Acrylic tank makes a cracking sound at night

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Ajno

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 18, 2008
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Tri Cities WA
I have a 122 gallon acrylic tank that makes cracking sounds at night. I've looked and all the seams look good. I actually reinforced quite a few of them with some acrylic pieces shaped like triangles in all the front seams and used weldon 16. So is this bad? I'm thinking it may be coming from the seams I reinforced, like the triangle pieces are cracking. Anyone have this happen to them? It's making me nervous
 
This thread will likely get a few people screaming "move out of your house, your tank is gunna blow" type comments but almost every acylic tank I have has made a few concerning sounds. My 125 gallon made small "crack" type sounds for over a year on perfectly level and supported stand. The stand IMO is where the noise comes from. The tank will only make a "crack" sound once and then it's empty.. For the record I have never heard this from any of the glass tanks or acrylic tanks with styrofoam under it so obviously at my place the tank supported evenly will eliminate this issue. After I added 1/2" styro under the same tank the sound from the stand settling went away.
 
aren't acrylic tank seams bonded to each other? I've always been told an upside to acrylic is you don't have to worry about the seams busting
 
My husband told me last night that every night after I turn out the lights and go to bed it makes one cracking sound and thats it. Wonder if its related to the lights? I have styro under the tank and its pretty level. All the seams look good too. So maybe its the lights, they are cfl's. Anyways I'll just make sure I have my 500.00 insurance deductible handy. I don't think its going to blow out. Seems weird it only makes this noise once and after lights out. Tonight I'm leaving the lights off all day and see what happens. I have a 75 gallon I could work on setting up. Maybe its time to sell the creaker tank.
 
My Glass tank make that noise too every night when I go to bed.
Nothing happens, I tried staying awake all night and no creaking sounds.
It was just my mind playing tricks with me since my worst fear was the aquarium cracking.
 
So should I be out looking for a new tank? I can pick up a 55 for everyone until I can afford another tank. I'm going to look around
 
Well I bought a 55 gallon that I'm going to transfer everyone to tomorrow. No more used tanks for me. It's not worth the risk! I'd rather pay through the nose and have a warranty than take a chance of a tank leaking. I haven't heard it creak again, but I haven't been home. Hubby says it hasn't done it again. Oh well, going to be a royal PITA tomorrow.
 
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