tetras,zebra loaches,kuhli loaches, and a bn pleco. This is a very loud cracking sound and happens every night after I turn out the lights and its only 1 time when it happens. My theory was the lights were causing it or had something to do with it.
Acrylic tank makes a cracking sound at night
- Thread starter Ajno
- Start date
The same thing happens on my 55 after the lights go out... I figured out it WAS the housing on the lights heating up during the day and expanding slightly and then when they go off they contract back down. Its the contact point between the feet of the light and the tank that is making the "crack" noise.
No need to fret.
No need to fret.
There was no sound last night. I kept the lights off all day. So its related, I have my lights in 4 foot diy enclosures. I'm thinking maybe its heating up the top of the tank and thats why it makes that sound. I'm going to look into redoing the light hoods, make them smaller so they just cover the cut out openings on the tank. I've checked the seams and it seems that nothing has changed. So I might hang on to the tank
I kinda doubt it is because of heat from the lights.
Do you have a glass thermometer in there? I would hear a loud cracking sound coming from one of my tanks at night. I finally figured out it was from fish running into the thermometer at night and making it hit against the tank. Your loaches could be a little freaked when the lights turn out, causing them to hit into something.
Do you have a glass thermometer in there? I would hear a loud cracking sound coming from one of my tanks at night. I finally figured out it was from fish running into the thermometer at night and making it hit against the tank. Your loaches could be a little freaked when the lights turn out, causing them to hit into something.
It don't matter. I'm selling the tank. I'm sure its ok, but I live in a manufactured home and can't take the risk. I'm going to save up and buy a new 180. Thats my dream tank.
I took the tank down and there was some water between the tank and stand. So it looks like it had a slow dripping leak. Now I don't feel so bad. I keeping the stands because I can use one for the new 55 gallon and put a 29 on the other one for sure, its two inches short for a 40 gallon breeder. So I'm hoping someone will want it for their rodents or reptiles.
I have a guy coming tonight to buy the tank for his bearded dragon. I am breaking even on the price I paid for the tank. I did find that the sound is coming from the lights. So the leak and sound are not related. Going to be saving for a brand new acrylic that wil be 155-180 gallon range. It will be sooo worth it for me
Acrylic will swell and move with heat any heat. Over the corse of the day the lights are slowly heating up the acrylic and then you shut the lights off and they cool quickly. The cracking or poping could be were the light sits on the tank. Use a fan to blow over the top of the tank while the lights are on and see if the noise goes away if not drian it.
its 100% heat disipation related, the lights are hot and cool very fast when shut off, resulting in microscopic shrinking of the light batten, thus creaking as it goes, it probably the contact point between the lights and the tank itself.
I have a 6footer 4globe T5 batten chocked up on styrofoam blocks until i can finalise my hanging rack, every night they turn off you can hear the styro click as it cools down.
Nothing to worry about all is good in the hood!
I have a 6footer 4globe T5 batten chocked up on styrofoam blocks until i can finalise my hanging rack, every night they turn off you can hear the styro click as it cools down.
Nothing to worry about all is good in the hood!
