A Speck Of Dust Can Crack A Tank?

[Bristlenose]

I always thought it was a speck of grit or sand that applies the preasure that breaks the tank, not dust??!

 

[raptorrex]

I always thought it was a speck of grit or sand that applies the preasure that breaks the tank, not dust??!

i think this is a case of miss description by the shop, cant see dust, well household dust, doing any harm. but dust carried on the wind or by air conditioners, is made up of more than just human skin. a scrap of sand less than 1/2mm will crack a tank, as will a small protrudes of a nail head, even a raised knot in the wood can cause it. first off remember that glass is a liquid, though very viscose it is held together by its surface tension, any uneven stress could cause real problems.
now the figures are purely for illustration, and greatly simplified, but should show the point. if the tank, when full, has a weight distribution of 1 killo per square cm, if you put a bit of grit that is harder than the glass, so it is not squashed by the weight, under it, the weight distribution is thrown way out. if you could measure the area of the tank now no longer touching the desk or stand you would find that something like 10 or so square cm of base would no longer be in contact. the math shows that resting on that 1/2mm bit of grit has now closer to 200 kilos. that's ignoring the fact that the speck would require the tank to bend, not something they are known to do. you can see how damaging it may be.

 

[ollyhtafc]

It's very easy to misread 'tone of voice' on forums... especially when people are in different time zones and countries... so I thought I would mention I type all this with a friendly, helpful smile on my face!

Don't worry..i was just being dumb.No point arguing over the internet.No one wins...

I like the camping mat idea...that's something i do have! Although admitedly not here..at home.

The tank doesn't overhang it has around two inch either side, but on one side is my computer.So i'm in two minds wether or not to fill it.

Also...i'm planning on running two filters, a Fluval 1 and an interpret something or other. Where are the best positions for them to be?

 

[Egmel]

The tank doesn't overhang it has around two inch either side, but on one side is my computer. So i'm in two minds wether or not to fill it.

I would go for it so long as you can do 2 things, a) put a bin bag/ towel over your PC when you're doing water changes/tank maintenance b)Raise your computer up by a cm minimum, a block of wood or a couple of bricks would probably be ideal, just so that if your tank does leak (or have condensation run out of the lid) your computer is out of harms way.

I would also suggest you make sure you've got drip loops in all your cables from the tank and the PC. Basically make sure that either they don't come into contact with anything that connects to the tank, or that they have a point on them that is lower than the point at which they are plugged in. You may find the easiest way to do this is to use a gang plank on a shelf above the desk or something. If wires are a bit too tight to make an effective drip loop without you standing there holding it then you can (and this is probably really dangerous but it's always worked for me ) hang something like a small stone on them with a bit of string so that they have a low point where you want it!

 

[ollyhtafc]

Yeah i have drip loops on all my wires.Thanks.

I might set it up this week...and then leave it for the next three weeks for all the sand to settle etc. It's easter break next week and for three weeks you see..where i'll be going home. (ill make the odd trip back to feed my fish )

And with me using my established filter + 1 new one i'm not sure how the tank will react.Be pretty irresponsible of me to not be here i think.

 

[Fineas]

If you know anyone who is laying or has laid laminated flooring, the underlay for that is ideal to put under the tank and is neater than polystyrene tiles.

Ken

 

[raptorrex]

If you know anyone who is laying or has laid laminated flooring, the underlay for that is ideal to put under the tank and is neater than polystyrene tiles.

Ken

i can confirm that, its what i use for my tanks. i have a very big roll at home and its perfect. the edges do not flake and make a mess if people brush by it too.

 

[ollyhtafc]

I've filled my tank with sand and a few gallons of water- now i've realised the desk it's on probably won't support it's weight. Dammit. It's a desk with 4 legs, it could really do with two in the middle to stop it buckling.