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AquaOne Cabinet starting to collapse

D

dino21

Member
Joined
17 Mar 2020
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351
Location
Derbyshire
Came to open the cabinet door to get the fish food out this morning only to find the door catching the trim above which then duly fell off revealing the top board beginning to collapse !

Was alway a but suspicious of this kind of modern construction for a heavy tank, though it has lasted 7 years .

Though seemimgly dry it looks like water has got in at some stage, though the seal the trim makes would hardly call it waterproof.

Been busy knocking up a similar height stand and will partially drain the tank and move it over.

Hopefully we can make a solid top board to replace the failing one, if the side panels are sound ?

The tanks an AquaOne 40cm cube.


002453.jpg
 
Good shout, that top is actually 35mm so would be a perfect fit.
That bow goes all the way across, so think it must be weight and age, no signs of moisture, the side panels appear sound so it seems repairable🤞
 
glad you noticed it and the tank is still on top!
can you believe they put tank cabinets together with that.
I have my 35 litre on an ikea kalax or whatever they are called. At least i know its pretty delicate and so fully reinforce before a tank goes near it. Back and top fully lined and sealed.
 
I don't know what I am looking at. Is that cardboard acting as support for something?! Seems crazy!
 
it is. you hit the nail on the head.
id imagine theres a special name for it as well?
if you broke open an ikea unit thats above the normal kitchen cupboard thickness, it is what you find.
Biodegradable? Yes. Just as well aye!
 
Bradders said:
I don't know what I am looking at. Is that cardboard acting as support for something?! Seems crazy!
Click to expand...
si walker said:
it is. you hit the nail on the head.
id imagine theres a special name for it as well?
if you broke open an ikea unit thats above the normal kitchen cupboard thickness, it is what you find.
Biodegradable? Yes. Just as well aye!
Click to expand...

Skip to 13.10in the video. I’m offended, but then again an Oase Scaperline 100 cabinet is nearly a grand and is made of particleboard…

Aquarists are used to paying over the odds for cheap cabinets. Sucks though, hope your fishies survived!
 
My tanks are (normally) mounted on B & Q kitchen units ** WITHOUT** the plastic legs. I assemble them then put pieces of 2x1 underneath in 3 or 4 places to lift the unit off the carpet. Height from floor to top of kitchen worktop is 780mm / 30 .5 inches. A darn sight cheaper than Branded aquarium stands and its easy to change the doors to suit changing tastes 🙂
 
Some of these "" Cardboard " filled united are not even cardboard. I've experienced some when I worked for a large national DIY company the carboard is replaced with.....................drum roll.......................... Glue soaked PAPER. I've even come across internal house doors where the filling is just thick stiff (glue soaked) paper.
 
Well not able to find any 35mm worktop when needed so had to make up a top using an old but flat kitchen cupboard door and some ply.
Its fitted with just 4 cam and metal dowels , though you do wonder how strong the two side supports containing the cams are , we had already replaced back panel which was a very thin 3mm sheet of hardboard with some 12mm osb.

Will give the cut edges a couple of coats of polyurathene before siliconing the edging strips back on to prevent any water ingress.

Have always made our own cabinets out of 18mm ply before, just that this one was a as new second hand complete tank and stand set up that fitted the space and was a bargain price.

002456.jpg
 
Dino when I look close at the first picture you posted about the failed edging trim something bothered me but i could not put my finger on it. But looking at the image again I get a gut feeling the glue used to secure the trim was'nt waterproof, so even splashes from water changes could possibly have helped unstick it.
 
That kind of corrugated board is truly only suited for making shelves or similar pieces look thicker at low cost. The same stuff is used for shipping some items - it’s really a lightweight packing material repurposed with a bit more reinforcement from the hardboard that sandwiches the stuff.

It is surprisingly strong, all things considered, but it is 100% unsuitable for use where there is ANY chance it will get wet & even waterproof glue wouldn’t help all that much.

I have a shelf unit made from the same kind of board. It’s easily 30 years old and has served very well but its feet got wet in storage. It’s still sturdy it is now in need of some serious cosmetic restoration on the bottom six inches of the side supports.

I was amazed to see what’s inside something that appears to be made from a solid material & it sure isn’t lightweight, though lighter than it would be if it was solid.

It should be illegal to use anything like it for any load bearing part of an aquarium cabinet.

Be interesting if a case could be taken to court on the premise that the item as sold is unfit for its advertised purpose.

I think particleboard is just as bad though it actually can be made reasonably water proof, though to do so requires enough effort & expense that it’s not worth doing unless you get a stand made of the stuff very cheaply.

(Stuff ought to be illegal to use for lower level kitchen cabinets too!)
 
Bill the fish said:
Dino when I look close at the first picture you posted about the failed edging trim something bothered me but i could not put my finger on it. But looking at the image again I get a gut feeling the glue used to secure the trim was'nt waterproof, so even splashes from water changes could possibly have helped unstick it.
Click to expand...

You are right !
Just been cleaning off some of the glue from those edging strips prior to refitting and the glue does seem to soften when soaked in water !
 
Fishfur said:
That kind of corrugated board is truly only suited for making shelves or similar pieces look thicker at low cost. The same stuff is used for shipping some items - it’s really a lightweight packing material repurposed with a bit more reinforcement from the hardboard that sandwiches the stuff.

It is surprisingly strong, all things considered, but it is 100% unsuitable for use where there is ANY chance it will get wet & even waterproof glue wouldn’t help all that much.

I have a shelf unit made from the same kind of board. It’s easily 30 years old and has served very well but its feet got wet in storage. It’s still sturdy it is now in need of some serious cosmetic restoration on the bottom six inches of the side supports.

I was amazed to see what’s inside something that appears to be made from a solid material & it sure isn’t lightweight, though lighter than it would be if it was solid.

It should be illegal to use anything like it for any load bearing part of an aquarium cabinet.

Be interesting if a case could be taken to court on the premise that the item as sold is unfit for its advertised purpose.

I think particleboard is just as bad though it actually can be made reasonably water proof, though to do so requires enough effort & expense that it’s not worth doing unless you get a stand made of the stuff very cheaply.

(Stuff ought to be illegal to use for lower level kitchen cabinets too!)
Click to expand...


Should just add that both the tank and cabinet are branded AquaOne products and still on sale today.
Aqua One Inspire 40 Cabinet Nappa Oak | Pets
 
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