styrofoam under tank?

[hardb0iled]

The stand will be square (close to 90 deg as possible) and level when I'm done...
Now where is the best place to get the styrofoam sheets that big(72x24)? I am guessing home depot... lol

MFK ROCKS!!!

It may appear level, but what if its out by say 3-5mm at one end, or your tank maker made the tank on a surface with a 5mm variance from one corner to the other so the tank is not exactly square or the floor you sit the tank and stand on is not exactly level, or the wood the stand is made from warps due to humidity or temperature changes?

You put your tank on the stand under any of these circumstances, fill it with water and that 5mm variance has to go somewhere and the only point that will give will either be the silicon in the tank seams or the glass If your lucky the silicon will absorb the difference without placing too much strain on the joint -but if your not lucky or the differnce is greater than 5mm, then your in trouble.

...unless of course you have foam between the tank and stand

I have seen tanks let go from this, believe me its worth it for the piece of mind!

 

[Plumber]

I use cork on all my tanks. It makes up for any imperfections in the stand yet holds up very well. You can get rolls of it in various thicknesses at most craft and hobby stores for cheap. It may never happen (or it might) but it doesn't take much of an imperfection on your stand to create an unstable tank or make a pressure point that may or may not result in your tank leaking, cracking, or worse. Why not spend another few bucks for peace of mind? I say this because I know what it's like to come home and find 150 gal. of water all over the place and ALL FISH DEAD!

 

[toxicfish]

I agree with you 100% on that... I will deffently put foam between it

I know there will be a small variance from one end to another cause of the wood and warpage. I could always make a welded stand out of 1/4 3x3 steel angle Iron with leveling pads at work and it would always be square. I make these stands all the time and they are mostly within 100 thousand of an inch. But I want to do it with wood your way hardbOiled cuz it looks better

 

[toxicfish]

I use cork on all my tanks. It makes up for any imperfections in the stand yet holds up very well. You can get rolls of it in various thicknesses at most craft and hobby stores for cheap. It may never happen (or it might) but it doesn't take much of an imperfection on your stand to create an unstable tank or make a pressure point that may or may not result in your tank leaking, cracking, or worse. Why not spend another few bucks for peace of mind? I say this because I know what it's like to come home and find 150 gal. of water all over the place and ALL FISH DEAD!

yeah that would suck

 

[Plumber]

yeah that would suck

Ya it did. Gotta figure not only the tank and fish, but also the water damage. For me it was hardwood flooring, sheetrock, paint, etc. I think I ended up spending about a grand on repairs plus a new tank and fish. Couldn't get the smell of dead fish water out of my house for weeks. It sucked bad.

 

[toxicfish]

Ya it did. Gotta figure not only the tank and fish, but also the water damage. For me it was hardwood flooring, sheetrock, paint, etc. I think I ended up spending about a grand on repairs plus a new tank and fish. Couldn't get the smell of dead fish water out of my house for weeks. It sucked bad.

I dont want to do that, I just put down new hardwood flooring and moldings about 4 months ago

 

[KNH]

Home Depot carries the foam board that I used. You can use either the blue or pink. Foam board is cheap insurance to help your tank last a long time.
KNH

 

[toxicfish]

Home Depot carries the foam board that I used. You can use either the blue or pink. Foam board is cheap insurance to help your tank last a long time.
KNH

thanks.... yeah foam board is kinda what I had in mind but wasn't sure.. Cuz I have no idea where to get sheets of 1/2" or 3/4" stryofoam that big

 

[KNH]

thanks.... yeah foam board is kinda what I had in mind but wasn't sure.. Cuz I have no idea where to get sheets of 1/2" or 3/4" stryofoam that big

No problem. They have 8' x 4' sheets in varies thicknesses.

 

[gomezladdams]

Never tried it but it sounds like a good idea