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Here's the problem: I'm going to be living in a 6th floor apartment building. I want a big fishtank. However, I can't have a conventional large fishtank (180-300 gallons) because it would weigh too much, break through the floors, soak the apartment under us, and off the owner.

My solution: Since the "convienitonal" tanks/stands are very heavy, why don't I make one myself? If I made a tank that is as long as a 300 gallon, but only half - 2/3 as high, I could have the surface area of a large tank without the weight. With the tank longer and wider than it is tall, I could distribute the weight over a large area, instead of a smaller one.

My questions: Are there certain kinds of materials that I could use that are lighter than glass? What about plexiglasss, or similar plastic substances? Or, for the stand: are certain kinds of woods lighter than others? If I drew out the plans, could I give them to a home depot and ask them to build it for me? How much would this cost? I estimated that a tank/stand/etc. would normally cost $1000. How much would I save by DIY?

How many levels is the apartment building and is it wood or concrete.? Chances if it is more than four it is a concrete rather then wood frame and you could probably go with a 180-200 gallon.

I'll second that, almost all buildings are concrete. I believe it's fire code Here in canada atleast, unless your building is really old...

The majority of new condos that are usually four stories tall or less use wood frame construction. Taller building use concrete or steel. Parts of multi family wood framed are made from concrete or blocks for fire protection.

Put it this way, if your condo/apart building is made from concrete you can do easily 250 gallon tank. If it is wood framed, well definitley less.



Last edited by openwater at 19-Apr-2005 23:28

I'm sure it's concrete becasue it's a brand-new 6-story-tall building. But my dad, who's a contractor, seems to think differently. But then again, he specializes in garages, not apartments. I asked my mom to speak to the owner about the floor tomorrow when she looks at it again.

I read somewhere here sometime ago that by placing a piece of plywood the size of the tank beneath the stand helps spred the weight out. Also I would place it on an outside wall, that is more a support than say an inner wall...also I heard someone mentioning the other night that a tank of acrylic is a lot lighter than one of glassthey plan on have a 300 gallon tank made and they would be able to lift it by themselves when emptyand yes some wood is lighter than others...but if home depot would make it for you, I wouldn't know Check out your local high school or college wood working area and see if the instructor might be willing to help take this project on in the class...just my thoughts, heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Plywood sounds great. If the home depot won't do it for me, which it probably won't, I have a friend who's great at building stuff. Maybe him and his dad could help.