Glasscages.com aquarium question

[Pharaoh]

when ever you place a tank on a stand.
1 make sure the floor is level
2 make sure the stand is not twisted
3 if the tank is going to be heavyer than you are stand on it and walk around on it listen for creeking
4 make sure the platform is level
5 use a thick piece of styroroam to even out the weight

I pretty much agree with all of these except the last one. Foam is useless in most applications.

 

[Bderick67]

I pretty much agree with all of these except the last one. Foam is useless in most applications.

True, though this particular manufacturer recommends using it and warranty(what little there is) is void if not using styrofoam.

Not sure I see the point in dancing around on top of the stand either

 

[Pharaoh]

True, though this particular manufacturer recommends using it and warranty(what little there is) is void if not using styrofoam.

Not sure I see the point in dancing around on top of the stand either

Fair enough on the styro and not having trim/bracing around the tank.

I dance/stand on every one of my stands. I mean c'mon....if it will hold 200lbs, then it will surely hold 1,200lbs. LOL

 

[Dan F]

i was going to buy there 240 galong long this summer but i am not sure now they seem a little sketchy to me does anyone know of other tank makers ?

I've been shopping around for glass tanks as well, there really aren't that many options...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=306151

Oceanic tanks look very nice (I'm sure they're not cheap) but the biggest tank I could find of theirs is a 5' 178 gallon tank.


Perfecto/Marineland and Aqueon/Allglass are the two biggest manufacturers. They seem very comparable - Perfecto tanks may be slightly better-built but Aqueon tanks are cheaper.

Besides the widely varying feedback on Glasscages, I don't like all the obtrusive glass bracing. The prices look great if you live in Tennessee, but for me it would be $210 to get it to L.A. - a nice quick 18 hour drive from here...

 

[dawnmarie]

I've been shopping around for glass tanks as well, there really aren't that many options...

True enough.
If you are thinking of driving to LA how bout FishTankFactory ?
The have an ad in MFK classified. I got a bid from them that was competitive. I plan to go check them out next time I drive to LA (it's only 6 hours).
Has anyone on this forum done business with them???

 

[bluetail]

Your shelf is supported around the edges with a metal frame and the wood you put on top obviously does not support the tank in the middle! (How could it possibly?) A well constructed stand would have no less than 2x4s running across the underside to provide adequate support in the center of your tank.

I'd bet anything your tank cracked because the center bowed - even if you can't see it. Think how much pressure you were putting on the wood without any underside support.

Also, the crack may manifest itself in a lot places even though the break was highly likely caused by the underside bending.

Well, my 2cents

 

[Venom SS]

When buying a glass aquarium...dont go with the thrift brands. Not only are you talking enormous risk of breakage like happened here, but severe injury as well. Glass tanks are heavy and leave little room for error. If youre gonna go glass, go with Oceanic or some other reputable manufacturer. And for the price youre gonna pay for an Oceanic, you could get a Tenecor Acrylic. I have heard quite a few horror stories like this one about glasscages.com products. Save yourself the heartache and go with a trusted brand!

96x36x25 Acrylic = about 350lbs.
96x36x25 Glass = about 1800lbs if properly built. Empty.

 

[SiR831]

what did the company say? I hope they resolve it for you bro...

 

[screaminleeman]

I don't think you guys seem to understand a 1/2" piece of solid oak! My mistake. I put a tape measure on the thing and it is actually 3/4". See pictures. The bigger 6' x 2' rack DO have a center metal middle brace. In addition I HAVE place 4 2'X4''s as support on each shelf (2 on either side of the center brace.

Does anyone here work construction. For Pete's sake my freakin' attic floor I put in a few years ago is 1/2" plywood. I must literally have numerous TONS (2,000 pounds) stored up there without anything like a "sag". Yes standard 16" studs. That is four supports every 64" five supports every 80". I have 7 horizontal supports in 72", way more then my attic! I doubt that less then 1/2 ton is going to bend up a 3/4" oak board. Pictures below:

Not 1/2" but 3/4" oak support:



90G high sitting level on rack:



135G on the rack with the suggested 3/4" styrafoam:



135G on rack without 3/4" syrafoam over particle board shelf.



Closer shot of 3/4" syrafoam under 135G tank:



Now the big gipper! You can see light under the level on the front side of the middle of the tank. Comon gang Geeze, if the damn thing was saging, wouldn't the center (middle) of the tank be lower then the ends and not hight for cripes sake?

 

[screaminleeman]

This less then a month old tank is severely bowed and is clearly higher on the front top edge in the middle then on either end. There is no where along the top of the from panel where the 2' level will even rest flat!! If this is true, save the tank for the small claims court proceedings.

This is true and also the reason that I can not get a reading from the level. See the picture below and you can see daylight under the level. You can play seesaw with the level on the front edge of the tank (ON THE STYRAFOAM)!

View attachment 463209

I am not fibbing to you. I did what I thought was right and just blew it. From the picture you should see that the 1 major area of neglect on my part (the 3/4" styrafoam) does not appear to be some king of fantastic "savior" either!