The weight of water will create problems with structure. The aquarium is already sitting on your floor so what happens when you add water? It’s heavy! Fifty gallons don’t feels heavy in a bucket. Until you put that much water into one area.
The problem is most folks don’t realize how much that weigh. There is cracked tanks and saggy floors. That affects not only the health of fish but also appearance of the room.
Why Tank Weight Matters for Your Floor
Density, How much weight does everything hold? Glass holds water (about 8 pounds per gallon), the substrate, the stand, etc. Where does all that weight come from? An infographic explain it. Generally speaking, most of the weight (sixty to eighty percent) is water.
Don’t forget glass either. The thicker the panes, the heavier they are, especially in larger tanks. Then there’s the stand. Depending on your setup (metal frame or wooden cabinet) the stand alone can weigh more than one-hundred pounds.
Weight matter, but so does location. Forty to fifty pounds per square foot is not uncommon on standard home floors. Before setting anything too heavy down you’ll want to locate your joists. If you put a tank in the center of a span in a room you run the risk of problems. Placing it perpendicular to the joists will spread weight out over more supports. Large setups are best done with a concrete slab basement which can handle a lot of weight without bending. Often on upper floors you’ll require professional reinforcement or at least be very careful.
The numbers change with material choice. Glass is heavier than acrylic (fortyish percent less shell weight). Acrylic, however, scratches easily and requires slightly thickened walls for wider tanks.
Weight distribution is affected by shape as well. Consider the tall hexagon tank that places a lot of mass on small surface area. Even though it’s not much weight, there’s a LOT of force on the floor. That’s bad for flooring in a home. Rectangular shapes distribute the weight more equally across wider area. This is safer all around.
Do the math… Before you fill up that tank, calculate how much it will weigh when full with water, substrate, equipment and so forth. Add in the weight of the tank and its stand. What’s left? Is this amount more than what your floor can handle? If so, reduce the size of your tank or reinforce it.
Better yet, don’t wait until your floor starts complaining from carrying too much weight. For anything larger than a 100 gallon tank, especially one located upstairs, you should of contact a structural engineer.
Physics is just as important as biology in having a succesful fish keeping experience. Take some time to enjoy the peaceful setting and watch your fish. That feeling of tranquility relies based off a solid base. Before turning on the lights, ensure that the floor will support your load. What supports your tank must be strong…because beauty lies beneath!
