The Weight of Water - Tip 9 in the Water Series
The weight of water is heavy, it is often overlooked when the new aquarium is installed.
This powerful force must always be seriously considered whenever an aquarium is being installed for the first time.
A single gallon of water will weigh about eight pounds all by itself, but when the gravel and decorations are added to the tank, the weight will roughly average about ten pounds per gallon capacity of the aquarium.
A full ten gallon aquarium will weigh about 100 pounds, a 100 gallon tank will puts structural downward pressure of about 1000 pounds, concentrated in a very small footprint.
This is an important factor for the location of an aquarium.
There are very few supports made that will hold an aquarium stably and without structural breakdown over time, unless specifically manufactured to support an aquarium.
It is not an accident that most aquariums are only specifically guaranteed against manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship if it can be proved that the aquarium is supported upon an aquarium stand.
Although this may seem in the beginning to be a very expensive option, it actually should never be an option, it is a required piece of equipment for the stability of the aquarium.
Do not skip purchasing an aquarium stand, you may end up paying major renovation fees for sudden water damage later on.
The stand must be specifically designed to support the crushing weight of the aquarium and its contents in a proper and long-term manner.
That strong oak table or other piece of furniture may appear to be solid and strong, but quite often it will warp and bend under the weight of the water and the tank.
In other cases, the wood will absorb water and swell or otherwise create problems for the aquarium.
The result is most commonly a stress crack, where a minute shifting of the support will cause enough stress on the glass plate that it will crack and allow the tank to empty its contents.
The weight of water should also be considered when positioning the aquarium.
Always place it as close as possible to a structural wall.
Too many people place an aquarium somewhere in the house where the floor is not properly supported from moving as traffic passes the tank.
In these cases, the tank will be vibrated by the movement, The weight pressing down in a concentrated manner from the tank will allow the floor to move with every little vibration.
Take it from the experts, locate your aquarium on a structure wall and on a properly manufactured aquarium stand if you want to enjoy the system for many years to come.
This powerful force must always be seriously considered whenever an aquarium is being installed for the first time.
A single gallon of water will weigh about eight pounds all by itself, but when the gravel and decorations are added to the tank, the weight will roughly average about ten pounds per gallon capacity of the aquarium.
A full ten gallon aquarium will weigh about 100 pounds, a 100 gallon tank will puts structural downward pressure of about 1000 pounds, concentrated in a very small footprint.
This is an important factor for the location of an aquarium.
There are very few supports made that will hold an aquarium stably and without structural breakdown over time, unless specifically manufactured to support an aquarium.
It is not an accident that most aquariums are only specifically guaranteed against manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship if it can be proved that the aquarium is supported upon an aquarium stand.
Although this may seem in the beginning to be a very expensive option, it actually should never be an option, it is a required piece of equipment for the stability of the aquarium.
Do not skip purchasing an aquarium stand, you may end up paying major renovation fees for sudden water damage later on.
The stand must be specifically designed to support the crushing weight of the aquarium and its contents in a proper and long-term manner.
That strong oak table or other piece of furniture may appear to be solid and strong, but quite often it will warp and bend under the weight of the water and the tank.
In other cases, the wood will absorb water and swell or otherwise create problems for the aquarium.
The result is most commonly a stress crack, where a minute shifting of the support will cause enough stress on the glass plate that it will crack and allow the tank to empty its contents.
The weight of water should also be considered when positioning the aquarium.
Always place it as close as possible to a structural wall.
Too many people place an aquarium somewhere in the house where the floor is not properly supported from moving as traffic passes the tank.
In these cases, the tank will be vibrated by the movement, The weight pressing down in a concentrated manner from the tank will allow the floor to move with every little vibration.
Take it from the experts, locate your aquarium on a structure wall and on a properly manufactured aquarium stand if you want to enjoy the system for many years to come.
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