Earthquake Saftey

[Plecoecho]

I live in an area where earthquakes occur and I’d like to secur my tanks.  I know this isn’t something a lot of people have to think about, but I’m wondering if anyone has ever done this/thought about this. If you have, I’d love to see pictures.  

[TheSwissAquarist]

I remember someone saying that acrylic tanks are safer than glass…

@Zenzo

[Lennie]

We have a lot of earthquakes at where I live too, up to 7.0 ish mostly. But generally staying around 4.5s and lower.

The only problem I have seen over the years was, splashing water around as I keep my tanks rimless. My 29g is an acrylic if I'm not wrong.

In my new tank(this one is glass), I went for an aquarium and special stand made specifically for the tank itself. So it has covers on bottom sides except the back side, and sits on it inside it for a couple cms. I think maybe it is a help, as it is newly set up, around 2 weeks, I have not experienced an earthquake yet, thankfully :')

Here is a pic, hope it is somehow visible. But again, no experience with this one yet

Edited January 24 by Lennie

[nabokovfan87]

Check out this thread if you haven't, some good tips in there.

 

 

[Plecoecho]

@Lennie Thanks for the picture and explanation!

@nabokovfan87 Thanks for that thread!  I missed it. 
 

I’ve got some ideas to work with on trying to make my tanks as ready as possible. 

[Biotope Biologist]

Not much you can do tank wise but depending on your stand you can earthquake proof those. Mostly just make sure it can withstand side to side motion. Often times that means allowing it to have a bit of “give” not being completely rigid. I find watching how they earthquake proof skyscrapers helpful as that is similar in physics. 
 

edit: we don’t sit on a fault line quite like Cali does. But Washington is long overdo for one (last ”noticeable” one was 2001). So I like to be prepared.

Edited January 24 by Biotope Biologist

[nabokovfan87]

On 1/24/2023 at 9:24 AM, Biotope Biologist said:

Mostly just make sure it can withstand side to side motion. Often times that means allowing it to have a bit of “give” not being completely rigid.

Have a large, secure, flat, strong surface, but also have a rubber mat (and some edges.... as you mentioned not a tight fit....

I'll never forget seeing waves in my tank.  I always get frustrated manufactured stands are so tight tolerance to the tank now.

[Zenzo]

I am in San Francisco...where we have been known to have a few shakes. I have yet to have an issue...but I do carry extra insurance just in case!

[Plecoecho]

@nabokovfan87 I was planning on building my own stand out of 2x4s. How much room would you leave past the tank?

my plan is to use the 2x4s vertically, so they would only be 1.5” wide.  Then have the tank sit directly over the 2x4 frame. My plan was to have a 1/4” space on each side between the tank and the edge of the stand. Do you think that is enough room? 
 

I also plan to put a rubber mat under the tank now after reading all the replies. 

[nabokovfan87]

On 1/25/2023 at 6:09 PM, Plechoeco said:

my plan is to use the 2x4s vertically, so they would only be 1.5” wide.  Then have the tank sit directly over the 2x4 frame. My plan was to have a 1/4” space on each side between the tank and the edge of the stand. Do you think that is enough room? 

In a perfect world, I would love to have a 1" space for the tank to move if something happens.  The pad and everything would be centered, the tank itself still needs to be supported on that overhang (some are, some aren't) and then you're looking into things like this where the tank fits into a cavity and is "held in place".

Overhang: *there is one side to side, but not front to back.


Cavity: