How much will foam board compact?

Kaiser Tang · 05/14/2007, 07:58 AM

About how much will foam board (the 1/2 inch pink or blue insulation foam from Home Depot or Lowes) compact or under the weight of a 150. Basically, how much will the tank sink into the foam. I know that it's prety stout stuff. I figure about 1/8 of an inch or less. I have it under my 92 gal. now but can't meaure because there's a piece of trim covering it up. Any idea?

Hop · 05/14/2007, 08:20 AM

With or without a lower frame?

On my 125 I would guess that it is 1/8" at most with a plastic lower frame. On my acrylic 370 w/o the frame, I would say 1/16".

Kaiser Tang · 05/14/2007, 08:28 AM

I'm actually going to use it under my stand and under my tank. The stand s going to set on a tile floor and I wanted to reduce stress points there as well as under my tank. What I really need the calculation for is inder the stand. The base of the stand is made of 2x6s laying flat. Basically a large flat surface.

Hop · 05/14/2007, 10:34 AM

I would guess less than a 1/16". Hard to say without knowing the exact weight of everything in the stand. the PSI is relatively low. Just running an estimate, I think you would have between 3.6 and 4.5 psi. This is just a guess as I'm not sure of the exact detentions and what other equipment you would be running.

So you can take a sample of the foal and a 1"X1" block with a 4lb weight and see how much the foam compacts... It will just be a rough estimate though

Hop · 05/14/2007, 10:51 AM

Now if the entire bottom of the stand will be 2X6s and not just a frame, this would reduce the psi dramatically (sorry, I got confused reading your reply and envisioning it in my head). In that case, the psi would be less than 3.2psi...

Kaiser Tang · 05/15/2007, 06:40 AM

Thanks Hop, you've been very helpful!

Icefire · 05/15/2007, 01:57 PM

If the tank as a trim, dont put foam under the tank

Hop · 05/15/2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Icefire
If the tank as a trim, dont put foam under the tank

I would agree if you are using the manufacturers stand just for warranty and aesthetic appeal. However, when I put my 125 in the wall, I built the stand and was worried that the boards were not 100% true. So I did place foam under the tank and over the plywood. Sometimes buying lumber here is pretty tricky and it was something I did as a precautionary measure. It's been holding steady for over four years now

05/14/2007, 07:58 AM	#1
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	How much will foam board compact? About how much will foam board (the 1/2 inch pink or blue insulation foam from Home Depot or Lowes) compact or under the weight of a 150. Basically, how much will the tank sink into the foam. I know that it's prety stout stuff. I figure about 1/8 of an inch or less. I have it under my 92 gal. now but can't meaure because there's a piece of trim covering it up. Any idea? __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/14/2007, 08:20 AM	#2
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	With or without a lower frame? On my 125 I would guess that it is 1/8" at most with a plastic lower frame. On my acrylic 370 w/o the frame, I would say 1/16". __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

05/14/2007, 08:28 AM	#3
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	I'm actually going to use it under my stand and under my tank. The stand s going to set on a tile floor and I wanted to reduce stress points there as well as under my tank. What I really need the calculation for is inder the stand. The base of the stand is made of 2x6s laying flat. Basically a large flat surface. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/14/2007, 10:34 AM	#4
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	I would guess less than a 1/16". Hard to say without knowing the exact weight of everything in the stand. the PSI is relatively low. Just running an estimate, I think you would have between 3.6 and 4.5 psi. This is just a guess as I'm not sure of the exact detentions and what other equipment you would be running. So you can take a sample of the foal and a 1"X1" block with a 4lb weight and see how much the foam compacts... It will just be a rough estimate though __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

05/14/2007, 10:51 AM	#5
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	Now if the entire bottom of the stand will be 2X6s and not just a frame, this would reduce the psi dramatically (sorry, I got confused reading your reply and envisioning it in my head). In that case, the psi would be less than 3.2psi... __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

05/15/2007, 06:40 AM	#6
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Thanks Hop, you've been very helpful! __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/15/2007, 01:57 PM	#7
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	If the tank as a trim, dont put foam under the tank __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI