Childproofing a Biocube lid?

[ZzyzxRiver]

I put my tank at ground level so my baby could crawl up to it. Now my baby is a toddler and has discovered that you can open the lid. See my stopgap solution below. How do you other reef parents keep things childproofed? Don’t suggest taking it off ground level—he LOVES watching the tank!

 

[KrisReef]

I would put it in a room where the toddler can’t get to it without adults being present. It makes me think of the warning label on the side of a 5 gallon bucket. If the baby drowns in the tank then I would expect you would leave the hobby after you get out of jail for negligence.

No judgement is needed yet.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Maybe install screws? It might be annoying having to unscrew the lid every time to do maintenance (then again youre alreadly getting on the floor to do maintenance lol) but I think it would be worth it.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Maybe install screws? It might be annoying having to unscrew the lid every time to do maintenance (then again youre alreadly getting on the floor to do maintenance lol) but I think it would be worth it.

It wouldn't look great, but you could get a child proof cabinet lock. It's basically a plastic strip about 8 inches long that sticks on one side and locks down on the other. Kids are smart tho. You'd have to hide it on the side of tank a little out of sight.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

As KrisReef said above, its a death trap, get it away from a young child

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

Ok, I used the same lock that I put on my oven door, only I used TWO for extra security: ain’t NOBODY getting this open without an adult brain. Now I just gotta figure out a more elegant solution to the feeding door—but that’s more of a problem for the tank residents than for my son.

 

[Idech]

Why can’t you just put it up and sit your toddler on your lap to watch the tank with them ?

A tank on the floor is a disaster waiting to happen. Anything could hit and break the glass, besides security issues for the child.

 

[Tamberav]

I found those toddler locks to not be very toddler proof, my kid could open them all by 2. Maybe it was by 18 months. You definitely don’t need an adult brain.

You definitely want to be carful because a toddler can still drown in that. I would plan on moving it at some point. Especially if/when they hit the throwing and crashing phase.

We bought a folding learning tower and use that with the tank on a normal sturdy stand. Fold it up and put away when not in use. It’s useful for other things too like activities and helping cook.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

Ok, the throwing and crashing phase I did not consider, and I have a very rambunctious little guy.

I think it’s time to upgrade to a bigger tank on a stand.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Ok, the throwing and crashing phase I did not consider, and I have a very rambunctious little guy.

I think it’s time to upgrade to a bigger tank on a stand.

What will you do with the biocube?

 

[Tamberav]

Ok, the throwing and crashing phase I did not consider, and I have a very rambunctious little guy.

I think it’s time to upgrade to a bigger tank on a stand.

Def worth it, kid will love the tank.

 

[exnisstech]

You said raising it up is not a choice but it's he only choice I see. High enough so the child can see it and not have to lay on the ground. This is assuming your child can stand. High enough so the child needs assistance if you want to let them help feed.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

Ironically just yesterday my husband was asking me “just for fun” where I would put a bigger tank if we got one. I think he was thinking Christmas presents for me? We have a convenient spot by the dining table that would probably fit a Biocube 32. I’d just transfer all the existing rocks over after planning a better aqua scape knowing everything I know now after four months of deep diving every post on this forum!

 

[exnisstech]

Ironically just yesterday my husband was asking me “just for fun” where I would put a bigger tank if we got one. I think he was thinking Christmas presents for me? We have a convenient spot by the dining table that would probably fit a Biocube 32. I’d just transfer all the existing rocks over after planning a better aqua scape knowing everything I know now after four months of deep diving every post on this forum!

I love having a tank by the dining table aka work table.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

marked out the dimensions on the floor, height of the stand, height of the tank…. I think we have a perfect fit. Merry Christmas to me—I mean my son! Who we got a tank for after he got excited about a goldfish he saw. LOL.

 

[exnisstech]

Kids and tanks are cool as long as they understand the rules for safety reasons. I'm grooming my grandson to be my maintenance man. He wants to help with everything and I have trouble working down low. He likes the sump better than the display.

 

[KrisReef]

This is headed in a better direction.

Don’t forget the climbing stage. A tank secured to the wall will help keep it upright during earthquakes and toddlers.

 

[ZzyzxRiver]

Husband didn’t like the location I chose. Chose a different location. I brought up that that location would dwarf a 32gal cube and we’d need a larger peninsula. No objections were raised.

How large of a tank you can put on the second floor without worrying about the ground being able to support the weight?

 

[BristleWormHater]

Husband didn’t like the location I chose. Chose a different location. I brought up that that location would dwarf a 32gal cube and we’d need a larger peninsula. No objections were raised.

How large of a tank you can put on the second floor without worrying about the ground being able to support the weight?

What if you just flood your whole house and turn it into a reef?

 

[BristleWormHater]

Husband didn’t like the location I chose. Chose a different location. I brought up that that location would dwarf a 32gal cube and we’d need a larger peninsula. No objections were raised.

How large of a tank you can put on the second floor without worrying about the ground being able to support the weight?

One gallon of saltwater is around 8 to 9 pounds. I wouldn't do anything above 100 gallons on my second floor just because of the water damage in case of a leak, but I guess It would depend on how old the house is and good the construction was.