Exactly how strong is the bottom of most aquariums? I'm in the process of setting up a new 45gal tall and have about 100lbs of SD sand + about 70-80lbs LR in it, not to mention the water. Now the thickness of the 120 gal tank I have gives me more confidence. When manufacturers such as AGA made these aquariums, did they really count of us reefers adding all of the sand and LR we do when they considered how thick the glass should be? I know the bottom is tempered and all, but still.....
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Aquarium bottom strength
- Thread starter pghflame
- Start date
Fresh or saltwater, you still have a bunch of extra crap in your tank besides water. Instead of sand there is freshwater gravel. Instead of Live Rock there is other decorations.
If you look at the bottom of your tank, there is usually one or two braces under the middle of the tank. As a manufacturer, I would expect that over half of the tanks over 75 gallons are probably being used for salt water aquariums. It would be irresponsible not to account for this and would start to lose business if there were problems. (Customers complain to the store, who eventually starts recommending other manufacturers)
The guy who sold me my 125 said that he hadn't had one of his customers experience a tank leak of any kind in over 10 years.
If you look at the bottom of your tank, there is usually one or two braces under the middle of the tank. As a manufacturer, I would expect that over half of the tanks over 75 gallons are probably being used for salt water aquariums. It would be irresponsible not to account for this and would start to lose business if there were problems. (Customers complain to the store, who eventually starts recommending other manufacturers)
The guy who sold me my 125 said that he hadn't had one of his customers experience a tank leak of any kind in over 10 years.
Not an issue....
Freshwater weighs about 8 lbs/gal.
Saltwater weighs about 10 lbs/gal.
Sand weighs about 75 lbs per cubic foot (or 10 lbs per gallon).
Live Rock is not substantially heavier than SW, which is why it is so light underwater.
Net, net...it doesn't matter much what you put into the tank...it all weighs about the same. So, if it holds SW, it will hold the reef.
Freshwater weighs about 8 lbs/gal.
Saltwater weighs about 10 lbs/gal.
Sand weighs about 75 lbs per cubic foot (or 10 lbs per gallon).
Live Rock is not substantially heavier than SW, which is why it is so light underwater.
Net, net...it doesn't matter much what you put into the tank...it all weighs about the same. So, if it holds SW, it will hold the reef.
More important is the reduction of "stress points". I had a 75 Gal. crack on me. It was a result of the middle cross member of the stand. (The oak runner that runs from middle rear to middle front of the stand.) The runner sat 1/16 of an inch higher than the perimeter of the stand. This caused a stress point near the middle rear of the tank. Luckilly, I noticed it before it exploded. All-Glass replaced the tank (actually I upgraded to a 90 for free!) free of charge. Of course it took me and 2 friends 8 hours to replace the contents.
So my words of advise are: make sure your stand is level, flat and true and you should be all set.
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Ferrari 250
So my words of advise are: make sure your stand is level, flat and true and you should be all set.
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Ferrari 250
I don't think salt water weighs that much. It's only slightly more than fresh water at about 8.2 lbs./gallon. The specific gravity determines the weight. 1.025 means it's 2.5% heavier than freshwater.
The sand weight I believe is correct. If sand and salt water weighed the same per gallon, the sand would float.
The sand weight I believe is correct. If sand and salt water weighed the same per gallon, the sand would float.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Super Cow:
<strong>I don't think salt water weighs that much. It's only slightly more than fresh water at about 8.2 lbs./gallon. The specific gravity determines the weight. 1.025 means it's 2.5% heavier than freshwater.
The sand weight I believe is correct. If sand and salt water weighed the same per gallon, the sand would float.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You're right...I wasn't thinking when calculating the weight of SW. (Senility is a tough thing!) But, the points are still directionally correct. Sand and LR way approximately 20% more than SW. Standard engineering tolerances for strength typically build in much more than a 20% "fudge factor." So, if sand and rock are only 20% heavier than SW, they are not an issue.
<strong>I don't think salt water weighs that much. It's only slightly more than fresh water at about 8.2 lbs./gallon. The specific gravity determines the weight. 1.025 means it's 2.5% heavier than freshwater.
The sand weight I believe is correct. If sand and salt water weighed the same per gallon, the sand would float.</strong><hr></blockquote>
You're right...I wasn't thinking when calculating the weight of SW. (Senility is a tough thing!) But, the points are still directionally correct. Sand and LR way approximately 20% more than SW. Standard engineering tolerances for strength typically build in much more than a 20% "fudge factor." So, if sand and rock are only 20% heavier than SW, they are not an issue.
Yes Matt, that was the one. The rep. at All-Glass was extremely helpful. Both the tank and stand were from All-Glass. So my belief is that she felt that they were liable for the product defect. (I figure the upgrade cost was much cheaper than the $5000 I've already dumped into my reef.)
Here's a picture of the crack:
http://home.attbi.com/~ohary/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-114686.html
[ March 29, 2002: Message edited by: MarkO ]</p>
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BMW R1200GS
Here's a picture of the crack:
http://home.attbi.com/~ohary/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-114686.html
[ March 29, 2002: Message edited by: MarkO ]</p>
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BMW R1200GS
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MarkO:
<strong>... All-Glass replaced the tank (actually I upgraded to a 90 for free!) free of charge.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Is that the one that we replaced?
Just curious...
<strong>... All-Glass replaced the tank (actually I upgraded to a 90 for free!) free of charge.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Is that the one that we replaced?
Just curious...
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