125 Gallon All-Glass and Stand Question  9/10/07
Hello,
<Ben>
I recently came across your site and found that it contained many interesting answers to aquarium questions. However while I saw a few answers that brushed upon my subject I wanted to get a clearer answer.
<Okay>
I recently purchased a 125 gallon All Glass Aquarium with a black pine stand manufactured from the same company. The stand at first glance appears to be sturdy but knowing that a tremendous amount of weight will be applied to this stand,
<More than a thousand pounds... with the gravel et al. considered, aquarium systems weigh in at about ten pounds per gallon>
I had to look closer. The stand is resting on a concrete floor and all sides are level, however when I look inside the cabinets, I noticed some of the pine boards have vertical hair line cracks.
<Mmmm... the boards as in the panels? But not the structural elements? The uprights?>
Is this something I should be worried about?
<Possibly if it is the functional elements involved>
I have had 100 gallons in it for 48 hours and there has been no shift in level and the cracks have not grown in size. I guess I am looking for some reassurance that this tank will rest on the stand for a long time to come and not end up on the floor.
Have you ever heard of these stands failing?
<Extremely rare for commercial stands to fail>
Regards,
Benjamin Schmaus
<A pic or two please. Bob Fenner>

Questionable Tank Seam/Packing Material Left On The Stand – 06/06/07 Hi, <<Howdy Steve>> I really enjoy the website. <<Thanks…me too!>> I've recently purchased a new 115-gal aquarium and after letting it sit for two weeks to make sure it was fully cured I test filled. <<I see>> No leaks were evident, but I do have a suspect seam. <<Uh-oh>> When empty all seams are clear and look acceptable. When filled however, one seam has a fairly large white area that extends approximately 8mm into the 12mm glass thickness for about 12" of the seam. <<Mmm…>> I'll attach a few pics to clarify. <<I see these... I’ll ask Bob to interject if he feels differently, but it certainly looks to me like you may have an issue with the seal…especially considering this only shows when the tank is full of water>> Of course my main concern is that it could be a void in the silicone that may eventually lead to a failure at the seam. <<Agreed>> I contacted both the manufacturer and the store I purchased it from and they both said if it isn't leaking now its fine. <<Bunk…>> After expressing concern about the issue they finally agreed that the seam could be redone in the store, but acted like I was being unreasonable. <<Mmm, a shame>> I'm not sure I'm comfortable with an in-store quick fix that they don't believe is even necessary in the first place. <<I’m with you on this…perhaps you can send these pics to the manufacturer for their edification and press this issue with them>> I also had a question on the stand. <<Okay>> It's designed to only support the ends of the tank and is actually raised 1/8" on each end so that the aquarium doesn't touch the stand at all in the middle. <<This is not right…I suspect there is something amiss with the stand>> The entire aquarium is supported by 2" on either end. <<Ah yes, I see this in the photos. This looks to be a bit of “hardboard” material…perhaps leftovers from the shipping/packing material. Do see if you can remove this>> I've heard about large aquariums being supported mainly in the corners, but never seen it taken to the extreme of having the free floating center section. <<This glass tank needs to be supported along its “entire perimeter”>> I really appreciate your help and advice. I'm just afraid if I flood the house and ruin our floors my wife will be forever against having another large aquarium. <<Mmm…that sounds familiar…>> I do understand how she feels, but the fish need room to roam. <<Much agreed…and you do have some issues to reconcile re this tank and stand before you can proceed any further>> Thanks, Steve <<Hope I’ve been of help. EricR>> Re: Questionable Tank Seam/Packing Material Left On The Stand – 06/07/07 Thanks for the prompt reply Eric. <<You’re welcome Steve>> Both the store and tank manufacturer were adamant that the wood strips on the ends are in fact part of the design. <<You spoke with the manufacturer yourself?>> Their explanation was that it prevents pressure points on the long side that can lead to failure on larger, taller tanks. <<Mmm, not if the stand is flat and planar...as it should be. I have never before seen nor heard of supporting a glass tank “only by the ends”... So this manufacturer states this tank is meant to hold water; with no support from the stand other than the two-inch wide strip across each end, by the strength of the bottom glass panel and silicone seal alone?!>> The store further said that the tank is designed to be loaded on the corners. <<...! >> They've been making tanks for over 30 years, but it certainly seems odd. <<To me as well>> Do any other manufacturers make stands that only support the ends of the tank? <<None “I” am aware of...Bob?>> I got a call back from the LFS today, and they spoke to the owner of the aquarium company. He reassured me that the white streak in the seam would not be a problem. <<It is not my intent to cast dispersions on your LFS, but were this my tank/stand, I would want to talk to the manufacturer myself>> My Oscars are rapidly out growing their current tank, and I need to find some resolution to these issues. Now I'm more concerned about the stand than the seam. <<I’m racking my brain but can’t recall a similar situation in “my” more than 30 years in the hobby, but I will ask that Bob add his comments/opinions here (do check the daily FAQs). His exposure in the hobby/trade is much broader than mine, perhaps he can either allay or confirm your (and my) fears re this setup. Regards, EricR>>

Need Your Wisdom/Experience – 06/07/07 Hi Bob, I've made two replies to a query with the title "Aquarium Seam" in the 'sent' folder that I would appreciate if you could review and add your thoughts. The Chap who wrote in has a tank that has what appears to be a void in a seam that only "shows" when water is added to the tank. <Yikes... this very often is evidence of a poorly made seam, and a small air gap... that gets much larger with vacuum...> But the real puzzler (for me) is the tank's stand. The stand "only" supports the 115-gallon glass tank for about two-inches at "each end." Supposedly, the manufacturer and store owner through which the tank was purchased, are adamant this is how the setup was designed to be used. Is this feasible/practical in the long term? <Mmmm, is... IF the stand is otherwise (very) strong, planar and level... HOWEVER if it is not so in any of these three ways AND/OR some challenge (a big bump, earthquake, floor settling...) occur, can be HUGE trouble. In actuality on the rim/edge of most tanks "touch" the stand... and this touching area is all that needs to be Strong, Planar, Level... BUT there being "more" to the stand provides the stability and strength to this  setting-edge area...> I'm much interested in your take on this. Many thanks, Eric <Will do. BobF>

Re: Need Your Wisdom/Experience – 06/07/07 Hi Bob, I've made two replies to a query with the title "Aquarium Seam" in the 'sent' folder that I would appreciate if you could review and add your thoughts. The Chap who wrote in has a tank that has what appears to be a void in a seam that only "shows" when water is added to the tank. <Yikes... this very often is evidence of a poorly made seam, and a small air gap... that gets much larger with vacuum...> But the real puzzler (for me) is the tank's stand. The stand "only" supports the 115-gallon glass tank for about two-inches at "each end." Supposedly, the manufacturer and store owner through which the tank was purchased, are adamant this is how the setup was designed to be used. Is this feasible/practical in the long term? <Mmmm, is... IF the stand is otherwise (very) strong, planar and level... HOWEVER if it is not so in any of these three ways AND/OR some challenge (a big bump, earthquake, floor settling...) occur, can be HUGE trouble. In actuality on the rim/edge of most tanks "touch" the stand... <<This I understand...but I have always thought the tank "needed" to be supported around/along the "entire perimeter." Eric>> >Yikes! I see this statement now... A BIG NO to this proposal... Had mis-read that the entire edge was to be supported. I would NOT fill a container thus supported (only on both ends). BobF< and this touching area is all that needs to be Strong, Planar, Level... BUT there being "more" to the stand provides the stability and strength to this setting-edge area...> I'm much interested in your take on this. Many thanks, Eric <Will do. BobF>

And now having placed the images... This IS a stand that supports all edges... and for the stand-only sakes will likely be fine. HOWEVER, I would NOT fill or keep this tank with the apparent seam problem... Too likely to "pop". BobF

All Glass Tank, Perfecto Stand? 3/20/07
Hey All.  
<Hi, Eric. GrahamT with you this morning.>
Just a quick question.  
<Ok.>
I have a 75 gallon Perfecto tank and pine stand.  I would like to get a drilled tank, but use the same stand.  Would it be possible to get a drilled All Glass 90 gallon with the same footprint to fit on the Perfecto stand?  
<Don't see why not.>
My LFS says maybe, maybe not, only adding to my confusion.  They claim that there may be small enough differences in design, even though both tanks are 48 x 18, that may cause different branded stands not to fit.
<You are not likely to have problems, unless your current tank and stand combination has the tank sitting inside a lip. You *might* find that the AG tank has thicker glass, and won't fit as a result. Otherwise, I would think you'd be fine. This is really all that I can think of, and assuming your stand requires the tank to sit on top, then you would be fine anyway.>
Like always, You Rock.
<Aww, shucks.>
Thanks,
Eric
<Welcome.
-GrahamT>

Aquarium Support 11/8/04
I am currently working through my 2nd Year on Advanced Certificate in anagement of Zoo Animals and am currently having difficulty finding information regarding one of the Tasks that I need to complete.  After visiting your website, I was wondering if you had any information that would be relevant to my Task.
The Task requires me to describe support structures that would be adequate to support the following sizes of aquarium :-
a) 2m x 0.45 x 0.45m
b) 1.5m x 0.3m x 0.3m
c) 2.6m x 0.85m x 1m.
They require me to provide 400 words and I am having difficulty finding any information regarding this. Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail, and if you could possibly give me any information towards this task, I would be extremely grateful.
Karen Carter
<there is/was a book called the "Living Aquarium" published at one point in time by Crescent books/pub. Its available on Amazon.com and other booksellers. In this book are excellent specs on building and supporting many different types of aquaria. I would seek this inexpensive and delightful reference. Anthony>