Earthquake proofing 180 gallon tank

C

colinm822

Member
#1
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Messages
297
Likes
0
Points
16
Location
West Hills
#1
Any suggestions on how to do this? I will never hear the end of this from my wife if this tank comes down in a quake. I was thinking maybe like an extra large water heater strap at the top, hidden by the canopy. The wall behind the tank is brick which was covered by drywall.
Is this something I should even worry about? My house is on a slab, not sure if this is best or worse case scenario.


suggestions/ help.

IMG_0140.jpg IMG_0169.JPG IMG_0202.JPG IMG_0245.JPG
 
U

Usingthejohn

Banned
#2
Joined
Mar 7, 2013
Messages
2,697
Likes
15
Points
0
Location
Fullerton, ca
#2
If the stand is well built, it'll hold up to a 6.0 (think of the brea quake last spring. My tank held up fine). Anything above that, a tank is the last thing you'd worry about.
 
Smite

Smite

Premium Member
Supporter
2020 POTM
#3
Joined
Jun 11, 2013
Messages
6,363
Likes
3,780
Points
83
Location
Garden Grove
#3
Hard call and I've thought about this myself without coming up with a solution. Homes are built to flex to a certain extent around here during earthquakes. For that reason I'd worry strapping the tank to the wall might cause more harm than good. A heater strap would allow for some flex but I'd imagine where ever it mounted to the tank would now be a weak spot. Unless you figure out how to distribute the pressure evenly over several spots on the back of the tank.

Is this more for a safety reason? To keep the tank from falling forward to avoid injury? or trying to keep the tank from breaking?

I just imagine a tank swaying at a different rate than the wall and POP goes the back glass.
 
Last edited:
All Delight

All Delight

Member
#4
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
2,162
Likes
231
Points
48
Location
Long Beach
#4
Usingthejohn said:
If the stand is well build, it'll hold up to a 6.0 (think of the brea quake last spring. My tank held up fine). Anything above that, a tank is the last thing you'd worry about.
Click to expand...
That's pretty much what I told my wife. I said if my tank comes crashing down, my tank falling wont be of my concern. I'll be more worried about more important things. She got the drift.

But if you have a rimless tank, for small quakes I'd be worried about water splashing, and potentially getting electrical wet.
 
oredith

oredith

2
#5
Joined
Sep 9, 2013
Messages
4,628
Likes
32
Points
48
Location
Long Beach CA
#5
bad idea to brace the tank to a wall.

buildings after the northridge earthquake are designed to flex to deal with the ground motion. physics dictate that different materials have different rate of flex.

a 180g tank will move at a VERY DIFFERENT rate than the wall of your house.

having a 180g tank firmly attached to the wall in your house will only result in the tank ripping out the wall in a quake big enough to topple it.
 
gumbii

gumbii

2
#11
Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
19,546
Likes
334
Points
83
Location
bell gardens
#11
the only thing we can do is use restroom outlets so it trips the breaker after they get wet... because water is going to come out...
 
R

RY@N

Member
#12
Joined
Dec 24, 2013
Messages
213
Likes
6
Points
18
Location
Winnetka
#12
most houses located in earthquake area are usually built on top of a slab for stability purpose. Also, the weight of your tank alone will keep your tank from tipping over. just make sure you have plenty of towels around because water will get everywhere. I recommend that you try and water proof around it and make sure nothing that can fall and damage your tank is around it. Best you can do is make obvious to the wife that you're being proactive by trying to prepare. trust me, i'm going through the same lectures. lol.
colinm822 said:
Any suggestions on how to do this? I will never hear the end of this from my wife if this tank comes down in a quake. I was thinking maybe like an extra large water heater strap at the top, hidden by the canopy. The wall behind the tank is brick which was covered by drywall.
Is this something I should even worry about? My house is on a slab, not sure if this is best or worse case scenario.


suggestions/ help.

View attachment 41782 View attachment 41783 View attachment 41784 View attachment 41785
Click to expand...
 
Greaser9999

Greaser9999

Member
#13
Joined
Jan 18, 2014
Messages
4,644
Likes
17
Points
38
Location
Westminster
#13
I think were all missing the point here guys, what the wife really wants here is a reason to nag the sh*t out of you!! They never like to accept anything we put in our household that doesn't go with their decoration. If there was an actual solid way to quake proof the tank she would probably nag about something else. lol
 
R

RY@N

Member
#14
Joined
Dec 24, 2013
Messages
213
Likes
6
Points
18
Location
Winnetka
#14
hahahahahhahahaha ya if he uses a water heater strap like he was thinking, he might get nagged about the color of the strap! hahahahahhaha
Greaser9999 said:
I think were all missing the point here guys, what the wife really wants here is a reason to nag the sh*t out of you!! They never like to accept anything we put in our household that doesn't go with their decoration. If there was an actual solid way to quake proof the tank she would probably nag about something else. lol
Click to expand...
 
CoralNerd

CoralNerd

CoralNerd
Supporter
#15
Joined
May 12, 2014
Messages
1,241
Likes
221
Points
48
Location
Fullerton
#15
Here's what I did so far, I put a nice bolt into the studs. One bolt either side of the stand. Then I used QuakeHOLD! Beige Furniture Safety Straps on either end. Noticed I left a lot play, you don't want tight straps otherwise it will shake your tank apart. I plan to add industrial strength velcro with slack from tank to the stand but haven't got around to it.

Take a look at this video. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/7.3-earthquake-vs.-60-gallon-aquarium
This site might be easier to watch the video from your cellphone http://www.totallyunprepared.com/secure-your-aquarium-for-an-earthquake/

http://m.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-smashed-by-fish-tank-survives-Napa-earthquake-5709381.php

Small video...this tank looks fine however and probably does not have straps.
http://www.google.com/url?q=http://...twIwBw&usg=AFQjCNE5aRIP4PMuaRrwkghqgx6IL5uTsQ
 
N

newtothis

Member
#16
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Messages
3,608
Likes
35
Points
48
Location
92804
#16
colinm822 said:
Any suggestions on how to do this? I will never hear the end of this from my wife if this tank comes down in a quake. I was thinking maybe like an extra large water heater strap at the top, hidden by the canopy. The wall behind the tank is brick which was covered by drywall.
Is this something I should even worry about? My house is on a slab, not sure if this is best or worse case scenario.


suggestions/ help.

View attachment 41782 View attachment 41783 View attachment 41784 View attachment 41785
Click to expand...
Nice tank? Did you do a build thread? Or just to shy to share
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Top