Total weight in tank

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 07:28 AM

Sorry for this question as I believe I know the answer to it already, but second opinions are always better. I purchased a 55 gallon tank which I have already added approximately 40 pounds of live sand to with an order of 50 pounds of rock due to arrive on Wednesday. While I was researching lighting for the tank I noticed one of the specifications stated:

"This tank is designed for upto 60 pounds of sand."

Does this mean the bottom of the tank can only hold 60 pounds? I assume it doesn't mean that as the weight of 55 gallons of water far exceeds 60pounds. Again, sorry for such a newbie question.

gone fishin · 05/12/2015, 07:33 AM

I have not seen that design spec before. Just to clarify this is a tank that was made for aquatic use and not for a reptile tank.

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gone fishin

I have not seen that design spec before. Just to clarify this is a tank that was made for aquatic use and not for a reptile tank.

Yes, the tank is made by Aqua Culture and was purchased at Wal-mart.

gone fishin · 05/12/2015, 07:46 AM

The reason I asked is reptile tanks are made with thinner panes of glass a lot of times.

IMO a quality aquarium should be able to safely hold the 40 pounds of sand and the 50 pounds of rock.

sleepydoc · 05/12/2015, 07:53 AM

+1 - but I could easily see Walmart stocking a sub-standard tank with a thinner or non-tempered bottom because it was $3 cheaper. I have no experience with Aqua Culture tanks, so I can't say anything specifically, but the fact that they explicitly state "up to 60 lbs of sand" is concerning

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 08:20 AM

The entire tank is made of tempered glass and from the research I have determined the tank itself is manufactured by Top Fin. It has the support bar across the top to keep the glass from flexing due to water weight. I can only assume Wal-mart added their own specifications for sand as that note is listed on the step-by-step setup of a freshwater aquarium. If the tank cracks under the pressure, I will be owing my landlord quite a bit of $$.

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

+1 - but I could easily see Walmart stocking a sub-standard tank with a thinner or non-tempered bottom because it was $3 cheaper. I have no experience with Aqua Culture tanks, so I can't say anything specifically, but the fact that they explicitly state "up to 60 lbs of sand" is concerning

I wasn't concerned until I noticed that note. When I unpackaged the tank, there was a warning label on it stating, "tempered glass, do not drill!" As I stated previously, the tank currently has 40 pounds of sand in the bottom and has been filled with water for several days pending the devlivery of the rock. I am hopinh this note from Wal-mart is just something they added as the 60 pounds of sand would fall within the 1-2lbs of sand per gallon recommendation.

Sk8r · 05/12/2015, 10:05 AM

That's scary. That's something I've never seen. My 55 gallon alone weighs some 80 lbs empty: the glass is a half inch thick, and obviously it supports about anything that fits inside. I'd return the thing. I'm suspecting they've used 1/8th inch thick glass, which makes it fine for snakes and small mammals and cedar bedding. Not 400 lbs of salt water, sand and rock.

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 10:49 AM

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Cultu...-Pets/24808068

There is the link for this tank I am referring to. I am going to measure the glass thickness when I get home from work to see exactly how thick the glass is.

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 10:51 AM

I am not using any of the accesories, just the tank.

toothybugs · 05/12/2015, 11:26 AM

I echo Sk8r's commentary. I'd be spooked.

Dmorty217 · 05/12/2015, 11:32 AM

I would try and contact the maker of the tank and ask them directly. Virtually everything in the tank will weigh more than the 60lbs they stated was the max. To put it in perspective I have 400lbs of sand and 300lbs of rock in my 220g without water factored in. With the water we are talking around 2500lbs of total weight and that's not including the weight of the tank. Point being is the bottom pane being tempered glass or not should hold way more than 60lbs

tcorriveau · 05/12/2015, 11:49 AM

It's already holding more than 60 pounds. The more I read and research about the tank the less worried I am that it will crack. It has been full of water for a week and I am waiting for the rocks to arrive to I can hopefully get the cycle started and eventually get some fish in it.

tcorriveau · 05/13/2015, 03:18 PM

Well, the 50+ pounds of rock and 40 pounds of sand are now in the tank and the tank is full of water. I am happy to report there are no cracks or leaks from the additional weight. Prior to adding the rocks I measured the thickness of the glass, it's 3/8" thick.

gone fishin · 05/13/2015, 03:23 PM

Now for the fun.

05/12/2015, 07:28 AM	#1
tcorriveau Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wakefield, NH Posts: 61	Total weight in tank Sorry for this question as I believe I know the answer to it already, but second opinions are always better. I purchased a 55 gallon tank which I have already added approximately 40 pounds of live sand to with an order of 50 pounds of rock due to arrive on Wednesday. While I was researching lighting for the tank I noticed one of the specifications stated: "This tank is designed for upto 60 pounds of sand." Does this mean the bottom of the tank can only hold 60 pounds? I assume it doesn't mean that as the weight of 55 gallons of water far exceeds 60pounds. Again, sorry for such a newbie question.

05/12/2015, 07:33 AM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I have not seen that design spec before. Just to clarify this is a tank that was made for aquatic use and not for a reptile tank. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/12/2015, 07:46 AM	#4
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	The reason I asked is reptile tanks are made with thinner panes of glass a lot of times. IMO a quality aquarium should be able to safely hold the 40 pounds of sand and the 50 pounds of rock. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/12/2015, 07:53 AM	#5
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	+1 - but I could easily see Walmart stocking a sub-standard tank with a thinner or non-tempered bottom because it was $3 cheaper. I have no experience with Aqua Culture tanks, so I can't say anything specifically, but the fact that they explicitly state "up to 60 lbs of sand" is concerning __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

05/12/2015, 10:05 AM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	That's scary. That's something I've never seen. My 55 gallon alone weighs some 80 lbs empty: the glass is a half inch thick, and obviously it supports about anything that fits inside. I'd return the thing. I'm suspecting they've used 1/8th inch thick glass, which makes it fine for snakes and small mammals and cedar bedding. Not 400 lbs of salt water, sand and rock. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/12/2015, 08:20 AM	#6
tcorriveau Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wakefield, NH Posts: 61	The entire tank is made of tempered glass and from the research I have determined the tank itself is manufactured by Top Fin. It has the support bar across the top to keep the glass from flexing due to water weight. I can only assume Wal-mart added their own specifications for sand as that note is listed on the step-by-step setup of a freshwater aquarium. If the tank cracks under the pressure, I will be owing my landlord quite a bit of $$.

05/12/2015, 10:49 AM	#9
tcorriveau Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wakefield, NH Posts: 61	http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Cultu...-Pets/24808068 There is the link for this tank I am referring to. I am going to measure the glass thickness when I get home from work to see exactly how thick the glass is.

05/12/2015, 10:51 AM	#10
tcorriveau Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wakefield, NH Posts: 61	I am not using any of the accesories, just the tank.

05/12/2015, 11:26 AM	#11
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	I echo Sk8r's commentary. I'd be spooked.

05/12/2015, 11:32 AM	#12
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	I would try and contact the maker of the tank and ask them directly. Virtually everything in the tank will weigh more than the 60lbs they stated was the max. To put it in perspective I have 400lbs of sand and 300lbs of rock in my 220g without water factored in. With the water we are talking around 2500lbs of total weight and that's not including the weight of the tank. Point being is the bottom pane being tempered glass or not should hold way more than 60lbs __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

05/12/2015, 11:49 AM	#13
tcorriveau Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wakefield, NH Posts: 61	It's already holding more than 60 pounds. The more I read and research about the tank the less worried I am that it will crack. It has been full of water for a week and I am waiting for the rocks to arrive to I can hopefully get the cycle started and eventually get some fish in it.

05/13/2015, 03:18 PM	#14
tcorriveau Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Wakefield, NH Posts: 61	Well, the 50+ pounds of rock and 40 pounds of sand are now in the tank and the tank is full of water. I am happy to report there are no cracks or leaks from the additional weight. Prior to adding the rocks I measured the thickness of the glass, it's 3/8" thick.

05/13/2015, 03:23 PM	#15
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Now for the fun. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT