Tropical Fish Forums

lvasilr · New Members Joined: 30 Sep 2005

Hello,

I have an aquarium which will have around 300kg (1.2mx0.5mx0.5m).

How much deformation can an aquarium sustain? Is there someone that know this?

I have started to fill my aquarium with water and I am measuring the deformation - movment of the stand that it is on. The top plate of the stand is an 30mm thick wood plate.

I have around half of the water in it and the deformation is about 0.4mm.
I think that if it is full will be around 1mm (is this to much? or not).

Thank you for your time.
Laurentiu

Jimbob · Regulars Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Location: London, England

IMO, If you are talking about the wood on the stand compressing under the weight of the water you might want to empty the tank and place some Polystyrene tiles underneath it. The weight distribution will be absorbed by the sheets and minimise stress on the tank. It does depend on the type of tank, all glass for example, unless specifically stated it is not required, it's a must. Any other ideas anyone?
_________________
Stand and deliver... your lupins or your life

lvasilr · New Members Joined: 30 Sep 2005

I'm not talking about the deformation of the wood. I'm talking about the movement of the entire thing (tank+wood plate).

I already put a sheet of polystyrene under the tank (which is all glass).

Today I strengthened a bit the support of the wood plate and now with the tank full I have a movement of 0.3mm which in my opinion (I'm an engineer) is not at all much.

Anyone think else?

buz2au · Regulars Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Location: Brisbane, Australia

what type of floor is the tank on, timber or concrete slab, if its a timber floor then recal the bending moment of the stand top, if it less than the 0.3mm deflection that you have then the problem is in the floor system.

lvasilr · New Members Joined: 30 Sep 2005

My floor is concret and over it are floor tiles, so the deformation is not from there.

My opinion is that this movement of the stand will happen anyway no matter how strong it's the stand.
The question which I could not find an answer till now is, how much can it be?

If any one find anything please let me know.

Until then I hope my tank will be OK.

Thank you

lvasilr · New Members Joined: 30 Sep 2005

This is a picture of the aquarium.
http://www.pbase.com/lvasilr/image/50149232

On the background is a desk (the aquarium is set on a wall between two rooms).

On the left bottom corner you can see the measurement tool.

Regards

Irons · Moderators Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Location: Buffalo, NY

If you are not seeing any deforamation in the glass proper, I wouldn't worry about it.

There will be settling in the tank, stand, and your polystyere. Wher you really want to measure is from corner to corner and across each side. That's where you want to worry if you start seeing things move a lot.
_________________
"... instead of considering what to say when they write, people now just let thoughts drool out onto the screen,"
- about e-mail - Dr. Hogan