Adding 13 Lbs Of Rock

[celaeno]

i am making a diy multi-cave, as some of you know. it weighs approximately 13 lbs.

i know that it will displace water when placed in the tank, but rocks are heavier than water (assuming equal volume), so will the addition of 13 lbs to a 20g tank collapse the tank eventually?

right now, i only have 2 medium polyresin decorations (hollow), a 4" terra cotta pot, and a few handfuls of gravel in the tank.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Do you know what thickness the glass is on the tank?

 

[celaeno]

the thickness is 3/16 of an inch.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

...tries to wrok that out in mm and fails...

I think that will either be 4 or 5mm glass. If the weight is evenly spread out you should be ok. My planted tank is 5mm glass and has a ton of slate in it (and hasnt cracked yet fingers crossed).

If you are really worried about it putting "egg crate" underneath it will help spred the weight and make sure there are no corners putting presssure in a small area of the glass. Egg create is that plastic "grid" type stuff that is used in offices to cover light fistures (search on here or google and you will find it).

 

[chr15_8]

...tries to wrok that out in mm and fails...

I think that will either be 4 or 5mm glass. If the weight is evenly spread out you should be ok. My planted tank is 5mm glass and has a ton of slate in it (and hasnt cracked yet fingers crossed).

If you are really worried about it putting "egg crate" underneath it will help spred the weight and make sure there are no corners putting presssure in a small area of the glass. Egg create is that plastic "grid" type stuff that is used in offices to cover light fistures (search on here or google and you will find it).

im sure 13lbs of rock wont crack/brake the tank. i have alot more in my tank (although its 10mm glass on my tank there is a few hunder lbs in there i would imagine)

i have a video somewhere that will convince you its fine.
ill post back when i find it

chris


found it

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgEwEiTyYcs

chris

 

[celaeno]

nice video, but i don't know if the bottom of my top fin 20g long tank is made of tempered glass.

 

[celaeno]

anyone know if top fin 20 gallon long tanks are made of tempered glass on the bottom?

 

[poopsydrew]

Use egg crate to disperse the weight as mentioned earlier if you are really worried. Its no big deal if you ask me, 13 lbs isnt that much and with eggcrate it will be spread, think about how much gravel and sand weigh. Or take a look at some of the members African setups, hundreds and hundreds of lbs of rock.

I have about 15 lbs of rock in one of my 10 gallon shelldweller tanks, didnt use eggcrate either.

Good luck,

Drew

 

[chr15_8]

not sure if its temperd or not. but that was alot of rock on that tank.
does your tank sit on a flat stand or is it a stand that supports the outside edge of the tank?

i carnt see a problem tbh.

i would be more worried about the tank going though the floor with too much rock. (your tank isnt big enough to worry about this though imo)

if you look at the last picture of this post/link it has my tank with alot of rock.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1814474

 

[celaeno]

my tank is supported on the bottom surface by a homemade stand, so it's not just the edges that are supported.

 

[chr15_8]

my tank is supported on the bottom surface by a homemade stand, so it's not just the edges that are supported.

im sure you want have a problem them

 

[benniebru]

its only a 20gal tank so u will be fine tempered or not ur not gonna put that many lbs in the tank, if u put tons of rock in it u would have no room for any fish to move around u will be fine

 

[goonerpws]

i am making a diy multi-cave, as some of you know. it weighs approximately 13 lbs.

i know that it will displace water when placed in the tank, but rocks are heavier than water (assuming equal volume), so will the addition of 13 lbs to a 20g tank collapse the tank eventually?

right now, i only have 2 medium polyresin decorations (hollow), a 4" terra cotta pot, and a few handfuls of gravel in the tank.

 

[goonerpws]

i am making a diy multi-cave, as some of you know. it weighs approximately 13 lbs.

i know that it will displace water when placed in the tank, but rocks are heavier than water (assuming equal volume), so will the addition of 13 lbs to a 20g tank collapse the tank eventually?

right now, i only have 2 medium polyresin decorations (hollow), a 4" terra cotta pot, and a few handfuls of gravel in the tank.

Hi mate just flicking through and saw your problem. It has nothing to do with suspending the rocks on egg crate etc the strength of your tank is determined by the silicone. If you were to encase your tank in a concrete shell it would take half a ton stuck inside it. Silicone holds your tank together. the strength of the base is determined by what is underneath it so that just leaves the lateral pressure (pressure pushing sideways) the glass will take a tremendous amount but will usually break before the silicone because the silicone (being flexible to a certain degree) will give where as the glass will not. Anyway your glass is 6mm and the way a tank is designed it should easily take just about anything you want to put in it. the rock will displace the water so It`s impossible too put too much rock in it. Stop worrying!