Since I've had my 135g tank setup for the last couple months I have noticed creaking noises, usually sharp and sudden from what I think is the stand. After a previous tank cracking and concerns about the floor and it's supports I turn to MFK for insight and hopefully reassurance. It is level, as I get paranoid and check once in a while. Anybody noticed this before?
Creaking
- Thread starter Silvertongue700
- Start date
More detail is needed at this point before offering any reassurances.
Is this a home made stand? If it is, was it built using the universally accepted design template for aquarium stands? What lumber dimensions were used? Screwed or nailed together? Glue used too?.........or.....
Is your stand one of the those mass made produced type stands that came with the tank..........or.....
Is your stand just a set of drawers, or a cupboard, not designed to hold heavy weights at all, that you though might be up to the job so you just threw an aquarium on top!
And of course the most important thing.....pictures of the stand....internal and external would help tremendously.
Is this a home made stand? If it is, was it built using the universally accepted design template for aquarium stands? What lumber dimensions were used? Screwed or nailed together? Glue used too?.........or.....
Is your stand one of the those mass made produced type stands that came with the tank..........or.....
Is your stand just a set of drawers, or a cupboard, not designed to hold heavy weights at all, that you though might be up to the job so you just threw an aquarium on top!
And of course the most important thing.....pictures of the stand....internal and external would help tremendously.
And in addition to concerns about the stand itself, I would be looking really hard at the floor itself. Actually, I would have been looking at it long before I set up a 3/4 ton aquarium on it.
Number, spacing and size of joists supporting the floor at that point? Overall condition of the wood? Orientation of the stand with respect to the joists?
At risk of sounding like a worrywart...I personally would be very nervous in your situation.
Number, spacing and size of joists supporting the floor at that point? Overall condition of the wood? Orientation of the stand with respect to the joists?
At risk of sounding like a worrywart...I personally would be very nervous in your situation.
If you didn't hear creaking noises before you setup the aquarium I would suggest breaking the aquarium down asap.
This is a stand I bought with the tank. It's warrantied and appears to be well made.
I posted a thread asking about this size tank and included pictures of the floor joists before setting this up. Other members were confident that it's fine, that said I don't hold it against anyone on the internet if they missed something as I'm fully responsible. I did talk to a structural engineer on the phone briefly and he said he wouldn't know for sure unless he were to see it, but believes based on the way I described it it'd be fine.
There is a small chance I would end up doing that. I have considered it, but don't yet feel like it's necessary.
I'm surprised. After your initial post I expected pictures of a stand as bent as a banana and made of cardboard!
But that stand is designed and built by the aquarium manufacturers, who know what they're doing. And it looks pretty new. There are no tell tale stains from water damage either.
Are these "creaking noises" just random, whilst the tank is full, or do they only happen during refilling at water change time?
There's nothing obvious in the pictures that stand out but can you see any cracks in any pieces of the frame? Are there any signs of separation between any parts that should be flush together?
And after what
jjohnwm
said, are the noises definitely coming from the stand, or below!!
But that stand is designed and built by the aquarium manufacturers, who know what they're doing. And it looks pretty new. There are no tell tale stains from water damage either.
Are these "creaking noises" just random, whilst the tank is full, or do they only happen during refilling at water change time?
There's nothing obvious in the pictures that stand out but can you see any cracks in any pieces of the frame? Are there any signs of separation between any parts that should be flush together?
And after what
jjohnwm
said, are the noises definitely coming from the stand, or below!!I'm surprised. After your initial post I expected pictures of a stand as bent as a banana and made of cardboard!
But that stand is designed and built by the aquarium manufacturers, who know what they're doing. And it looks pretty new. There are no tell tale stains from water damage either.
Are these "creaking noises" just random, whilst the tank is full, or do they only happen during refilling at water change time?
There's nothing obvious in the pictures that stand out but can you see any cracks in any pieces of the frame? Are there any signs of separation between any parts that should be flush together?
And after what
I don't see anything wrong with the stand. Is it possible it is just settling as it is new? I have gone under the house and nothing looks any different than it always has.