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gmc9sqm 
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 Topic: is my 225 gallon aquarium going to break??????
Posted: March 28 2012 at 10:02pm |
i'm in the process of setting up my 225 gallon acrylic aquarium, i finally got it all filled up tonight and stood on the end of it looking along the front, there is quite the bow in the front panel. the dimensions are 72x24x30 and its built out of 1/2" acrylic. its also reinforced around the top and bottom with 1/2"x1/2" square brace. Thanks in advance for any help. I am just trying to figure out if I need to drain this ASAP or if it's okay.
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BobC63
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Posted: March 28 2012 at 10:04pm |
Has it ever held water before or is it a new tank? The 225g I used to own was made of 3/4" acrylic, eurobraced around the top
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gmc9sqm
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Posted: March 28 2012 at 10:10pm |
i bought it from a guy that said he had it set up for a while but i never actually saw it with water in it. here is a picture of the bracing on the top, sorry its kinda hard to tell whats going on 
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gmc9sqm
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Posted: March 28 2012 at 10:12pm |
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Elite-Aquatics
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Posted: March 29 2012 at 7:15am |
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IMHO, 1/2" acrylic is to thin for a tank that size. How bad is it bowing? Are the acrylic joints good? Are the joints very clear or do they have bubbles or crazing going on?
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Aquarium Creations
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Posted: March 29 2012 at 7:18am |
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WOW, the top doesnt look like it has enough bracing, I would also agree 1/2 isnt thick enough for a 30"
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gmc9sqm
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Posted: March 29 2012 at 9:42am |
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It is bowing pretty good almost a 1/2 inch. There is a slight bit of crazing, is it bad to have crazing, or is a little bit okay?
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Tanuki
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Posted: March 29 2012 at 10:10am |
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Yeah I have a 180 and there is no bowing at all. I would be super nervous to have a 225 that is bowing.
Maybe fill the tank halfway, have salt tank below, and iguana cage above ;)
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laynframe
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Posted: March 29 2012 at 5:58pm |
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I would drain it! Sorry man that sucks!
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Elite-Aquatics
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Posted: March 29 2012 at 6:02pm |
Yes crazing is bad, that can mean a couple of things but usually means it is getting stressed. Sorry to say, but I would drain it its not worth risking and having 225 gallons on your floor 
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Tanuki
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 8:28am |
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or set up in garage
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Melissa
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 9:03am |
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So is there anything that can be done, or is the tank useless?
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arthuriv
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 9:54am |
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Would adding additional bracing on top help?
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BobC63
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 9:57am |
I am assuming that the bowing is in the middle of the panels
So I am not sure if addtional bracing would keep those midsections from bowing
Unless you added bracing to all of the seam areas in each corner of the tank? (maybe)
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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -
* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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Tanuki
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 10:23am |
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I know exactly what the tank is doing (my 75 did the same thing) and I would personally not trust it.
Could make a great sump though!
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laynframe
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 2:48pm |
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i would say more brasing wouldnt help. the damage has already been done and its kinda a time bomb. 30" high tank with 1/2" acrylic is crazy!
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bstuver
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 2:51pm |
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Being someone that had a tank seam burst and having 120 g of water dumped on my floor, I would not set that up. Really sucks and especially if the seller didn't inform you before hand but that's a lot of water!
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Jackie Stuver
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Aquarium Creations
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 6:54pm |
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I can build a custom tank if needed pm me...
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herrera
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 7:48pm |
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why would anyone design a 225g with 1/2" thick acrylic if it's not even safe enough to hold water??
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ReefdUp
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Posted: March 30 2012 at 8:31pm |
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To save money. Acrylic sheets get expensive, especially with the way gas prices are. I've seen it happen a good bit...someone wants a bigger tank but can't afford a professional glass aquarium, so they try their hand at making their own acrylic tank. They don't design it properly and skimp...and voila...a tank that won't correctly hold water. Not saying that is the case here...just that it happens quite commonly.
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