 |
With
glass tanks, nonlevel
surfaces must be
avoided at all costs.
Acrylic is more forgiving,
but should be treated
with the same respect.
Stresses caused by
uneven support can
cause warpage and
leaks.
|
|
| |
STEEL
SUPPORT
All
ATM Steel Stands are
Powder Coated before
they leave our facility.
What
is Powder Coating?
Powder coating is a dry finished process, using finely ground particles of pigment
and resin, which are electro-statically charged and sprayed onto a part to be
coated. The charged particles adhere to the parts until melted and fused into
a tough, even coating through the application of heat and energy.
Humidity
Resistance
Water is often linked to coating and adhesion failures. Pure water, as liquid
vapor can degrade the coating or the coating-substrate interface. Furthermore,
water as a vehicle for other chemical substances can accelerate coating degradation.
How well a coating resists the effects of exposure to controlled humidity (pure
water) can be a good indicator of coating service life. Two typical humidity-testing
techniques are the closed cabinet in which the test panels are exposed to 100%
relative humidity @ 100 degrees F and the Cleveland Condensing Cabinet which
subjects test panels at ambient temperatures to condensing humidity. Failure
is determined by observation of blistering, loss of adhesion, film undercut
or significant changes in appearance.
|
|
Salt
Spray Resistance
Salt Spray fog testing evaluates coating resistance to one type of corrosive
environment. Conditions of test for salt spray resistance vary greatly.
These conditions are often specified by the end user and may require
different chemical reagents, concentrations, temperatures, and or test-cycles.
Note:
Results from any specific salt spray
condition seldom correlate to results
from other test conditions or results
from natural environmental exposure.
During
Salt Spray testing scribed or unscribed
panels are are placed in a salt fog
cabinet and examined periodically
for deterioration. Usually failure
is determined by observation of blistering,
loss of adhesion, film undercut or
significant changes in appearance.
Aquariums
Custom Coral Inserts
Life Support
System
Cabinetry
|
|
 |
As
a rule of thumb, aquariums filled
with saltwater,
sand, and rocks weigh
approximately 10 pounds per gallon,
not counting the stand they’re
sitting on. For example, a filled
50-gallon tank would be expected
to weigh about 500 pounds. The tank
and stand or other supporting structure
must hold up this mass evenly. For
a stand with individual legs – as
opposed to on-piece, flat-bottomed
cabinets
I strongly encourage
you to provide a broad, waterproof
underpinning between the legs and
floor. This might be as simple as
a treated piece of plywood or 1-inch
planks. Whatever you use, this is
meant to spread out and equalize
the tank’s weight over a larger
area than the feet of the stand.
It also enables easier leveling,
an important consideration. This
recommendation is not only for wooden
floors, concrete
floors can be surprisingly uneven.
|
|
We take pride in our craftsmanship
and all cabinetry is
guarantee to your satisfaction.
|
|
