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07/23/2009, 11:10 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 33
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tank stand
can i put the fish tank directly on top of the stand without a plywood as base? use sytrofoam as base instead ? idea is to distribution the weight of the tank evenly as sytrofoam is softer. thanks
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07/23/2009, 11:50 PM
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#2 |
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Team RC Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 14,754
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If the tank has a rim on the bottom then styrofoam is a no-no. Ideally a rimmed tank needs support that is flat and level on all four corners, but ideally a flat surface for the whole rim to sit on. If the tank is rimless, either glass or acrylic you need a plywood base with a foam substrate.
What kind of tank do you have?
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-Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system |
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07/24/2009, 12:06 AM
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#3 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 33
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i have a glass base tank. the stand has 6 wood pieces width wise. but it has no plywood on top as base, just a styrofoam on the wood structure.
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07/24/2009, 12:10 AM
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#4 |
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Team RC Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 14,754
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If it's just a glass bottom panel (no plastic rim) then I would add a piece of plywood. Make it as flat and level as possible then add a piece of styrofoam on top. 1/2" or thicker is best. I don't know where you are from but Home Depot has the pink foam that works fine.
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-Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system |
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07/24/2009, 04:04 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 33
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question is can the stand hold the tank's weight without the plywood, just styrofoam on the wooden frame? thanks
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07/24/2009, 05:47 AM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 10,806
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without seeing your stand, it is impossible to say. will it be able to support the mass of your tank??? could be. most diy stands are overbuilt (i'm very guilty of this) can a stand without a solid top support a rimless tank safely? not in my opinion. As stated above - tanks that have (usually) plastic trim are designed to be supported on the edges only, and, in fact, should never have foam placed underneath. Tanks without trim MUST have support over the entire bottom, however because it is difficult to get a completely flat, level surface, to avoid creating pressure points that could crack the tank, most people put a thin sheet (1/4" should really be enough, IMO) of styrofoam underneath.
As you have described it, I would not be comfortable with a rimless tank on your stand as it now is. JM.02
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I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer |
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07/24/2009, 06:12 AM
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#7 |
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Retired Rebel Reefer
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Triad NC
Posts: 1,902
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If, as you state, your tank has a flat glass bottom with no rim then it must be put on a flat plywood (preferrably 3/4")base with a piece of the pink or blue foam that you can get at Lowes. Don't use regular open cell styrofoam (the stuff that the cheap coolers are made from).
If you just sit the tank on top of the 2x4 frame of the stand your tank will break. 
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Alan "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " Sir Winston Churchill praising those young RAF pilots. August 20th 1940 Click on my name for drop down list and select "Visit EnglishRebels Home Page" for my build thread. Current Tank Info: 60x30x24 200G AO custom glass tank, basement equipment room, 30G and 55G Fuges, LifeReef sump & 30" skimmer. |
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