I have had a acrylic FOWLR tank for several years? I love what is going on in the industry with aqua cultured corals,fish LED lighting etc.. and I WANNA reef tank! I love rimless or eurobraced starfire glass tanks but I am concerned. I live in Los Angeles i.e. earthquake country.... should I be safe and go acrylic or use a reputable glass tank manufacturer like Lee Mar and get a eurobraced glass tank?! looking into about a 36 x 26 x 20 tank, so not too big. Any thoughts, opinions, experience? new to this forum and would love to hear from you guys! can't wait to get my tank set up and post pics!!! oh, then first I need to buy a tank.....
Glass Tank in Earthquake Country?
- Thread starter zoechance
- Start date
I am going to disagree on this one. In a major shaker, you are likely going to get lateral movement that is more likely to dump the tank thank shatter the walls. In which case both acrylic and glass are toast.
As an aside... I would love to see polls of tank owners from the Northridge quake. See if tank disasters varied from acrylic to glass owners.
My vote = glass. Acrylic is too soft, and water in reef systems is hard. I.e. trying to get coraline, etc. from your acrylic tank = scratches.
As an aside... I would love to see polls of tank owners from the Northridge quake. See if tank disasters varied from acrylic to glass owners.
My vote = glass. Acrylic is too soft, and water in reef systems is hard. I.e. trying to get coraline, etc. from your acrylic tank = scratches.
Welcome to SCR..... I lost my 60g glass fresh water fish tank from the Northridge quake back in 94, The seem did not hold and the tank split on the stand. Replaced it with a SeaClear 60g acrylic and went with saltwater fishes instead. Since 94 my tank is still up and running.... besides getting scratches easily that can be repaired. Acrylic FTW!
thanks for these replies.... would love to hear more opinions. I respect the loss of your tank in the Northridge quake due to a seem failure. but I hope that things have gotten better since the 90's in terms of seems etc... maybe maybe not... hmmmm still tough decision as I am really liking glass and my acrylic is pretty scratched after all these years even after being real careful.
Dorky. What were the circumstances? I suggest more than just the Earthquake. An uneven setting I would think putting a twist on the tank, adding the fluctuating water finally giving way to the seam. Did house come off of foundation?
I've had tanks for close to 40 years living in Long Beach, Malibu and Riverside. Never loss one to a quake. In the late 70s I did lose an 80 gallon frameless due to a seam. Had it four three years before letting go. Back then tanks were much thinner than today. It had a full glass hood.
Also back then all tanks were talls.
Glass or acrylic is a personal preference. I like glass due to less scratches.
Wasn't that tank that blew a seam in Vegas an acrylic tank?
I've had tanks for close to 40 years living in Long Beach, Malibu and Riverside. Never loss one to a quake. In the late 70s I did lose an 80 gallon frameless due to a seam. Had it four three years before letting go. Back then tanks were much thinner than today. It had a full glass hood.
Also back then all tanks were talls.
Glass or acrylic is a personal preference. I like glass due to less scratches.
Wasn't that tank that blew a seam in Vegas an acrylic tank?
I agree with this completely. Anything over 200 and acrylic is my choice. Under 200 either is great. I do love the look of a lee mar tank. They just look sexy. With my 265 that's 843024 I have 3/4" all the way around with an external overflow with no bow. You can't have any bow with an external overflow or you know what happens. Lawrence tank is awesome
My tank is custom made with just 3/4" inch ,there is no bowing even with 2 waveboxes
Up to 6" of wave just like a 5-6.5 intensity earthquake in California ( common intensity for California) I don't know if a silicon can handle all of that.
Again just my opinion.
Thanks Chris but My tank have common fish and common corals
Up to 6" of wave just like a 5-6.5 intensity earthquake in California ( common intensity for California) I don't know if a silicon can handle all of that.
Again just my opinion.
Thanks Chris but My tank have common fish and common corals
