how to support tank?

antjtc · 01/20/2012, 11:14 PM

Can anyone give me some tips on how I can support my 90 gal glass tank on my DIY wood stand so that it won't crack? The top of my stand is plywood and pretty level. However, there are a few sections a few inches wide where I can slide a shim a little ways in....maybe the thickness of 3 pieces of paper. I'd rather not have to stick shims under the tank and mess with cutting them off so you can't see em. Should I put a sheet of half in styrofoam under it or would the weight of the tank crush it? My tank is an Aqueon tank so the bottom edges are supported by a plastic frame, without any support under the tank itself except for a skinny plastic strip in the middle. Do I need to provide any support under the bottom of the tank (i.e. not the edges since edges already are supported by plastic frame.) Thanks for any advice....

danderso · 01/21/2012, 12:23 AM

I have an economy wood stand bought through my lfs that my 65 gal glass tank sits on. With the refugium light on and the main tank lights off I noticed some slivers of light coming between the top of the stand and the bottom of the tank. I can slip a business card between it in some places. Seeing how perfectly flat and straight the bottom plastic frame of the tank is I'm not worried at all. I don't know what these tanks are engineered for but my feeling is that they have some decent tolerances. If I had it to do it over, I would get some very thin foam (like 1/16th to 1/8th inch thick) to run around the bottom. What I think would work really good is the padding that goes under hardwood flooring. I think there is one about 1/16th thick. But once again -- I'm not losing any sleep over mine.

00Warpig00 · 01/21/2012, 01:17 AM

I have my 180 shimmed for 14 months now and no problems. My home made stand made of 2 x 6's is not quite perfectly square even though I picked the most true lumber I could find in the store. i have it shimmed on the front left half of the tank. Shims run every few inches. I have had no issues at all. Cuttung shims is easy just use a utility knife/box cutter.

Nick

JR719 · 01/21/2012, 02:38 AM

The main concern would be the corners. If those are good and only a few places around the 4 sides have gaps, no big deal. Foam would be good, nothing too thick, maybe 1/2" max if you even want to add that.

tebstan · 01/21/2012, 06:48 AM

I have foam under my tank because I didn't trust the stand. Another thread recently mentioned using a yoga mat, I thought that was an awesome idea.

01/20/2012, 11:14 PM	#1
antjtc Jon Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Clayton,California Posts: 222	how to support tank? Can anyone give me some tips on how I can support my 90 gal glass tank on my DIY wood stand so that it won't crack? The top of my stand is plywood and pretty level. However, there are a few sections a few inches wide where I can slide a shim a little ways in....maybe the thickness of 3 pieces of paper. I'd rather not have to stick shims under the tank and mess with cutting them off so you can't see em. Should I put a sheet of half in styrofoam under it or would the weight of the tank crush it? My tank is an Aqueon tank so the bottom edges are supported by a plastic frame, without any support under the tank itself except for a skinny plastic strip in the middle. Do I need to provide any support under the bottom of the tank (i.e. not the edges since edges already are supported by plastic frame.) Thanks for any advice....

01/21/2012, 12:23 AM	#2
danderso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Melbourne, FL Posts: 396	I have an economy wood stand bought through my lfs that my 65 gal glass tank sits on. With the refugium light on and the main tank lights off I noticed some slivers of light coming between the top of the stand and the bottom of the tank. I can slip a business card between it in some places. Seeing how perfectly flat and straight the bottom plastic frame of the tank is I'm not worried at all. I don't know what these tanks are engineered for but my feeling is that they have some decent tolerances. If I had it to do it over, I would get some very thin foam (like 1/16th to 1/8th inch thick) to run around the bottom. What I think would work really good is the padding that goes under hardwood flooring. I think there is one about 1/16th thick. But once again -- I'm not losing any sleep over mine. __________________ It's always sunny in my reef tank Current tank info- 7 gal nano with AI Prime

01/21/2012, 01:17 AM	#3
00Warpig00 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Schaumburg, IL. Posts: 621	I have my 180 shimmed for 14 months now and no problems. My home made stand made of 2 x 6's is not quite perfectly square even though I picked the most true lumber I could find in the store. i have it shimmed on the front left half of the tank. Shims run every few inches. I have had no issues at all. Cuttung shims is easy just use a utility knife/box cutter. Nick __________________ 180G - 5 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, Two Lined Sleeper Goby, Royal Gramma, Flame Angel pair, Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown, Pearlscale Butterfly, Australian Harlequin Tuskfish, Magnificent Foxface, Yellow Current Tank Info: 180G FOWLR Established 10/2010

01/21/2012, 02:38 AM	#4
JR719 Tang Cop Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: OK Posts: 2,240	The main concern would be the corners. If those are good and only a few places around the 4 sides have gaps, no big deal. Foam would be good, nothing too thick, maybe 1/2" max if you even want to add that. __________________ Can't sleep, clowns will eat me. America is the most grandiose experiment the world has seen, but, I am afraid, it is not going to be a success. Sigmund Freud Current Tank Info: 300 reef, Aqua controller, Deltec calcium reactor, Reeflo 250 skimmer, Icecap bla bla bla

01/21/2012, 06:48 AM	#5
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	I have foam under my tank because I didn't trust the stand. Another thread recently mentioned using a yoga mat, I thought that was an awesome idea. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.