Earthquake proof setup?

[Richard Periut]

Hi all,

I will be setting up a reef tank (60 gallons or so,)in the Dominican
Republic.

The place where I'll be, suffers from tremors every now and then. They
are not major earthquakes, but enough to knock things from the shelf,
and chandeliers to swing back and forth for 5 to 10 seconds-although
once we had one for about 30 seconds, maybe RS of 5.5.

My concern is how would a tank full of 60 gallons of water behave. Will
I expect some water to spill, or worse like a cracked glass and a
disaster from the water's inertia? I may be able to find out in which
direction the land usually shakes, with respect to the house, if that's
important.

I appreciate any past experiences and further advice.

TIA,

Richard

















--
"..A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava
beans and a nice chianti..."

Hannibal "The Cannibal"

Silence Of The Lambs 1991

[Charlie Spitzer]

"Richard Periut" > wrote in message
...
> Hi all,
>
> I will be setting up a reef tank (60 gallons or so,)in the Dominican
> Republic.
>
> The place where I'll be, suffers from tremors every now and then. They
> are not major earthquakes, but enough to knock things from the shelf,
> and chandeliers to swing back and forth for 5 to 10 seconds-although
> once we had one for about 30 seconds, maybe RS of 5.5.
>
> My concern is how would a tank full of 60 gallons of water behave. Will
> I expect some water to spill, or worse like a cracked glass and a
> disaster from the water's inertia? I may be able to find out in which
> direction the land usually shakes, with respect to the house, if that's
> important.
>
> I appreciate any past experiences and further advice.
>
> TIA,
>
> Richard

strap it to the studs in the wall behind the tank. most common failure is
that a shake causes it to walk across the floor and fall off the stand.

[Richard Periut]

Charlie Spitzer wrote:
> "Richard Periut" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I will be setting up a reef tank (60 gallons or so,)in the Dominican
>>Republic.
>>
>>The place where I'll be, suffers from tremors every now and then. They
>>are not major earthquakes, but enough to knock things from the shelf,
>>and chandeliers to swing back and forth for 5 to 10 seconds-although
>>once we had one for about 30 seconds, maybe RS of 5.5.
>>
>>My concern is how would a tank full of 60 gallons of water behave. Will
>>I expect some water to spill, or worse like a cracked glass and a
>>disaster from the water's inertia? I may be able to find out in which
>>direction the land usually shakes, with respect to the house, if that's
>>important.
>>
>>I appreciate any past experiences and further advice.
>>
>>TIA,
>>
>>Richard
>
>
> strap it to the studs in the wall behind the tank. most common failure is
> that a shake causes it to walk across the floor and fall off the stand.
>
>

I'm trying to imagine how I fasten the tank to the straps? You mean like
a girdle around the top of the tank?

TIA,

Richard

--
"..A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava
beans and a nice chianti..."

Hannibal "The Cannibal"

Silence Of The Lambs 1991

[Charlie Spitzer]

"Richard Periut" > wrote in message
...
> Charlie Spitzer wrote:
> > "Richard Periut" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>Hi all,
> >>
> >>I will be setting up a reef tank (60 gallons or so,)in the Dominican
> >>Republic.
> >>
> >>The place where I'll be, suffers from tremors every now and then. They
> >>are not major earthquakes, but enough to knock things from the shelf,
> >>and chandeliers to swing back and forth for 5 to 10 seconds-although
> >>once we had one for about 30 seconds, maybe RS of 5.5.
> >>
> >>My concern is how would a tank full of 60 gallons of water behave. Will
> >>I expect some water to spill, or worse like a cracked glass and a
> >>disaster from the water's inertia? I may be able to find out in which
> >>direction the land usually shakes, with respect to the house, if that's
> >>important.
> >>
> >>I appreciate any past experiences and further advice.
> >>
> >>TIA,
> >>
> >>Richard
> >
> >
> > strap it to the studs in the wall behind the tank. most common failure
is
> > that a shake causes it to walk across the floor and fall off the stand.
> >
> >
>
> I'm trying to imagine how I fasten the tank to the straps? You mean like
> a girdle around the top of the tank?
>
> TIA,
>
> Richard

that's one way. another is to fasten the stand to the wall, and put a 1" lip
on the top of the stand such that it will prevent the tank from sliding off.

[Richard Reynolds]

> I'm trying to imagine how I fasten the tank to the straps? You mean like
> a girdle around the top of the tank?

call your insurance company, even in the US, they will have access to a bracket you can
buy(at least mine sold it to me) to strap your tank down, I have one on my 125 for when ca
becomes an island :)

one side gets mounted to the stud another gets mounted to the tank, and a 3rd goes between
the 2.

--
Richard Reynolds

[Steve \Srfmon\]

Richard, I was wondering the same thing. Living in California you just
never know.
The last couple of earthquakes we've had that were strong enough to wake me
up I ran to the tank & held it. Forget the family they'll be alright!
So what insurance company provides those braces. I'm interested now.
Steve

"Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
news:52Oeb.36580$gv5.5575@fed1read05...
> > I'm trying to imagine how I fasten the tank to the straps? You mean like
> > a girdle around the top of the tank?
>
> call your insurance company, even in the US, they will have access to a
bracket you can
> buy(at least mine sold it to me) to strap your tank down, I have one on my
125 for when ca
> becomes an island :)
>
> one side gets mounted to the stud another gets mounted to the tank, and a
3rd goes between
> the 2.
>
> --
> Richard Reynolds
>
>
>

[Richard Reynolds]

> > call your insurance company, even in the US, they will have access to a
> bracket you can
> > buy(at least mine sold it to me) to strap your tank down, I have one on my
^^^ :)

> 125 for when ca
> > becomes an island :)
> >
> > one side gets mounted to the stud another gets mounted to the tank, and a
> 3rd goes between
> > the 2.
> Richard, I was wondering the same thing. Living in California you just
> never know.
> The last couple of earthquakes we've had that were strong enough to wake me
> up I ran to the tank & held it. Forget the family they'll be alright!

there was no way i was going to even attempt to hold up my 125
I am in san diego, and my 150 is newer than the last medium earthquake, I have no idea
what will happen when we have a good one.

> So what insurance company provides those braces. I'm interested now.

hehe yea right provides, not a chance try sells :) and even at that its usually a 3rd
party sale, every now and then HomeDepot has these "earthquake sales" where they sell
supplies for e-quake preparness and they might even have them there. I would think every
insurance co at the least has access to one.

> Steve


--
Richard Reynolds

[Charlie Spitzer]

you're going to hold 500-2000 lbs? if it were me, i'd get out of the way
rather than risk being squashed flat. of course, it's been a long time since
we had a shaker here in arizona.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

"Steve "Srfmon"" > wrote in message
...
> Richard, I was wondering the same thing. Living in California you just
> never know.
> The last couple of earthquakes we've had that were strong enough to wake
me
> up I ran to the tank & held it. Forget the family they'll be alright!
> So what insurance company provides those braces. I'm interested now.
> Steve
>
> "Richard Reynolds" > wrote in message
> news:52Oeb.36580$gv5.5575@fed1read05...
> > > I'm trying to imagine how I fasten the tank to the straps? You mean
like
> > > a girdle around the top of the tank?
> >
> > call your insurance company, even in the US, they will have access to a
> bracket you can
> > buy(at least mine sold it to me) to strap your tank down, I have one on
my
> 125 for when ca
> > becomes an island :)
> >
> > one side gets mounted to the stud another gets mounted to the tank, and
a
> 3rd goes between
> > the 2.
> >
> > --
> > Richard Reynolds
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Richard Periut]

Charlie Spitzer wrote:
> "Richard Periut" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Charlie Spitzer wrote:
>>
>>>"Richard Periut" > wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi all,
>>>>
>>>>I will be setting up a reef tank (60 gallons or so,)in the Dominican
>>>>Republic.
>>>>
>>>>The place where I'll be, suffers from tremors every now and then. They
>>>>are not major earthquakes, but enough to knock things from the shelf,
>>>>and chandeliers to swing back and forth for 5 to 10 seconds-although
>>>>once we had one for about 30 seconds, maybe RS of 5.5.
>>>>
>>>>My concern is how would a tank full of 60 gallons of water behave. Will
>>>>I expect some water to spill, or worse like a cracked glass and a
>>>>disaster from the water's inertia? I may be able to find out in which
>>>>direction the land usually shakes, with respect to the house, if that's
>>>>important.
>>>>
>>>>I appreciate any past experiences and further advice.
>>>>
>>>>TIA,
>>>>
>>>>Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>strap it to the studs in the wall behind the tank. most common failure
>>
> is
>
>>>that a shake causes it to walk across the floor and fall off the stand.
>>>
>>

Thanks all for the advice.

But I still have an issue with the land shaking parallel to the tank's
length. Will the water's inertia break the glass? Should I opt for an
acrylic tank?

TIA,

Richard



--
"..A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava
beans and a nice chianti..."

Hannibal "The Cannibal"

Silence Of The Lambs 1991

[Charlie Spitzer]

"Richard Periut" > wrote in message
...
> Charlie Spitzer wrote:
> > "Richard Periut" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>Charlie Spitzer wrote:
> >>
> >>>"Richard Periut" > wrote in message
> ...
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Hi all,
> >>>>
> >>>>I will be setting up a reef tank (60 gallons or so,)in the Dominican
> >>>>Republic.
> >>>>
> >>>>The place where I'll be, suffers from tremors every now and then. They
> >>>>are not major earthquakes, but enough to knock things from the shelf,
> >>>>and chandeliers to swing back and forth for 5 to 10 seconds-although
> >>>>once we had one for about 30 seconds, maybe RS of 5.5.
> >>>>
> >>>>My concern is how would a tank full of 60 gallons of water behave.
Will
> >>>>I expect some water to spill, or worse like a cracked glass and a
> >>>>disaster from the water's inertia? I may be able to find out in which
> >>>>direction the land usually shakes, with respect to the house, if
that's
> >>>>important.
> >>>>
> >>>>I appreciate any past experiences and further advice.
> >>>>
> >>>>TIA,
> >>>>
> >>>>Richard
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>strap it to the studs in the wall behind the tank. most common failure
> >>
> > is
> >
> >>>that a shake causes it to walk across the floor and fall off the stand.
> >>>
> >>
>
> Thanks all for the advice.
>
> But I still have an issue with the land shaking parallel to the tank's
> length. Will the water's inertia break the glass? Should I opt for an
> acrylic tank?
>
> TIA,
>
> Richard

no. it will slop over rather than break.

[CapFusion]

"Charlie Spitzer" > wrote in message
...
> you're going to hold 500-2000 lbs? if it were me, i'd get out of the way
> rather than risk being squashed flat. of course, it's been a long time
since
> we had a shaker here in arizona.
>

Hold the tank firmly before it really tilt over. If it mid-tilt, just let it
fall or die with that tank and all of it content.

CapFusion,...

[Steve \Srfmon\]

> Hold the tank firmly before it really tilt over. If it mid-tilt, just let
it
> fall or die with that tank and all of it content.

Bingo! If it started to tip too far , I'd be out of there. I was just
trying to keep it settled.

I was thinking about maybe trying to use some of that steel band that get
placed around water heaters.
Would that work?
Steve


"CapFusion" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Charlie Spitzer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > you're going to hold 500-2000 lbs? if it were me, i'd get out of the way
> > rather than risk being squashed flat. of course, it's been a long time
> since
> > we had a shaker here in arizona.
> >
>
> Hold the tank firmly before it really tilt over. If it mid-tilt, just let
it
> fall or die with that tank and all of it content.
>
> CapFusion,...
>
>

[CapFusion]

> I was thinking about maybe trying to use some of that steel band that get
> placed around water heaters.
> Would that work?
> Steve


Using those steel band to hold the heater is another method but would not
look too good with the tank. But would [maybe] compliant with earthquake
code [I think].

This topic was brought up before. Somone mention about right angle medal
that have two hole on each end where you can screw to the wall stud and to
the side corner of your tank shelf or stand.

Note:
Minor earthquake, this may help but as for sizable trumor it may not help at
all. The wall may fall and pull the tank with it.

CapFusion,...