Bottom of frag tank burst

HankstankXXL750

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So I set up this 4 tank system on 11/18/2022 and it has been running flawlessly. This morning I beards a crash and discovered the bottom of one of the tanks burst.

Trying to get opinions on why. Want to determine if just a faulty tank, or poor stand construction.

I at first thought it probably had something to do with drilling it, but it did not break at the holes. The bulkheads are still there and the glass around them isn’t cracked or broken.

Looks like it happened at the edge near a corner. Wondering if a defect in the glass, or if it’s possible the stand bowed. It is 2x4 construction supported on all four corners with a vertical 2x4. Tank is 2’x4’x10” tall. I would think 4 corners supported should be sufficient, but guess I’m not sure.
 
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HankstankXXL750

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Sorry I’m such a rush to clean up I forgot to add pics. And yes. Brand new. Running since 11/18
 

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HankstankXXL750

HankstankXXL750

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No bottom support except outside edges? Could be the problem.
Possibly, but they have the plastic frames so even if sitting on floor the middle wouldn’t touch. Unless I would bow only until it makes contact. I thought framed tanks didn’t need center support. Only rimless?
 

exnisstech

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My experience has been when the bottom breaks its caused by insufficient or uneven support. I had it happen to a 55 gallon once. Being the slow learner I am I replaced it with another on the same stand. Well it broke also. It was in a rental house and fortunately my sister live in the apartment below. She was ticked but didn't call the landlord
 

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Possibly, but they have the plastic frames so even if sitting on floor the middle wouldn’t touch. Unless I would bow only until it makes contact. I thought framed tanks didn’t need center support. Only rimless?
because the tank has the frame, it does not require support other the edges. Even if on a solid surface like plywood, the bottom glass would not touch the plywood. Odd that it broke like that and not at the holes.
 
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HankstankXXL750

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because the tank has the frame, it does not require support other the edges. Even if on a solid surface like plywood, the bottom glass would not touch the plywood. Odd that it broke like that and not at the holes.
That was my thought. It is set up in the basement on snap together flooring on concrete. Didn’t expect much settling. I leveled in place to avoid twisting. However I didn’t add any legs on the 4’ sides. Maybe I need to add legs in the middle there to ensure it isn’t bowing along those sides.
 

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That was my thought. It is set up in the basement on snap together flooring on concrete. Didn’t expect much settling. I leveled in place to avoid twisting. However I didn’t add any legs on the 4’ sides. Maybe I need to add legs in the middle there to ensure it isn’t bowing along those sides.
For what it’s worth this is why I build any stand that will be 4 foot or longer with 2x6 top braces for cross support against sag. Rest of stand 2x4 is ok
 
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HankstankXXL750

HankstankXXL750

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And now someone will reply well Red Sea makes there stands out of 3/4inch plywood. Yea and now search this fourm for failed Red Sea tanks
I have 5 Red Sea tanks. Love them. 3/4” plywood or MDF furniture grade board is hundreds of times stronger than dimensional lumber. I see info on this, but wonder what other factors come into play? Did they get all the leveling legs in place right. Did their floor settle and they didn’t re adjust? Lots of open questions. When I assembled mine I leveled the stand in place. Then added tank and re leveled with the weight. Then added some water and did it a third time before putting the bottom in and filling complete.

May not make a difference, but I believe that the failures are truly a tiny percentage of their tanks. But I don’t know.
 

Dom

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No bottom support except outside edges? Could be the problem.
It is a framed tank, so I don't believe it is. If it were rimless, I would agree. Contributing factor? Perhaps. But not the sole reason.
 
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HankstankXXL750

HankstankXXL750

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For what it’s worth this is why I build any stand that will be 4 foot or longer with 2x6 top braces for cross support against sag. Rest of stand 2x4 is ok
Yeah probably should have. After all I’m a contractor. But since they are only 10”
Tall I figured it would be enough.
 

Dom

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And now someone will reply well Red Sea makes there stands out of 3/4inch plywood. Yea and now search this fourm for failed Red Sea tanks

Their stands are mad of 3/4 inch particle board.
 

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My experience has been when the bottom breaks its caused by insufficient or uneven support. I had it happen to a 55 gallon once. Being the slow learner I am I replaced it with another on the same stand. Well it broke also. It was in a rental house and fortunately my sister live in the apartment below. She was ticked but didn't call the landlord
You had 55 gallons blow out in an upper apartment? What type of damage did that cause?
 

Dom

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Yeah probably should have. After all I’m a contractor. But since they are only 10”
Tall I figured it would be enough.

I just completed a 125 build. The build took a month longer tan it should have because I was laboring over which material I would use to build the stand. My first choice would have been plywood. But I didn't have the resources to do so. I ended up using dimensional lumber (double 2x4s). No issues.
 

Dom

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I don't believe this is an issue with stand construction.

In all my years, I only had a bottom break once, and it just cracked as a result of trying to manipulate things with the plumbing. It cracked at the bulkhead and diagonally across to the front of the tank.

Is it possible that someone was fiddling with things?
 

FSP

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A tank this size doesn't need 2x6. The stand may have been sound initially, but the wood very likely moved given the nature of dimensional lumber and the fact that it was in a basement.
 
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