Cinder Block Strength? emergency!

[thecoolguy]

looked around the forum - but just wanted some final confirmation...

first time going with cinder block + plywood = scared

here is a picture of the tank + proposed stand

what do you think?

also, cinder block stand vs earthquake = who wins?

(picture is quite bad.....)

 

[liberator177]

a lfs near here had a 220 with just 3 high stacks of 2 wide stacks of cinders on each end of a 220 and it was holdfing up fine. they had 2 by 8s running from one end to the other tho.

 

[liberator177]

urs looks alot safer tho are you gunna hold the cinder blocks together with anything like liquid nails?

 

[thecoolguy]

didn't know i had to...

is liquid nails necessary?

 

[dmopar74]

no liquid nails isnt necessary, if the tank is acrylic i would put a stack in the middle as well to prevent bowing of the bottom. i would aslo use 1" plywood to prevent bowing with 3/4" foam on top of the plywood for the tank to sit on.

 

[hbluehunter]

I would also add some blocks in the middle just to be sure you have no sagging in the plywood...

 

[thecoolguy]

great, thanks.....

 

[Plecosterone]

I don't mean to get technical (well maybe), but I don't believe cinder blocks are made anymore. Blocks are now made made from cast concrete (portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel). Cinder blocks were made from coal cinders and portland cement and are very dark in color. I know a lot of people still refer to them as "cinder" blocks, but I just thought I would add my 2 cents of construction background to clarify this point.
No offence intended...

 

[misplacedsooner]

what is the gallonage of your tank? it would be cool if you could leave an opening so you could access the undernieth of the tank and store stuff.

 

[Ianab]

also, cinder block stand vs earthquake = who wins?

The blocks will support the weight fine, but earthquake resistance is approx zero

With no reinforcing to tie things together is will just fall down in a biggish quake. Thats basically how they build houses in central asia, and you know what happens each time they get an earthquake there

Cheers

Ian