What size aquarium can I put upstairs: The Definitive Guide

What size aquarium can I put upstairs? Aquariums are a popular addition to any home.

They can provide hours of entertainment for children and adults alike, and they can also be a great way to teach kids about the ocean and its inhabitants.

If you’re thinking about adding an aquarium to your home, one of the first questions you’re likely to ask is, “How big of an aquarium can I put upstairs?”

In this blog post, we will answer that question and provide you with all the information you need to choose the right aquarium for your needs.

What Size Aquarium Can I Put Upstairs:

Fish tanks with less than 60 gallons are generally safe to place in any location in your home, including upstairs.

A 125-gallon tank can be placed upstairs, providing that there are no framing defects, and a strong structural foundation is in place.

If your considering a 150-gallon tank, then you will need extra bracing to reinforce the structure.

Tanks in the range of 200 – 300 gallons should never be placed upstairs without reinforcing the floor and extra bracing. This requires the help of a professional.

To get a better indication of the various different size tanks available, along with their weight, check out the charts below:

Can A Floor Collapse With Too Much Weight?

Yes, it is possible for a floor to collapse with too much weight. This is especially true if the flooring is not engineered to hold that amount of weight.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to have a professional help you reinforce the floor before setting up your aquarium.

Heavy aquariums are generally placed directly over floor joists, as well as against a load-bearing wall for that extra security.

If you are unsure about whether or not your floor can support an aquarium, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Calculating Weight of Custom-Shaped Aquariums

Aquariums can come in custom sizes of all different kinds of shapes. Although you can use our charts provided on this page, if you are looking to get a custom sized aquarium, you can use this calculator here.

What Can I Do to Prep My Upstairs Floor for an Aquarium?

If you are planning on putting an aquarium upstairs, here are some tips and guidelines you can follow:

• Place the tank in the room with the strongest floor.
• To keep a tank stale, ensure the floor is level in all directions.
• Place the tank around 5″ away from the wall to ensure it doesn’t sit on the nail strip of the carpet, causing the tank to tilt forward.
• Make sure the tank is on a load bearing wall.
• Place the tank perpendicular to the floor joists.
• Try adding some plywood, just slightly larger than than base of the tank to reinforce even further.
• A stand with a continuous runner at the bottom is a good option.
• If you have a t-bar ceiling, you can add bracing between the joists by adding backing in the location where the tank would sit upstairs.

Where Should You Not Put a Fish Tank?

If you are planning on putting an aquarium upstairs in a bedroom, there are certain places that it should never go. Let’s take a look:

• Direct sunlight: This can cause issues with the temperature of the water, as well as increasing the chance of algae growth.
• Near air conditioning or heaters: Just like above, this can cause issues with the temperature of the water.
• On a desk: The tank could easily be knocked off a desk.
• On the floor: You could either trip over the tank, or accidentally drop something onto it.
• Near a door: The traffic of people going in and out of the room could stress your fish.
• Near a TV: The lights and noise from a TV could scare your fish.
• In the middle of a room: Placing an aquarium in the middle of a room is an accident waiting to happen.
• By an electrical outlet: To avoid electric shock.

Is it Good to have an Aquarium in a Bedroom?

Aquariums can be a great addition to any bedroom, providing you have the space for it. It has many benefits, but also some cons. Let’s take a look at both.

Aquarium In Bedroom Pros

• Viewing Pleasure
• Relaxing / Relieve stress
• Helps with sleep

Aquarium In Bedroom Cons

• Noise or Sound Issues
• Unappealing Smell
• Possible Safety Concerns
• Problem with Humidity Levels

Common Questions And Answers

Can I put a 50 gallon tank upstairs?

Providing you place it near a load bearing wall, a 50-gallon tank is perfectly fine, and safe upstairs in a bedroom.

Can you put a 75 gallon tank upstairs?

Most floors inside of both new, and older homes are suitable to hold a 75-gallon tank upstairs. Just make sure the floor is level and the tank is perpendicular to the floor joists, as well as against a load-bearing wall.

Can I put a 120 gallon tank upstairs?

A strong structural foundation with no framing defects is required to hold a 120-gallon tank upstairs. Additional reinforcements such as the tank against a load bearing wall are also required.

What Size Aquarium Can I Put Upstairs Conclusion

What Size Aquarium Can I Put Upstairs? So, is it safe to put an aquarium upstairs? The answer depends.

You need to take into account the weight of the tank and the water it holds, as well as additional reinforcements to prevent accidents from happening.

It is important to do your research before setting up an aquarium upstairs in a bedroom.

Not only will this ensure that your fish are happy and healthy, but it will also prevent any disasters from happening in your home.

Aquariums can provide a calming effect in bedrooms, but they should not be placed near windows as the sun can cause problems for the fish.

Aquariums should also not be placed close to heat sources like radiators.

Do you have an aquarium upstairs in your home? Let us know your experience in the comments section below.