Will my tank break?

[Caleb Kruse]

I bought a used 225 gallon aquarium that's 96" long, by 18" deep, and 30" tall. The problem that I just realized is that the acrylic is only 1/2" thick. Someone told me that the tank would start to bow, and eventually would just break. What do you think? If it's too thin, is there anything besides buying a new aquarium I can do? If I have to buy a new aquarium, where are some good places.

Thanks

[davocean]

1/2" is fine, as long as the braces are still in you're cool.

[Andrew]

I'm interested in finding out also. From my previous readings, 1/2'' acrcylic is good up to 24'' tall tanks but I wonder if another 6'' would effect this?

[Caleb Kruse]

Andrew, how did you turn the text on your signiture upsidedown?

[Andrew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10647437#post10647437 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Caleb Kruse
Andrew, how did you turn the text on your signiture upsidedown?

Just turn your keyboard around :D




.... Google: "Upside down text generator"

[Caleb Kruse]

Huh, It didn't work when I pasted it. Oh well, back on topic

[BrokeColoReefer]

If the braces are good, your fine. My 240 is made out of 1/2 acrylic. Your tank is only 18" deep, you have PLENTY of acrylic there to hold it together.

[Caleb Kruse]

bump

[BrokeColoReefer]

LOL, . tell you what, go to the garf home page, do there tank build calculator and see what you get.
click here http://garf.org/
then go to the DIY pages on the bottem of the menu,
then go to tank building and see what sheet stock it tells you. For 18" it says only 3/8th thick acrylic.

[BeanAnimal]

The authority to ask would be Acrylics here at RC. He knows all things plastic.

[BrokeColoReefer]

I think the bigger question here is:
How old is the tank? How good are the Joints? is there crazing or cracks in the joints? what condition are the braces in? are there cracks in the braces? is it euro braced or is there a center brace? if euro braced, how thick is the brace?

[CMcNeil]

IMO it is underbuilt.it will hold water for along time,but if you blast the braces with halides you run a risk of it crazing the braces and eventual failure.at one of our LFS he has a 240g thats 1/2" thick 72x24x24 and it is crazing from his halides,i dont know how old the tank is but he said IHO it was underbuilt as well.my current 150g 60x24x24 is made from 3/4"

[BrokeColoReefer]

checkin, your correct, the biggest difference here is your tank is 24" tall, wich would normally call for 5/8th. So your in way good shape. As the tank gets shorter, the thickness goes way down. The condition of the tank is the most important. From a fabrication standpoint, 1/2 is plenty, acrylics will agree.

[Acrylics]

At 30" tall, you're pushing it IMO. It *will* bow, too much for *my* taste but opinions on this vary. Will it break? prolly not due to *just* being 1/2" material, if there are other defects or issues - the thinner material will compound the issue but to say that it *will* break is a bit presumptuous IMO.
I'd test drive it by placing it on the stand in the garage and see how it does; if you feel comfortable - great!, if not - better that it's in your garage and not your living room :)
You were given some sage advice, look at the tank, is there any crazing (tiny stress fractures, usually near a joint) or joint degradation? these will be good indicators

HTH,
James

[CMcNeil]

you as well coloreefer.check all the seams for crazing or cracks.i have seen 600g tanks made from 1/2",would i ever have that in my house(UMMMM NO)but IMO yours will hold water for years as long as its in good shape now.

[Caleb Kruse]

So the bracing looks like its in bad shape :( There are two 6" cracks that are covered by another piece of acrylic glued on top. And theres alot of crazing on the left side. The seams I'm not sure. There are 3/4" by 3/4" pieces along every seam, and they seem to have crazing on them, but the seams outside of them look good. What do you think?

[BrokeColoReefer]

the patched peices of acrylic on top should make week areas strong. Not sure how to advise you, like acrylics said, put it in the garage and fill it up and see how the joints hold up. If not, i will come pick it up and use it as a sump :)

[BrokeColoReefer]

actually my bad, i miss red your post. The tank is 30" tall????? sorry i read that as 18" tall, no way in hell would i use that tank. Keep it for a sump and fill it half way.

[BrokeColoReefer]

is this the old tank from aqua imports in boulder?

[Caleb Kruse]

No it's the tank Burkleman sold to ECReef, who sold the entire tank, stand, two hammerhead pumps, 400w metal halide setup with lumenarc reflectors for $500. So even if I have to buy a new tank, I still got a great deal. (Or at least thats what I keep telling myself) :)

[Caleb Kruse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10648923#post10648923 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrokeColoReefer
the patched peices of acrylic on top should make week areas strong. Not sure how to advise you, like acrylics said, put it in the garage and fill it up and see how the joints hold up. If not, i will come pick it up and use it as a sump :) PM me if you want to use it as a sump. I would love to get a little money towards a new tank if possible. Sky Sox season is over, so no more making money until next summer. I'm hoping I can sell my 90 for a good amount, and make enough money selling frags to get a new one. I've read some bad reviews about glasscages, but they are by far the cheapest I found. What do you think of them?

[JPA]

My old 300G 96x24x30 was 1/2" set up for 10+ years and it never 'broke'.

[BrokeColoReefer]

Its hard to advise someone on the saftey of there tank without seeing it. This is a tough thread. Sure, my tank is 26" tall and is built out of 1/2 inch, it most definatly bows, and if i started to see crazing at the joints or in the corners of the brace i would start sweating. Caleb, i found a sump, thanks for the offer. Post it on the local forum :)