FishProfiles.com Message Forums

quick question about styrofoam (or cardboard etc.)

i have a 20G tank sitting on a homemade stand - it seems to be sitting perfectly flat - although i havent added any water yet

before i add teh water should i put a piece of styrofoam under the tank? or will i be ok with out it

if i should add something i have another question


does the styrofoam go under just the glass so that it is kind of sitting inside the black rim on the bottom on the tank or does it go under that black rim as well and then none of it really touch the glass

sort of confusing but i don't know how to explain

Under the black rim as well, and I would do it, even though the tank seems to be flush....just to be safe.

methalorange

The answer is YES

The tank may be sitting flat at the moment but when the water is added there could be a ever so slight twist.

Also it will stop 99% of any virbrations in the immediate area.

Yes go to the extrmeties of the tank.

I have a 20mm 3/4ins thickness under my tank but that is up to you. I do not like the thin sheeting just a personal thing

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hey,

The short answer is YES!!!!!
I learnt the importance of a sheet of styrafoam the hard way. I used to have a different 44Gal which was on a homemade stand that i hadn't got around to putting some foam under when i set it up. That was ok though until i moved the tank into a new room. One day a few weeks later i was minding my own business and all of a sudden heard a dripping noise. It turns out a very tiny little stone had eneded up there when i moved the tank and this had caused a large crack from front to back on the bottom of my tank, which was completely destoryed.

The foam should definantly be in direct contact with the glass!!

Well I was told to put styrofoam by 1 lfs sine my tank was a bit 2 big for the stand. Another lfs said to put a piece of plywood so I put plywood and no styrofoam. I think i shoulda put the styrofoam . My tank is not level any more, it is a tiny bit off. Will I have any problems?

Before I got into tanks, I remember reading about using styrofoam under the tanks. Then when I asked around on different forums, the main response was, most Americans don't use it. But in other countries styrofoam is highly praised and used for every tank. So, I think it's up to your preference. I choose not to use the storofoam and I've never had a problem.

If the tank was a wee bit too big for the stand, I can not for the life of me see how placing styrofoam could extend the dimensions of the stand and provide adequate support! unsupported styro would undoubtedly sag and fail.

Hmmm, maybe the tank is exactly the same dimensions as the stand and the LFS staff felt styrofoam might ensure the tank did not shift/slip off allignment with the stand?

I would have used the plywood and topped that with a sheet of styrofoam. On a black wrough iron stand, I used a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood spray painted black and then I topped it with a sheet of white styrofoam. I considered running electrician's black tape around the sides of the foam and placing black craft foam sheeting ontop to hide the white, but decided the white looked just fine as is.

methalorange

I have always used the foam and 20mm at that, and always to the extremerties of the tank..
It will take up any variations in the tank and stand also helps in stopping any virbrations.

Yet you will find many say it is totally unnecessary.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I couldn't find cheap styrofoam when I set up my 4ft tank, so I used a foam mat thing. I think it is supposed to be used as a mattress to put under sleeping bags when you go camping. It was about 6ft long and it was easier to cut than styrofoam.

What T/A said about sytrofoam under the tanks, most american don't other countries do. Judging by this forum so far that pretty much correct. I never did with my 75g, but I like the that idea of the sleeping bag foam idea