what is the likly hood of a waterspill disaster?

[king_neptune]

i am fighting with my parents to let me put a 125 gallon upstairs.
they want it in a basement corner room where no one can see it.
because of the event that water will spill out 125 gallons all over the floor and ruin it. i am designing it so that if the power gets cut off the tank wont overflow into the sump and flood the house.
ok that argument is now voided.
but...now the fight is that the tank itself will break.
can this happen? do they spontaneously com bust and shatter?

 

[jemshores]

Anything is possible...but taking the precautions on your equipment is #1, which you have already thought out. However, I did the same and our 60 has sprung 2 leaks from the seams. Yes, it is a used tank, and I was home once when it happened and once just walking in the door when it started. We live in a stilt home so it ran out but still a huge mess to clean up...you are talking salt water here. However, laying down the stryfoam under the tank to resist imperfections, and safe guarding the plumbing/electrical issues is all you can do. How lucky or unlucky are U???LOL A tank just simply imploding or exploding is highly unlikely but just like everything else, would happen if given the right circumstances. Also, make sure your LR is placed right in your tank and leave room for cleaning. I had a corner that was tight and when I used my glass magnetic cleaner, I sort of forced it in there and scrubbed (close to a seam) and that's when that leak appeared. Maybe a little sand particle(s) wan imbeeded and got forced into the seam thus making a leak...

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/2937094
i am fighting with my parents to let me put a 125 gallon upstairs.
IMO I would side with the parents on this one. Flooding...very likely if you have a sump or protein skimmer...even canisters can get a bad gasket and flood on you. I had an overflow spring a leak on me last week. Leaks just happen. Besides that a 125 is a tremendous amount of weight, and I would much rather have it on a slab, then "hope" that my floor is strong enough to support it. Especially a 2nd floor. I mean you can put it on a bearing wall, but I still would not trust that to support...if it is on a first floor above a basement you can throw a mono post or two under with no real problems, but they (mono posts) just don't look that good in a living room regardless of the amount of paint. JMHO

 

[usirchchris]

Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/2937094
but...now the fight is that the tank itself will break.
can this happen? do they spontaneously com bust and shatter?
People win the lottery and get struck by lightning...and it has been said that some have spontaneously combusted. Is it likely...not at all, but hey the world could end tomorrow, and this would seize to be an issue...anthing is possible.

 

[snakeblitz33]

125g tank is approximately 1500lbs of weight. I side with your parents, not because of leaks, but because of weight.
Leaks just... happen. You can not avoid them. Eventually, any tank will leak, given time.

 

[jackri]

I had a DIY overflow box I built -- bubbles would accumulate over time and if they weren't sucked out would break suction and spill 3-4 gallons of the floor which happened a few times while I was gone for a 6 month stretch. Got a new bigger tank with built in overflow - problem solved.
Now... another thing is RO/DI water -- takes forever right? Well I fill 5 gallon buckets -- and I have forgot it before over night... spilled on the floor -- into the unfinished (thank god) part of the basement. But yeah anything can happen whether its up or down.. just the mess would be confined to one floor in the basement (where both my tanks are).
My placement is out of the sun (algae growth) and in the family room downstairs where we have room and hang.

 

[reifermadness]

I know what you mean. My parents won't let me jump off the roof wearing my favorite blanket around my neck like a cape.
The term "I'm designing it" to me would be the tell-tale sign. There's a lot of DIY projects that come off without a hitch however, your parents are right.. I wouldn't take the chance either.

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33
http:///forum/post/2937172
125g tank is approximately 1500lbs of weight. I side with your parents, not because of leaks, but because of weight.
Leaks just... happen. You can not avoid them. Eventually, any tank will leak, given time.
Weight isnt a problem. The tank would be specificly centered atop an 22 inch beam that spans the length of the room. With 8 inch support beams every 8 feet. The Joices that spar out to either side of the room from the beam are 2x12's on 8inch gaps...instead of the standard 12-16. Basicly the room was designed to hold a buss. Evin my dad and brother cant argue that. One is an engineer, one is master carpenter. And when they build or design something, its just that...."built"
But the leaky gasket possibility....I'm willing to back down and say that anything is possible. Its only a five year temporary thing anyways. I am moving out when I finish grad school(1 down 5 to go^^). I just wanted to have a centerpiece to the living room for everyone to enjoy. I suppose in the basement in a corner room can be my quiet place or something.
I cant wait to begin setting this up. Ill be posting pictures of the whole process!! Im really excited. Still gonna be at least 6-8 more weeks.

 

[culp]

the family room isn't always the best place for a aquarium. with people coming in and out. opening and closing doors. and loud sounds from TV easily scare fish. its best to have them in a room that is quite.

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by Culp
http:///forum/post/2937783
the family room isn't always the best place for a aquarium. with people coming in and out. opening and closing doors. and loud sounds from TV easily scare fish. its best to have them in a room that is quite.

You know what...yo are 100% right. I never considered the emotions of my fish. I was going to have it behind the couch so we could have the tank behind us when we watch movies. Thats to loud and flashy. Mabee they will like being in the smaller quiet room downstairs. Especial since its dark.
That settles it, they will be in the basement.