Sunday night a train drove through my house!

[Hommeworks]

I covered my head with my blanket, then heard the news special report that a 5.2 quake hit Gilroy Ca. So there I am wondering how I will engineer my reef tank so I'm earthquake proof. I wonder if I brace the floor joists with posts attached to rubber footings. Like get about 6 pieces of car tread stacked underneath the piers and bolt to the joists.

[jjharrisx4]

You could consider strapping the stand/canopy to the wall joists, similar to the water heater. That may help. The problem I see is the LR structure. How the heck to we keep that from tumbling?

[nobby]

wow!! im glad to hear that your ok, its so comforting to know that we dont get quakes over here!!!
as for the rock structure milliputt will glue it all together so it will never come apart.
not too sure if you guys can get it though....
cheers
andy

[FishDaddy]

Glad to hear that you made it through that one ok. During the 5 years I lived in SoCal, I had the pleasure of many minor and a couple sizeable quakes, including the one that hit Sylmar. I was about 35 miles from the epicenter and it rolled me completely out of bed, the bed was rocking so hard. Fortunately we had no real damage or injury but I don't think a reef tank would have made it.

I don't know the answer to securing a tank for earthquakes. Certainly the tank should be as stable as possible and perhaps, some type anchoring of the stand to prevent toppling in minor temblors, but I don't think much would help in the big one I experienced. If the tank didn't topple itself, the water sloshing and rocks collapsing could still cause the tank to break. I can only wish you luck.
Dick

[beach bum]

That is one of the reasons I chose acrylic for the larger tank. Hopefully that will make a difference with falling rocks and the like.

I've never actually made it to the Garlic Festival over there, when exactly is it this year? I love garlic...

[fishinchick]

Didnt we JUST talk about this recently??

I was told that having the tank on a cement slab vs. the raised flooring that some CA houses have it about the best bet. It was also suggested by an engineer friend that I could secure the canopy and stand in a few different ways but once the tank gets to rocking..... water has a mind of its own.... anything can happen.

The rocks toppling could shatter glass, true. But they can ALSO split a seam on acrylic so dont get too secure with your tank choice.

The best thing you CAN do, however, is have good owners or renters insurance.
Granted that does nothing for my favorite coral or fish but its a danger we all face here in the land of sun and smog.

[cath]

I wondered about all of you out in CA! Glad to see you on the board today!

[GSM]

including the one that hit Sylmar

I lived in Sylmar when that hit! I was sitting outside (thankfully), waiting to go to school... My dad ran butt naked out into the street in a state of panic!

[FishDaddy]

GSM,
I was in San Bernardino when the Sylmar Quake hit. We were far enough away to avoid serious damage but plenty close enough! You were fortunate as that was a bad one.

I was in San Francisco just a couple of weeks before the one that took out a section of the Oakland Bay Bridge a few years ago. My brother-in-law had crossed the bridge just about an hour and a half before the quake hit!

We know why the truckers call the West Coast the "Shaky Side".
Dick

[oregon_gorge]

I lived in Hollister (near Gilroy) during my 5th-8th grade years. We had an old house that sat right on top of the San Andreas Fault. I had one of those old iron beds on casters. I would wake up and not be able to get out of bed as it had rolled across the room against the wall.LOL Wish I could sleep like that now!

As I remember, we has several 55's back then. (the old style w/ stainless steel frame) I asked Dad about bracing and he said "It never was an issue"

Anyway, hang in there and good luck with the braces

Chris and Pam