Toddlers climbing aquariums, will it tip?

[Brew12]

This is exactly the scenario my wife was imagining. So that would require the 146lbs brew calculated (about) or the 500+ lbs you calculated?

It would take 146 pounds if someone exerted straight force directly against the top of the tank.

It would take 500lb+ of force to push down on an open door to get it to rotate over.

This is to just get it to start to tip as well right? Not to complete the process?

Correct, the necessary force should be consistent up until it reaches the tipping point. Once it goes that far, no additional force is necessary. Being top heavy only means you need to tip it a smaller amount before it continues the rest of the way on its own.

For instance, if you have a book case with a lead weight on the top shelf it will take the exact same amount of force to tip it as if the weight is on the bottom shelf. The difference is that you may only need to move the book shelf a few inches if the weight is on the top for it to completely tip over. If the weight is on the bottom shelf you may need to push the top a foot or more to get it to tip the rest of the way over.

 

[BigJohnny]

It would take 146 pounds if someone exerted straight force directly against the top of the tank.

It would take 500lb+ of force to push down on an open door to get it to rotate over.


Correct, the necessary force should be consistent up until it reaches the tipping point. Once it goes that far, no additional force is necessary. Being top heavy only means you need to tip it a smaller amount before it continues the rest of the way on its own.

For instance, if you have a book case with a lead weight on the top shelf it will take the exact same amount of force to tip it as if the weight is on the bottom shelf. The difference is that you may only need to move the book shelf a few inches if the weight is on the top for it to completely tip over. If the weight is on the bottom shelf you may need to push the top a foot or more to get it to tip the rest of the way over.

ok so either way, my kid cannot generate 146lbs/500lbs of force in those fashions before they are wise enough to know not to do it lol. This was apparently very reassuring for my wife, although not quite enough apparently because she just tried to jostle the tank to call my bluff lol, needless to say i freaked out and asked her to please never do that again because I am paranoid enough....shes good now though. Thanks!

But i could definitely generate 146lbs of force. So if i hung from the top front of the tank (225lbs) it would tip? what about horizontal pulling force on the top of the tank? Like if i was on a ladder and started falling backwards and grabbed the top rim of the tank. Id imagine the tank/seams would likely fail first in all scenarios where the force is being applied to a portion of the tank rather than the stand anyway.

 

[Brew12]

ok so either way, my kid cannot generate 146lbs/500lbs of force in those fashions before they are wise enough to know not to do it lol. This was apparently very reassuring for my wife, although not quite enough apparently because she just tried to jostle the tank to call my bluff lol, needless to say i freaked out and asked her to please never do that again because I am paranoid enough....shes good now though. Thanks!

But i could definitely generate 146lbs of force. So if i hung from the top front of the tank (225lbs) it would tip? what about horizontal pulling force on the top of the tank? Like if i was on a ladder and started falling backwards and grabbed the top rim of the tank. Id imagine the tank/seams would likely fail first in all scenarios where the force is being applied to a portion of the tank rather than the stand anyway.

Odds are you could hang from the top of the tank just fine. You definitely won't tip it over doing that.

If you were falling backwards and forcefully grabbed the top rim of the tank you could pull it over. I'm not sure if the seams would fail first or not. Either way, its a mess!

 

[BigJohnny]

Odds are you could hang from the top of the tank just fine. You definitely won't tip it over doing that.

If you were falling backwards and forcefully grabbed the top rim of the tank you could pull it over. I'm not sure if the seams would fail first or not. Either way, its a mess!

haha okay. thanks again

 

[Myka]

Wouldn't even know where to get a tether strong enough to prevent 1000lbs+ from tipping over, but also, that would only tether the stand. The tank could still fall over, technically. I'm just playing devils advocate here because my wife is the devil, but also an angel........

Tethering the stand would probably calm her down a bit though. Have you done this?

Yes I have tethered smaller tanks on wobbly stands. You need to use bolt designed for the job (not weenie screws) and a steel bracket. You can get decorative brackets.

If the stand was attached to the wall, it would be impossible to tip the tank off the tank. The front glass would break before you could tip it over from hanging on it.

 

[mdrobc13]

Tether it...better safe than sorry for sure. You never know given physics and weight involved...top heavy tanks may give way and once it starts to go...the physics take over and it will sure fall vs stay put if un tethered. Kiddos too treasured to risk I'd say.

 

[Forsaken77]

haha okay. thanks again

You may want to find out how much it would take of pulling on the front pane of glass before the seams fail and the front panel dislodges.

I think that would be a more likely scenario than the tank tipping over if it is stable.

But you may have to contact the manufacturer for that.

 

[PhreeByrd]

You don't need much of anything to tether the stand to the wall. With one tether at each end of the tank, the tethers would need to resist a force of less then 80lbs on each. Fishing line could handle this. A "weenie screw" into a stud can be more than sufficient. A single #8 drywall screw with 1-1/2" penetration into the stud typically far exceeds that pullout force.

 

[Brew12]

You don't need much of anything to tether the stand to the wall. With one tether at each end of the tank, the tethers would need to resist a force of less then 80lbs on each. Fishing line could handle this. A "weenie screw" into a stud can be more than sufficient. A single #8 drywall screw with 1-1/2" penetration into the stud typically far exceeds that pullout force.

A using a fairly small version of these would be an easy install.

 

[tdowning]

Well, if it helps...I was working on my tank and I need to do so on a ladder....I have 150 gallon tank, 6'x 18" x30" tall and I slipped off the ladder. My under arms caught the rim of the tank on my way down and for a brief moment I was "hanging" on the tank until my feet found the ladder. My tank didn't even budge and but I did scare the poo out of myself in the process. I'm nearly 200 pounds so I'm sure your tank would be ok

 

[Jlentz]

I’ve got two 90s.

I’m more concerned with the kids getting into the sump areas.

Also. Toddler likes trying to pull frag rack magnets off. Play with flipper cleaner too.

 

[BigJohnny]

I’ve got two 90s.

I’m more concerned with the kids getting into the sump areas.

Also. Toddler likes trying to pull frag rack magnets off. Play with flipper cleaner too.

haha yea ive always been more concerned about the sump area as well, that is why it will have a serious lock. Thats hilarious about the frag rack magnets, hadnt thought of that. My niece scratched the heck out of my brother in laws tank with a mag cleaner, he was not happy lol

 

[Gahngoo]

Just to be clear, my kid isnt actually climbing my aquarium, shes only 5 months old. My wife however is officially freaking out about the idea of my aquarium tipping over onto our daughter. She has this image of her climbing up the front of the tank/canopy when shes older and tipping it over onto herself. I have locks on the door and don't let kids out of my sight, but still.

Can any of you math/physics guys out there tell me how much lbs of force (estimate, I understand there are many variables) it would require to do so?

Stand is 48.5" long x 18.75" deep x 40" tall
Made by 2x4s with a 2x6 top frame. Rocket engineer standard diy design

Tank is a 90g 48x18x24, sump is a 40g 36x18x17 about half full.
Canopy is 3/4" ply and 18" tall 5 sided plywood box, essentially

Tank and stand are level, across 4 joists up against a load bearing wall.

Thanks!

My daughter and her friends swim in my 180G. It's cool, but I had to remove the diving board because they keep knocking over my frags.

 

[Sleepydoc]

Don't argue with the wife. You can strap the stand to the wall.
Plus you really need to baby proof the stand doors and any cabinet that has any fish supplies.

This. I agree with others that the tank is extremely unlikely to tip, but adding a wall strap is a very simple thing to do and will give piece of mind to you and your wife.

Besides keeping your daughter out of supplies, etc, the other reason to toddler-proof the sump door is to keep her from dropping other ‘additives’ to your system.

Why not just teach the child that the tank is to look at but not touch?
By the time the child is large and strong enough to tip over a 90 gallon tank, she should surely know better.

The problem with this approach is you have to consider the consequences if the lesson doesn’t take. Would you trust this approach for teaching a child not to run out into the street? It’s great idea, if they haven’t learned the lesson you either have a major flood, or a crushed child.

 

[beaslbob]

little late and already solved but here is this old engineer's analysis

Bottom line a 90 pound baby would have to hang on the tank 75" from the front glass. LOL

woopsies some spelling stuff. water weight is lbs not lbs/ga, moment arm required to top should have been moment arm required to tip

 

[rosshamsandwich]

here's a thought, maybe keep an eye on your kid?

 

[Myka]

You don't need much of anything to tether the stand to the wall. With one tether at each end of the tank, the tethers would need to resist a force of less then 80lbs on each. Fishing line could handle this. A "weenie screw" into a stud can be more than sufficient. A single #8 drywall screw with 1-1/2" penetration into the stud typically far exceeds that pullout force.

It's the shearing force on a screw that's the problem, not pull out force. That's why you can't use screws to build beams, trusses, attach hurricane clips, and many other structural components. It's quite easy to shear a screw.

 

[Sleepydoc]

here's a thought, maybe keep an eye on your kid?

You don’t have kids, do you?

 

[BigJohnny]

here's a thought, maybe keep an eye on your kid?

Wow did you come up with that all on your own? that's like saying don't baby proof your house just watch your baby 24/7. No baby gates at the top of the stairs! Yea, that makes sense. Preventative measures are stupid, who wants to be extra sure their kids are safe.

You also didn't read the thread so maybe try that next time before attempting to say something smart.

Move along

 

[DSC reef]

here's a thought, maybe keep an eye on your kid?

I've been reading this whole thread and there's been great insight and information. Your post however is very unnecessary.