styrofoam under tank

serpentman · 06/20/2006, 07:39 PM

I am getting ready to put my tank together. Is it recommended to use styrofoam sheets between the tank and stand?

kirstenk · 06/21/2006, 12:28 AM

Yes for an acrylic tank.

hairymushroom · 06/21/2006, 12:36 AM

And for glass as well

rivank · 06/21/2006, 05:42 AM

Okay I'll bite. Why?

bllfish · 06/21/2006, 06:03 AM

Before you put stryofoam or rubber (2' X 2" pads that connect together & sold at home depot) down make sure you cut a large hole your stand where the drain & return lines pass through. This lets you get easy access to the bulk head fittings. I cut mine too small and it is a task to access the fittings.

kirstenk · 06/21/2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rivank
Okay I'll bite. Why?

For an acrylic tank the styrofoam eliminates any undetected high spots of the surface you are putting it on. No pressure points.

Indermark · 06/21/2006, 09:14 AM

I was thinking about using styrofoam in between my tank and stand but came across a small problem. My stand is not a sheet of wood on top. It has a brace in the middle and the tank sits on the sides and the brace I guess. Basically i can see the bottom of the tank if I would open the door where the sump is and look up.. My stand is not a solid surface. I hope that makes sense. So would i just use a small strip of syrofoam along the sides and the brace?

RYan

bllfish · 06/21/2006, 09:56 AM

Won't the weight of a fully loaded reef tank just crush the foam?

Konadog · 06/21/2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bllfish
Won't the weight of a fully loaded reef tank just crush the foam?

You would think that, but no. The weight is spread out so that it only crushes the small uneven bumps. Don't expect using this method to make up for a very uneven/bumpy top. You want it as perfect as you can get it without the foam, then the foam will take up any unseen imperfections.

szwab · 06/21/2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Indermark
I was thinking about using styrofoam in between my tank and stand but came across a small problem. My stand is not a sheet of wood on top. It has a brace in the middle and the tank sits on the sides and the brace I guess. Basically i can see the bottom of the tank if I would open the door where the sump is and look up.. My stand is not a solid surface. I hope that makes sense. So would i just use a small strip of syrofoam along the sides and the brace?

RYan

is your tank acrylic or glass? if acrylic it, the entire bottom should be supported.

if glass just place the foam on top of the stand set the tank on top and use a razor to cut out the middle portion if you want.

what I found that worked best for me was a 1/4 inch high density foam.

PrangeWay · 06/21/2006, 10:21 AM

I'm glad this was answered as I have a new acrylic tank arriving shortly.... but.

Don't, Don't, NEVER put styrofoam under a .edge supported glass tank (like an All-Glass), the manufacturer even tells you not to do this, and it will void the All-Glass warranty. My understanding is since the weight of these tanks is ONLY supported by that edge plastic it will compress the foam, and if the bottom glass hits that foam, it becomes load bearing which the tank is NOT designed for, and may cause leaks/fractures/disasters. This is also why most all-glass stands have that open bottom, so you can't make this mistake.

I believe there are some non-edge supported, flat glass bottomed tank. These I'd assume would need styrofoam.

Indermark · 06/22/2006, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PrangeWay
Don't, Don't, NEVER put styrofoam under a . edge supported glass tank (like an All-Glass), the manufacturer even tells you not to do this, and it will void the All-Glass warranty.

That is the type of tank that I have. Thanks.

Ryan

06/20/2006, 07:39 PM	#1
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	styrofoam under tank I am getting ready to put my tank together. Is it recommended to use styrofoam sheets between the tank and stand?

06/21/2006, 12:28 AM	#2
kirstenk 23.5 Degrees Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 5,531	Yes for an acrylic tank. __________________ KIRSTEN REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE Reefer stabs Reefer in back over quarrel. Current Tank Info: 150g, 58g

06/21/2006, 05:42 AM	#4
rivank Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Dakota Posts: 127	Okay I'll bite. Why? __________________ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends... Here's to those before us, those of us, and those after us............ Current Tank Info: 46 Gal Reef, 35 Gal FW, 125 Gal SW in the works.

06/21/2006, 06:03 AM	#5
bllfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 1,818	Before you put stryofoam or rubber (2' X 2" pads that connect together & sold at home depot) down make sure you cut a large hole your stand where the drain & return lines pass through. This lets you get easy access to the bulk head fittings. I cut mine too small and it is a task to access the fittings. __________________ "I fish by myself because lots of people don't like me, and the ones that do like me, well, I don't want them to know my spots." ><)))))*>--- Current Tank Info: 72 bow, 36" stand, 4 54W T5, vantec stealth fans, eheim 1260, mj 1200 & 2 Koralia #1 to WaveMaster Pro, CPR 24" Aquafuge HOB & 7100K PC, JBJ Arctica chiller, LiterMeter III

06/21/2006, 09:56 AM	#8
bllfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Stuart, Florida Posts: 1,818	Won't the weight of a fully loaded reef tank just crush the foam? __________________ "I fish by myself because lots of people don't like me, and the ones that do like me, well, I don't want them to know my spots." ><)))))*>--- Current Tank Info: 72 bow, 36" stand, 4 54W T5, vantec stealth fans, eheim 1260, mj 1200 & 2 Koralia #1 to WaveMaster Pro, CPR 24" Aquafuge HOB & 7100K PC, JBJ Arctica chiller, LiterMeter III

06/21/2006, 12:36 AM	#3
hairymushroom Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 315	And for glass as well

06/21/2006, 09:14 AM	#7
Indermark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Troy, Illinois Posts: 670	I was thinking about using styrofoam in between my tank and stand but came across a small problem. My stand is not a sheet of wood on top. It has a brace in the middle and the tank sits on the sides and the brace I guess. Basically i can see the bottom of the tank if I would open the door where the sump is and look up.. My stand is not a solid surface. I hope that makes sense. So would i just use a small strip of syrofoam along the sides and the brace? RYan

06/21/2006, 10:21 AM	#11
PrangeWay Duke of Monte Fisto Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 722	Foam I'm glad this was answered as I have a new acrylic tank arriving shortly.... but. Don't, Don't, NEVER put styrofoam under a .edge supported glass tank (like an All-Glass), the manufacturer even tells you not to do this, and it will void the All-Glass warranty. My understanding is since the weight of these tanks is ONLY supported by that edge plastic it will compress the foam, and if the bottom glass hits that foam, it becomes load bearing which the tank is NOT designed for, and may cause leaks/fractures/disasters. This is also why most all-glass stands have that open bottom, so you can't make this mistake. I believe there are some non-edge supported, flat glass bottomed tank. These I'd assume would need styrofoam. __________________ Dumbest Quotes Ever..... "Great color, great growth" closely followed by "all water parameters fine"