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Re: [APD] Securing Tanks for Earthquakes



Years ago I watched my 40 gallon tank sway during a brief intense 
earthquake.  I tried to hold on to it so it wouldn't topple, but, of 
course I swayed as much as the tank.  My conclusion from that was that 
the pendulum effect was the important factor.  If the stand is sturdy, 
not unusually high, there isn't much chance that it will topple unless 
the quake is so severe that sacrificing the tank is a minor concern.  
The tank seams don't seem to be particularly stressed in  quake.  So I 
don't worry at all about my tank in a quake.  What, me worry???

Vaughn H.
On Wednesday, February 1, 2006, at 06:56 AM, S. Hieber wrote:

> One problem with elastic suspension is knowing the resonant frequency 
> of the loaded assembly. If it's near abut 5-10 Hz, it's could move 
> even more in a quake than without. Now, ifyou coul get it to resonate 
> 180 degrees out of phase with the quake, well, then things could get 
> interesting. ;-\
>
> sh
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * It's new; it's fun; it's the New England Aquatic 
> Plant Society NEAPS, is a newly formed organization interested in 
> aquarium flora and fauna. http://www.ne-aquaticplants.com/
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Gordon McLellan <gordonthree at gmail_com>
> To: aquatic plants digest <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 9:15:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [APD] Securing Tanks for Earthquakes
>
>
> Jerry,
>
> That sounds like an interesting idea, giant rubber bands!
>
> I think the engineering term for it is "elastometric" ... I've only
> seen it used in very small scale applications; isolation of a dvd
> video recorder in the trunk of a police car, and smaller yet; the hard
> drives inside my "low noise" computer case... but perhaps it can be
> scaled up.
>
> One big question is, how do you test that solution?  Maybe someone on
> the list works in a a university with a seismic research lab, and
> could put a 10 gal fish tank on a stand, with rubber bands to the
> walls, for their next shake down test?
>
> The other thing, those rubber tie-downs seem to be really fragile ...
> the work OK for a few months, and then the rubber dries up or
> something, and next thing you know, its snapped or crumbling in your
> hands.  Perhaps its because I buy the cheapest ones I can, or maybe
> its just a flaw common to all of them.  So would it become another
> maintenance task to inspect, retension and replace those straps every
> few months?
>
> Gordon
>
> On 2/1/06, Jerry Baker <jerry at bakerweb_biz> wrote:
>> As is probably the case for a lot of people with tanks located along 
>> the
>> California coastal areas, one of my worst nightmares is waking up at 
>> two
>> o'clock in the morning to the sound of 1500 pounds of glass, sand,
>> water, and fish crashing down onto my floor in an earthquake. I was
>> surprised at the relatively small number of postings to this list on 
>> the
>> subject.
>>
>> It occurs to me that bolting the stand to the wall studs and having a
>> lip around all four sides of the stand is the way to go, but I worry
>> about torsion forces on the glass, as well as violent shaking, if the
>> stand is fixed tightly to the wall. I would prefer to have some sort 
>> of
>> rubber mount that could have some give to dampen the lateral motion
>> somewhat, but I'm not sure of anything readily available to function 
>> in
>> that capacity. I am actually contemplating some large rubber bands
>> (http://www.hardwarestore.com/media/product/218446_front500.jpg) and
>> attaching them with some considerable tension to eye bolts in the 
>> studs
>> and in the stand. Any ideas or opinions?
>>
>> --
>> Jerry Baker
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>>
>
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