How large can an upstairs aquarium be?

[Jinners]

Ended up getting a 300 gallon for the family room... 96 x 24" x 30". No need for a bigger aquarium upstairs after all.

Over the long weekend I set up the new 300 (including overflow/sump plumbing), moved the Discus and Angel community to it. Re-scaped the 200 and moved the Malawi cishlids to it from the 75 gallon. Also, re-scaped the other 300 twice, the second time was due to a new large piece of wood, which had to be held down by boulders and has now turned the water brown. :)

Also changed my sig to more accurately show the big aquarium as 675 instead of 700... 120" x 36" x 36".

I'd love to see your newest setup, Sayers. You seem like you know what you're doing. For one, I'm such a newbie I wouldn't even consider that an aquarium could be too big to be upstairs. You live and you learn I guess.

[ptran]

Post some pix when you are ready sir

[sayersweb]

Ended up getting a 300 gallon for the family room... 96 x 24" x 30". No need for a bigger aquarium upstairs after all.

Over the long weekend I set up the new 300 (including overflow/sump plumbing), moved the Discus and Angel community to it. Re-scaped the 200 and moved the Malawi cishlids to it from the 75 gallon. Also, re-scaped the other 300 twice, the second time was due to a new large piece of wood, which had to be held down by boulders and has now turned the water brown. :)

Also changed my sig to more accurately show the big aquarium as 675 instead of 700... 120" x 36" x 36".

[sayersweb]

awesome, just saw your signature. post up some pics of that monster 700g and 300g!!!

I do need to take some photos... I've tried a few times, but they never look as good as I think they should.

[Ballinxalex]

Yes... tried the stud finder on the carpet and it was acting crazy. Tried the ceiling below and it seems to confirm that the studs are running front to back. I am going to stick with the 75 gallon. Don't want to take any chances.

Was just measuring the Family Room downstairs and a 72" x 24" x 30" should work very nicely instead. :)

That will be the last one! (I need to keep telling myself this)

awesome, just saw your signature. post up some pics of that monster 700g and 300g!!!

[sayersweb]

Yes... tried the stud finder on the carpet and it was acting crazy. Tried the ceiling below and it seems to confirm that the studs are running front to back. I am going to stick with the 75 gallon. Don't want to take any chances.

Was just measuring the Family Room downstairs and a 72" x 24" x 30" should work very nicely instead. :)

That will be the last one! (I need to keep telling myself this)

[KhmerStyle]

Stud finder is used to penetrate sheet rock since it's upstairs I'm assuming he has carpet even tiles it wouldn't work properly.

[sayersweb]

Thank you for the suggestions...

Was hoping to replace the 75 gallon African Cichlid (Malawi) aquarium with a larger one, but it probably is not a good idea. I may be able to squeeze something like a 180 into my family room. I already have my living/dining rooms dedicated to large aquariums. :)

[Ballinxalex]

i would never recommend putting a big tanks upstairs anyways. but using the stud finder u can find where the studs are and find the direction of the studs and you can also just put a sticker on the floor where u get a hit on the stud finder so get a visual view.

haha bigger is always better but can lead to future problems if your not properly supported.

[sayersweb]

What should I be looking for with the stud finder? Well, studs of course, but what will it tell me?

I'm fairly certain the joists go from front to back of the house since that would be the shorter run for them. The aquarium sits against a side wall in the game room, so it is most likely parallel with the joists.

On the first floor directly below, a wall exists in the same place as the wall above, that separates the kitchen from the dining room. I have no idea if the wall is load bearing.

I'm starting to think that it is not a good idea to increase the aquarium size. Its just that bigger is always better! :)

[Ballinxalex]

How do you do that unless you open up some sheet rock?

Stud finder

[ptran]

i would check your beams in the floors and spread the weight across.

How do you do that unless you open up some sheet rock?

[Ballinxalex]

i would check your beams in the floors and spread the weight across.

[sayersweb]

Thanks Willie... once concern I have is that all of the weight will be in one place and not spread around like your fish room.

[williesand33]

I had a fish room upstairs that had 4 tank on each wall with no problem a two 75 gal a 90 and a 42 gal tall.