Habitat - Indoor :: sad news about housing

[Rosepruner]

Ok, so I am moving in about a month and I won't be able to put Sam in his much needed 50 gal, because the max limit on tank size allowed (because I'm on the top floor) is 20 gallons due to insurance issues. I'm tempted to grab my new to me/slightly used by someone else rena xp3 and hook it up to his current tank anyway, because I think that it would be much better then trying keep the current set up (an aquaclear 20 and a repti turtle fall waterfall/filter) going, because how dirty the turtle is. I'm saddened because I have bought the 50 gal tank, and everything to get it going and set up.... and now I don't get to set it up for another year sadness! I have one of those 20 long turtle tanks from Zilla, so I can't build an ABTA and have it make any difference, unless I wanted to buy a sheet of plexiglass and patch up the hole on the side and fill the tank all the way, which would be better for Sam. What would you guys suggest for remeding the fact that there's a hole half way down the side so I can get the maximum benefit of swimming water for my turtle. I know, he's too big for the tank I have him in, but the owner was insistent that I can't have the 50 gal because of how much of a liability it would be. Arggh, it's a brand new tank! chances of it having a problem are very minimal... *sigh* oh well, not my call. I'm doing the best I can guys!! Any help you give is apreciated

[StevenAkaProek]

What owner don't know, won't hurt he/she

just do it

Turtles are silent, no one will ever know

That's what I would do

[Rosepruner]

except my apartment is going to be on the top floor... hahaha, my mom won't let me bring it with me because she's afraid I'm going to get kicked out. (the tank is currently living at my parents place, since I was going to get it all set up when I moved) The owner also worried about the weight... but I think i remember reading somewhere that the weight isn't an issue until it's 100 gal +? *sigh* I have a hard time being a rule breaker. I think the thing they're most afraid of is it springing a leak or breaking and then hey have to clean up the water damage, and since it's on the top floor... that'd be a MAJOR problem. I see where they're coming from. What if I put up some sort of a platform between the rubber maid I've been using for a feeding tank and the regular tank using plexiglass? then he'd have a grand total of 30 gal to swim in.

[emma]

Do whatever you can to make sure that your turtle will have more room.

I live on the top floor of my house and we have a 55 gallon tank and a 20 gallon tank both going. Plus all that other stuff like filter and the stand.


I don't know if its the same with houses and apartments.

This is a really tough decision.
Because the landlord could see the 50 gallon tank,
or he might not.

Good Luck!

[bently11]

Well, when you think about it, having that tank is kind of like having more people in your apartment. I'm not exactly sure but that tank has to weigh about the same as a human.

[TheComputerGremlin]

A 50 gallon tank filled would weigh a hefty 600 pounds, plus the weight of the ATBA, so I can understand your owner's concern. However, unless you live in an earthquake area, tanks rarely fail.

I moved in my 40 gallon tank through the front door of my apartment and no one even saw me. My apartment manager thought it was cool that I had a turtle when she came in for inspections. You obviously have had a dialog with the owner/manager at some point, so try opening up the dialog again. Ask them what they are concerned about. You can set up a secondary tank along the lower portion of the tank to catch any drips and they make these water indicators that will beep if water starts to drip onto your carpet. They aren't expensive, either. You can tell them that you will inspect daily for drips and have one of these set up. Also, concerning insurance, I doubt their insurance says anything about water limits, I've not heard of that. And you should have renters insurance that would cover damages if there was an accident. Besides, an overflowing bathtub will produce 50 gallons in a short period of time and will do tons more damage.

Before worrying too much, I would find out exactly what their concerns are. Many people are just uninformed.

[SeattleSlider]

I am just curious if you could use the 55 gallon tank with an understanding from the landlord that it will only be 1/2 full of water because it is a turtle tank? They may give you some leeway if you explain it would only have the equivelent of a 25 gallon tank with water?

[steve]

I think there are some good ideas, a half-full tank is a good one to start with. You might also consider a stock tank, the weight would be better distributed.

[laurapa]

We are on the 6th floor of our building and never heard anything about tank size limits. Our 50 gallon is filled up to about 40 gallons of water, which is less than 400 lbs. Our guess is that our (very full) bookshelf weighs that much. Plenty of furniture weighs that much.

I guess his concern is that a glass tank, if it broke, would leak 55 gallons of water all over the place. That's exactly why we bought a stock tank, since it is far less likely to crack, sustain significant damage, or leak. Plus, like Steve said, the weight of the water is distributed more evenly around the floor. Our tank is probably putting significantly less pressure on the floor than the bookshelf.

Is there still a chance for you to return the glass tank and buy a stock tank? Maybe if you explained to your landlord the benefits of a stock tank, he would come around.

[Rosepruner]

A 50 gallon tank filled would weigh a hefty 600 pounds, plus the weight of the ATBA, so I can understand your owner's concern. However, unless you live in an earthquake area, tanks rarely fail.

I moved in my 40 gallon tank through the front door of my apartment and no one even saw me. My apartment manager thought it was cool that I had a turtle when she came in for inspections. You obviously have had a dialog with the owner/manager at some point, so try opening up the dialog again. Ask them what they are concerned about. You can set up a secondary tank along the lower portion of the tank to catch any drips and they make these water indicators that will beep if water starts to drip onto your carpet. They aren't expensive, either. You can tell them that you will inspect daily for drips and have one of these set up. Also, concerning insurance, I doubt their insurance says anything about water limits, I've not heard of that. And you should have renters insurance that would cover damages if there was an accident. Besides, an overflowing bathtub will produce 50 gallons in a short period of time and will do tons more damage.

Before worrying too much, I would find out exactly what their concerns are. Many people are just uninformed.

I taold him I'd have my own stand and that it would only be half full, and he said that he would like to allow me to have it, but the actual land/ apartment owner would definately have a problem with it. I'll ask if I get a leak monitor and use a stock tank instead, that might work better.

As for the leeway about having it only half full, he absolutely wouldn't budge on the tank because he's not the one who made the rule. No, we really don't live in a siezmicly active area. I don't really understand why he won't let me have my 50 Gal at half full, but oh well.... I like the idea of getting a drip indicator, where do you get one? Renters insurance, I know I definately want renters insurance, but where do you get renters insurance?

[VanishingReality]

You could use two twenty gallon ones with the basking area connecting the two. Technically it is twenty gallon tanks.

[Rosepruner]

We are on the 6th floor of our building and never heard anything about tank size limits. Our 50 gallon is filled up to about 40 gallons of water, which is less than 400 lbs. Our guess is that our (very full) bookshelf weighs that much. Plenty of furniture weighs that much.

I guess his concern is that a glass tank, if it broke, would leak 55 gallons of water all over the place. That's exactly why we bought a stock tank, since it is far less likely to crack, sustain significant damage, or leak. Plus, like Steve said, the weight of the water is distributed more evenly around the floor. Our tank is probably putting significantly less pressure on the floor than the bookshelf.

Is there still a chance for you to return the glass tank and buy a stock tank? Maybe if you explained to your landlord the benefits of a stock tank, he would come around.

the reason I have the 50 long tank is becase they had them on sale for $50. Even if I can't use it right now, I think that I'm still going to keep it for future use.But I like the stock tank idea. I think what I'm going to do is live there for a bit, and see if I could get away with the manager not finding out. And hey, you never know, he might just overlook it, since the actual owner of the building doesn't ever "inspect" the housing.

[Rosepruner]

A 50 gallon tank filled would weigh a hefty 600 pounds, plus the weight of the ATBA, so I can understand your owner's concern. However, unless you live in an earthquake area, tanks rarely fail.

I moved in my 40 gallon tank through the front door of my apartment and no one even saw me. My apartment manager thought it was cool that I had a turtle when she came in for inspections. You obviously have had a dialog with the owner/manager at some point, so try opening up the dialog again. Ask them what they are concerned about. You can set up a secondary tank along the lower portion of the tank to catch any drips and they make these water indicators that will beep if water starts to drip onto your carpet. They aren't expensive, either. You can tell them that you will inspect daily for drips and have one of these set up. Also, concerning insurance, I doubt their insurance says anything about water limits, I've not heard of that. And you should have renters insurance that would cover damages if there was an accident. Besides, an overflowing bathtub will produce 50 gallons in a short period of time and will do tons more damage.

Before worrying too much, I would find out exactly what their concerns are. Many people are just uninformed.

They're worried the tank will break and that would be a disaster.... however it's a brand new tank... so not much risk of it breaking? I also think they're worried about the weight centered in one place on the floor. Maybe if I'm a good tennant they'll see I'm a responsible turtle owner and will give me some leeway

[Rosepruner]

You could use two twenty gallon ones with the basking area connecting the two. Technically it is twenty gallon tanks.

That's a good idea. I was thinking about connecting the 20 L with my rubbermaid that's a little wider then the 20 L with a basking area, but I'm having a hard time coming up with an idea that would be escape proof (my turtle is an excellent little climber, and he's not stupid, he'll push stuff over and use it to climb on... )

[laurapa]

My 50 gal stock tank cost a little over $100, so I wonder if that's an investment you'd want to make, having bought a $50 glass tank! What a great deal!

I just want to make sure you know that I'm talking about a Rubbermaid stock tank, not a regular Rubbermaid storage bin. Stock tanks (sold at farm supply stores) are made to hold water and withstand a lot of wear and tear. The storage bins that you buy at places like Target are not designed to hold water and will, in the end, be far more prone to leaking than a glass tank.

Just figured I should be clear about that, since the concern here is leakage!

What is this drip monitor business? Where do I sign up?