Fishroom Disaster

[JoeFatFish]

George,

I had this happen to me back around 1987 to a 215 gallon tank, 1" glass! My dad had a cabinet maker make it, built it beautifuly and super strong. too strong was the problem. Guess physics came into play. Maybe not same case with yours, but apperantly the stand should not be too rigid, with streanght being mostly at end of tanks, because of water presure physics. Something needs to flex, so the stand is made to flex, but if to rigid and cant flex, then what will flex is the tank, and....CRACK! We got a crack like an upside down U, from one end to the next. Manufacturer fixed and we bought the correct stand from them, and the tank is still running today, 22 years later, been through several SoCal earthquakes. So I dunno.

I agree. The stand was made by a cabinet maker buddy of mine. It was and still is dead level on both sides. It must be a manufacturer deffect, the tank is only a couple of months old. I've never seen this happen before. Half inch freekin glass!
For some reason I'm having a hard time uploading the pics, I'll try again in a while.

 

[darthodo]

Well, I wonder if you put enough foam under it would it help with the flex problem.

 

[Chaitika]

Sorry this happened. I hope the pair pull through.

 

[Modest_Man]

From what I know foam is just necessary on acrylic tanks because they have a flat bottom (no trim), with the glass tanks with trim the tank just sits on the trim, so no need for foam. But I've never owned acrylic tanks and have never used foam, so who knows.

 

[NSKIRK559]

That F***ing Sucks man I'm sorry to hear about that. I agree with the other person looks like a hair line crack, and once it happen it wasn't going to stop. Again sorry for your loss and I hope the rest make it

 

[big dovii]

From what I know foam is just necessary on acrylic tanks because they have a flat bottom (no trim), with the glass tanks with trim the tank just sits on the trim, so no need for foam. But I've never owned acrylic tanks and have never used foam, so who knows.

Not true. I work for a reputable tank builer here in Canada, and on tanks over 180 gallons, we require you put foam underneath them, as we use flat bottomed tanks instead of floating glass bottoms.

 

[Ramesh]

IMO foam should always be used as it can't do any harm to have a bit of give so that any minor irregularities can be adjusted for.
Foam is a good thing especially for big tanks.
Sorry about what happen man, tanks breaking when full is my worst nightmare.

 

[BastardFish]

oh wow George! Man that sucks!!! I thought I had the nightmare recently when my 100 gallon show tanks seam busted in my living room last month, but yours is way worse! Damn and your sweet a$s Umbee pair what a horrible bummer man! How is the fish doing pulling through???

 

[GMFISHNUT]

Thanks all for the well wishes! The male is up and around and except for a little fin damage seems to be ok. He was waiting for me at the top of his new tank and took a few pellets. Tank manufacturer says he needs to review the pics and wants what's left of the tank back if they decide to give me a new one. I was planning on busting it up in the basement and taking it out in buckets but I guess I'm going to have to carry it up the stairs this time and bring it back.

 

[GMFISHNUT]

George,

I had this happen to me back around 1987 to a 215 gallon tank, 1" glass! My dad had a cabinet maker make it, built it beautifuly and super strong. too strong was the problem. Guess physics came into play. Maybe not same case with yours, but apperantly the stand should not be too rigid, with streanght being mostly at end of tanks, because of water presure physics. Something needs to flex, so the stand is made to flex, but if to rigid and cant flex, then what will flex is the tank, and....CRACK! We got a crack like an upside down U, from one end to the next. Manufacturer fixed and we bought the correct stand from them, and the tank is still running today, 22 years later, been through several SoCal earthquakes. So I dunno.

Joe, never thought the stand could be built too well or too rigid. I'll have to look into that. Maybe use a piece of foam under it just in case. Mine cracked the same way, an upside down u from one corner to the other. Take a look at the pics I posted, is that what your tank looked like?