Just wondering if any of you can think of any reason not to brace an acrylic tank against a block basement wall? I'm setting up a 30" tall acrylic tank made of 1/2" just a couple inches from my basement wall and thought about sliding a sheet of foam between the back wall of the tank and the block wall to help support the the tank. I figured it would help relieve some of the stress on the seams to have it braced against the wall. I couldn't see what it would hurt but thought I'd ask?
Brace an acrylic tank against wall?
- Thread starter fredej80
- Start date
The question is ; why ? Is there a reason you might "need" more support? Is the stand weak? If so, focus on the stand, rather than a mickey-mouse fix.
Stand is solid. Just thought that limiting the bowing (from the thin acrylic) might help the longevity of the tank seams.
If it bows, and if that concerns you, then I actually would be more worried about the front bowing even more, if the back is braced. (In other words, the front will be the only place that will "give."
I would actually build a frame around the tank, probably with a middle vertical brace along the front and the back.
It may not be attractive, but a heck of a lot better than a broken tank.
Or, set up a very cool land/water environment where the water is only halfway up.
I would actually build a frame around the tank, probably with a middle vertical brace along the front and the back.
It may not be attractive, but a heck of a lot better than a broken tank.
Or, set up a very cool land/water environment where the water is only halfway up.
If the tank is going to blow apart bracing one out of four sides isn't going to do a thing. I wouldn't trust 1/2" on a 30" tall acrylic tank.
If you are worried about the thickness of your glass, check this out http://www.garf.org/Tank/BuildTank.asp That is what I am using for a guideline for the tank I will be building.
If you need the wall as support, the tank, imo, is structurally unsound and the wall won't solve the problem. If you don't need it, it's at best a cosmetic choice, but (not knowing enough structural design), I wouldn't rule out that it may make the tank more prone to leak.
Would that create uneven stress? I don't know the answer, so I'd not use a wall if I didn't need.
Would that create uneven stress? I don't know the answer, so I'd not use a wall if I didn't need.
