Is My Home Made Fish Tank Stand Safe ?

[dgwebster]

Just in case, want to reiterate in a different way here: the polystyrene blocks you have right nkw, throw them in the bin and clear your mind of all thought of them.

Now, you need a sheet of polystyrene, which is 6' x 2' which sits under your tank. The purpose is to remove any imperfections from your surface to your tank. If you want to carry out an experiment, get a piece of glass, worktop and put both outside. Put some polystyrene cut to the same dimensions as your glass on the worktop, then put a but of 2mm dowel rod down, then your glass on top. Now stand on your glass. Good news, the polystyrene deforms to create an even surface for your glass. Now repeat, without the polystyrene and enjoy your broken glass.

DISCLAIMER: do not really do this, you could get seriously injured. This is described only for the imagery to help you identify why you need a sheet of polystyrene under your tank that cover the entire width & depth.

 

[fluttermoth]

 ^ Agreed; my mum had a chip (less than an inch square) out of the polystyrene under her 5'x2'x2 and the base cracked less than week after being set up.

Do it properly from the start (although you're on the right track), as fixing these big tanks is not fun; nor is cleaning up the mess if they do go 

 

[nick1200]

Its been set up for 9 days now and is full.. No problems at all. So im guessing ill have to empty it and buy some polystyrene ??

 

[dgwebster]

Really thoroughly recommend it. Its a pain in the rear, not as much as a fracture. Its easier and cheaper to double check the electric is definitely off than it is to resuscitate a dead person, even though it does mean getting out that crawl space and back into it again.

 

[nick1200]

Really thoroughly recommend it. Its a pain in the rear, not as much as a fracture. Its easier and cheaper to double check the electric is definitely off than it is to resuscitate a dead person, even though it does mean getting out that crawl space and back into it again.

The electric wires go about 2 ft away form the tank.. So the electrics are nothing to be worried about. The only bit im worried about is if it starts bowing in the middle because even if the middle moved a cm the tank would crack has you have said...

 

[dgwebster]

The electric bit there was an analogy/similie to the effort to put some polystyrene on.

If you would rather have some piece of mind about the kitchen worktop bowing, brace with some 44mm x 44mm timber.

 

[fluttermoth]

Yeah, I agree; it'll be big hassle emptying it and moving it again, I know, but better safe than sorry!

 

[nick1200]

So this morning the tank was fine but i was making dinner and notice the tank started to leak.
 

 
 
You can see the drip on the photo above. Here is a detailed photo of the crack
 

 
So has many of you may of read from my other thread when the tank was delivered they damaged the bottom of the tank. I silicone the damaged area ( above photo ) i waited 3 days and then filled it up... It lasted 2 weeks and then started drip leaking. I have empyed the tank today and i have noticed has you can see from the photo above that the silicone has come off . Has you can see the left side of the photo the silicone is there but the right side there is none...
So i think the leak was my own fault because i didn't wait long enough for the silicone to cure.
 
So i think im gonna put two planes of glass over the crack and wait 2 to 3 weeks for it to cure and hope it fixes it..
I have noticed that the crack has not got any bigger with out silicone on it and being fully filled.