Earthquake Safe?

[itiwhetu]

I see you are in New Zealand? The only place on earth that probably has more earthquakes than we do
This is kind of what I'm thinking, and attempt to stop the movement will instead cause added, uneven pressure on parts of the tank. There's really no "solution" in the event of an earthquake. Oh, and no, I wouldn't be any where near the tanks in an earthquake.

In one earthquake the walls went one direction and the floor of the house the other. If the tank had been any closer to the wall or tied to it the whole tank would have been lost. That gap between the wall and tank is very important.

 

[Colin_T]

I see you are in New Zealand? The only place on earth that probably has more earthquakes than we do
This is kind of what I'm thinking, and attempt to stop the movement will instead cause added, uneven pressure on parts of the tank. There's really no "solution" in the event of an earthquake. Oh, and no, I wouldn't be any where near the tanks in an earthquake.

Move to Australia, Antarctica or Africa. Not many earthquakes on these continents due to how old the land masses are and no major fault lines near us.

 

[StevenF]

In one earthquake the walls went one direction and the floor of the house the other. If the tank had been any closer to the wall or tied to it the whole tank would have been lost. That gap between the wall and tank is very important.

in most places homes are not bolted onto the foundation. Only a couple of nails per wall attach the home to foundation. So strong winds or ground motion can push a home off of it's foundation. There is tornado video that shows home lifting off the ground into the tornado before it comes apart.

Lovthebadge is in california so I am assuming his home is built to the states earth quake codes. In california the walls are bolted to the foundation and there structure is reinforced so the walls, floor, and foundation move together.

The best way to secure the tank and stand it to bolt the tank stand to the wall. Then use a flexible strap to secure the tank to the wall or use brackets or glue to secure the tank to the stand. Then in an earthquake the walls, floor, stand, and tank will move together. Some water may splash out overall it should survive.

 

[itiwhetu]

in most places homes are not bolted onto the foundation. Only a couple of nails per wall attach the home to foundation. So strong winds or ground motion can push a home off of it's foundation. There is tornado video that shows home lifting off the ground into the tornado before it comes apart.

Lovthebadge is in california so I am assuming his home is built to the states earth quake codes. In california the walls are bolted to the foundation and there structure is reinforced so the walls, floor, and foundation move together.

The best way to secure the tank and stand it to bolt the tank to the wall. Then use a flexible strap to secure the tank to the wall or use brackets or glue to secure the tank to the stand. Then in an earthquake the walls, floor, stand, and tank will move together. Some water may splash out overall it should survive.

Have you actually done this and therefore know that tying everything together will save your tank in like a force seven earthquake?. It is not a method I have ever seen used in New Zealand

 

[Oblio]

in most places homes are not bolted onto the foundation. Only a couple of nails per wall attach the home to foundation. So strong winds or ground motion can push a home off of it's foundation. There is tornado video that shows home lifting off the ground into the tornado before it comes apart.

Lovthebadge is in california so I am assuming his home is built to the states earth quake codes. In california the walls are bolted to the foundation and there structure is reinforced so the walls, floor, and foundation move together.

The best way to secure the tank and stand it to bolt the tank to the wall. Then use a flexible strap to secure the tank to the wall or use brackets or glue to secure the tank to the stand. Then in an earthquake the walls, floor, stand, and tank will move together. Some water may splash out overall it should survive.

But the floor, walls etc. do not move together in an earthquake. If the tank in attached to these items, there will be flex, flex make glass sad.

 

[StevenF]

But the floor, walls etc. do not move together in an earthquake. If the tank in attached to these items, there will be flex, flex make glass sad.

IF the home is made to california earthquake codes they will move together. You might get a few cracks int eh wall but no serious damage I live in california the walls are net reinforced with plywood and not bolted to the foundation. If you don't live in a home not built for adequate. when the foundation does the wall fold over in the opposite direction.

Have you actually done this and therefore know that tying everything together will save your tank in like a force seven earthquake?. It is not a method I have ever seen used in New Zealand

the last big quad inner me occurred before I was interested in fish. It was a 7.6 earthquake and my apartment was not damaged But older buildings and structures were including several bridges . Bridges in California are now built to update seismic codes or have been modified. Experts in the state Recommendsecuring cabinets to the wall either with attachment straps or physically attaching it to the wall. Anything on to of the cabinet should be secured to the wall with straps.

 

[itiwhetu]

From living through multiple earthquakes with fish tanks, the last thing that I would have wanted was the tanks to be strapped to the walls. I stand my tanks about two inches off the walls to protect them in case of an earthquake.

 

[Colin_T]

there will be flex, flex make glass sad.

lol

 

[StevenF]

It is OK to have a couple of inches between the wall and tank. But it and the stand should be secured to the wall with stops. that way the tank and stand will not move away from the walll and won't tip over. A small gap will allow the tank to move closer to the wall which is fine.

What you don't want his the tank to slip of the stand or for the aquarium and stand to tip over. And that is likely to happen in a strong eathquake.

As a side note all water heaters must be bolted to the wall to prevent them from tipping over. And if the tank uses gas to heat the water the gas line is less likely to break in an earthquake.

 

[mnccnm]

It is OK to have a couple of inches between the wall and tank. But it and the stand should be secured to the wall with stops. that way the tank and stand will not move away from the walll and won't tip over. A small gap will allow the tank to move closer to the wall which is fine.

What you don't want his the tank to slip of the stand or for the aquarium and stand to tip over. And that is likely to happen in a strong eathquake.

As a side note all water heaters must be bolted to the wall to prevent them from tipping over. And if the tank uses gas to heat the water the gas line is less likely to break in an earthquake.

That's what I was thinking at first, but the more I think about it, the more I wonder if trying to prevent 1000s of punds of water from moving, will cause uneven pressure on several parts of the tank, causing failure. While I realize there is no guarantees in an earthquake, (I have been on top of 2 major ones in my lifetime, 71 Sylmar and 94 Northridge) sometimes alowing the movement might be better. I was in the street a few days after Northridge playing with my kids, and watched an aftershock come up the street. I literally saw the uneven movement coming, (think "Tacoma Narrows Bridge" movement, look up the video if you haven't seen it) and I can't help wondering if strapping it down in this kind of movement wouldn't make matters worse. Also, a water heater is a completely different situation. For one, it's metal and not glass.

 

[StevenF]

This is the best that I could do

(think "Tacoma Narrows Bridge" movement, look up the video if you haven't seen it) and I can't help wondering if strapping it down in this kind of movement wouldn't make matters worse

Yes you could put the tanon wheels but you need to figure out how much movement you drelikely to get. IN great sanfansico quake one side of the fault moved 20feet. In california they are frequefntly discovering new faults so you might be right on top of one and not know it. Often the only way to find a fault is to waightfor the quake it causes. Engineers in some cases use rollers with shock absorbers or springs to absorb some of the energy. But you would've to get an engineer to figure it out.

Now if your hose is right on a fault when it move thee home could be ripped apart. But that is very unlikely. Most likely the fault will be at least a mile away or more. So if your home is built to code strapping the tank and stand to the wall will likely work.

During the loma Prieta quake in 1989 I was riding my bike at the time. All I felt was aa shimmy that I though was coming from the rear wheel. I stocped and checked it but found nothing. That happened about 3 times before I got home and and there was no damage so I didn't know until I l turned on the radio over an hour later.

 

[Caesar]

I live in the Pacific Northwest and my tanks are all 1,000lbs+. I think I'd just speed up the house collapsing if I had my 210 gallon pulling at the studs.

 

[Finn6419]

You have to stand your tank on a large lip and make sure that the tank does not fall off the stand during an earthquake.

 

[itiwhetu]

You have to stand your tank on a large lip and make sure that the tank does not fall off the stand during an earthquake.

If an earthquake is big enough to slide your tank off its stand I think you will have other things to worry about.