Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
That would depend heavily on the design of the tank. If it is a fully flat surface, you are probably right. Some tanks, however, have smaller bowl-like areas at the drain location in order to help funnel water to that point. In those cases, if water fills that bowl, expansion could cause a crack even if there is plenty of room elsewhere in the tank.
As long as there is room in any direction, the situation you describe would not result in a crack. The water will expand up if/when it freezes, just like in a plastic ice cube tray.