What do you suppose would happen to my glass fishtanks in the event of an earthquake say 7.0 on the rictor scale? (These are full of water and fish). What about a smaller earthquake? I imagine an acrylic tank would be ok. Maybe this is an advantage to acrylic? Has anyone had experiences with their fishtanks in an earthquake? Did your tank(s) hold up?
My glass ones are: one 55gal, one 38gal, one 45-50hex, and one 10gal if it makes a difference.
I also have 3 med/small acrylic tanks but I would think those would be ok, don't you?
Any imput is welcome.
(I'm curious on this matter and want to be prepared for the possible if not unlikely event of a natural disaster)
2007-07-22 17:38:07 · 6 answers · asked by Ash 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
We had a earthquake in hawaii and my 29gallon wasnt damaged it was around 6.5.
It mostly depends on the stand you chose mine is a long low table with a mini cabnet in the middle and its also wood.
So yes your fish tank will have no harm, but your fish itself might die from the blackout so you might want to have a backup generator or power suply of some sort.
Try put your aquarium on your recovery list if they get damage of some sort so the insurance company should pay for it and get you a new one.
Hope this helps
WT
2007-07-22 17:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
A lot would depend on how deep the epicenter, how close you are to that, what the [I forgot what they are called] wavelength of the vibrations are and all that. Glass tanks may disintegrate, glass shatter, come unglued from their corner strips. They might also slide off of the surface that are sitting on (if a quake can move a fully loaded refrigeration, a fish tank is gonna be nothing). Or the thing your tanks are sitting on could collapse or tip over. Or something else in the room may come hurling into your tanks shattering them on impact. Some folks in one of my fish forums lived around the Northridge quake area and they said that their acrylic tanks shattered from the whatever (harmonic?) vibrations so even acrylic tanks aren't failsafe. If you're sitting almost ontop of the epicenter, and the vibration are real real strong, your building probably will sustain enough damage that your fish tanks are not going to be your primo concern. If you're lucky enough not to sustain much structural damage but your tanks are damaged, get your fish into a bucket temporarily (keep fish buckets close to your tanks). And as much as I cherish and care about all critters, if the earthquake is bad enough to do serious damage to your tanks, make sure you and your friends/family are safe and have their survival gear etc., don't worry about the fish--the fish can be replaced (yeh, I know, I have fish I'd feel real sad about losing but if it can't to a choice between them and my people...). You know, even after the actual quake, there's that period when utilities won't be working, food will be limited, water will be limited, etc. and you and yours will have to make it through that until everything gets back up and running sufficiently to live semi-regularly again. There won't be a lot of extra clean water to use for the fish since most potable water will need to be reserved for drinking. I'd say, just make sure the fishtank and furniture is as secure as possible, that things in the room are securely stable. And pray it never happens.
2007-07-23 01:44:16 · answer #2 · answered by Inundated in SF 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you do end up in an earthquake stay the hell away from your fish tanks and don't go near them until your absolutely sure that the quakes have stopped. You don't want to end up with a piece up glass sticking out of your anything that could sting. Also if you get tremors you might want to put a filter and heater in one of those 55L plastic tubs and put the lid on. draining the tanks and placing them on the floor on a towel would help save them if your lucky enough to get an early warning........ i agree with most of the other answers your larger tanks are not very likely to survive an earthquake 7 on the richter scale (in less than a million pieces) im not sure about your smaller ones but i fear greatly for their safety. I hope you dont ever have to worry about an earthquake if you do get an earthquake stop drop and roll.........wait no ignore me thats for floods of volcanic ash storms?
hope your all well and this helps someone.
2007-07-23 05:07:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would be more concerned about bigger glass tanks and hex tanks. The problem is that they are already under extreme pressure from the water. Certainly all the vibrations can't be good for it. The glass could either crack, or more likely, separate from the corner sealant. That would really suck... that is a good reason to buy acrilic, though I don't think it will save the fish too much stress.
Nosoop4u
2007-07-23 00:54:22 · answer #4 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We don't really have earthquakes here (they happen but very very rarely) so I have never had to see the impact one would have on an aquarium. I think they would be fine in a small earthquake, you just need to make sure all of your stands are stable.
2007-07-23 00:49:56 · answer #5 · answered by Jay 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if your in a 7.0 earthqauke your tanks will be the last thing on your mind, except for theyre use as drinking water. somethign about having 2 walls and a ceiloing on top of you and your kids for a day and a half makes you give a **** less about your tank
2007-07-23 00:56:58 · answer #6 · answered by michael_j_p_42503 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋