists.

As you can see, without doing a physical site inspection it would be impossible to determine if your tank is safe on the existing structure.

A 90 gallon tank SHOULD be safe though. Not definitely safe, but it SHOULD be ok.

Wish I could be of more definitive help but it's just not possible.

swimmer

Not to worry I have a 90G in my apartment, no problems ... yet ... I haven't seen my neighbors below me ... sooooooo ... lol

 

[Davidl919]

I have a 140 gallon tank with 35 gallon sump and about a 30 gallon Top-off acrylic bucket, I way overbuilt my stand with 2x4 and I made a utility cabinet to store everything tank related.
I made sure I was resting on two Beams. I will be moving it all this week to the living room and will have to find 2 beams again plus this time I will have an outside wall as extra support.
I was lucky in my first spot as I can see on the wood floors where all the nails were hammered in to the beams which was usually done in Pre WWII buildings. I won' be so lucky in the new spot I have carpet. Well Hope this helps.

 

[Thatguy96]

I have a 125 gallon tank with 200 pounds of LIve Rock in the main tank and a 55 gallon sump with about 50 pounds of live rock in that.

I cross my fingers when I have to many friends over in my second floor apartment

 

[aznt1217]

Do you think the superintendent will know?

 

[Davidl919]

Do you think the superintendent will know?

Funny question ? I chastise my landlord and would care less what the super thinks but they have both been here and seen it. Super going to get really pissed tommorrow whenI take my buckets of liveSand to the bsmt.
I have a friend who is actually thinking of putting a 220 in his next apt and he plans on pulling up the floor and adding support beams becuase he wants to centralize the tank.

 

[OctaviousMonk]

This link may help:
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article28.html

 

[ILikeFish]

Concrete floors with concrete partitions is one of the things I love about my place. I bet i could drive a car in and i would be fine (if I could get it to fit through the door).

 

[FLOEDOG]

You shouldn't have problem, buildings have support beams every 4 feet, inside the wall, but you should have it on a weight bearing wall.