small gap between tank and steel stand like 8th of an inch about foot span can i use a peice of 3/4 ply or half inch styro?? i like the ply as i can paint the edge blak so you dont notice it as styro you will notice that alot more. or many i could shim it with metal strapping??? like that metal ribbon stuff?? the peice of ply came withe the tank and had the styro too but forgot it!! the tank is a 240gal 8x2x2
small gap (plywood or styro???)
- Thread starter slednex11
- Start date
If it's an acrylic tank, I know you can use plywood (as I use it for my 100 gal acrylic).
For glass, I don't know. I would guess Styrofoam would be ok.
Found some info from glasscages.com .
SET UP INSTRUCTIONS
All aquariums must be set up on commercially manufactured stands only. A sheet of 3/4" styrofoam (reaching completely side-to-side and front-to-back) must be placed between the tank and the surface of the stand
For glass, I don't know. I would guess Styrofoam would be ok.
Found some info from glasscages.com .
SET UP INSTRUCTIONS
All aquariums must be set up on commercially manufactured stands only. A sheet of 3/4" styrofoam (reaching completely side-to-side and front-to-back) must be placed between the tank and the surface of the stand
Oh, heck no. Never shim the tank. Your front panel could crack under the pressure. If the corners of the tank are supported, you're fine.
I would just leave it. I too have the same steel stands available up here in canada and every one I had had in 20 years has a small gap in the middle. including my current 150g.
the problem is tube steel is seldom ever 100% straight so I am told.
styro won't help at all as it will be more compressed at the ends and not where the gap is, so you have full support at the ends and not where the gap is so you are right back where you started. only now you have ugly stryo in between. it won't support the tank where the gap is at all. it will make the gap harder to see, but it won't support the tank any better.
plywood won't help either - again, the gap will now be between the steel and the wood. your tank is still not supported in the middle.
if the ends are well supported it should be fine.
my tube steel stands are the same if you look really close:
its up to you, but I would leave it.
the problem is tube steel is seldom ever 100% straight so I am told.
styro won't help at all as it will be more compressed at the ends and not where the gap is, so you have full support at the ends and not where the gap is so you are right back where you started. only now you have ugly stryo in between. it won't support the tank where the gap is at all. it will make the gap harder to see, but it won't support the tank any better.
plywood won't help either - again, the gap will now be between the steel and the wood. your tank is still not supported in the middle.
if the ends are well supported it should be fine.
my tube steel stands are the same if you look really close:
its up to you, but I would leave it.
just looked at the ends and the front right side also has a small gap even less tho more like an 1/8" or even a 1/16" just on the one end???? my other 240 is perfect with no gap anywhere.
shine a flashlight all around between the stand and the tank. that is a good way to check. if the ends are supported you are fine.
the manufacturers tell us that glass tanks technically only need end support.
these pics were posted in a previous thread about this very discussion. they say 1000 words. even if most people would not sleep at night LOL
the manufacturers tell us that glass tanks technically only need end support.
these pics were posted in a previous thread about this very discussion. they say 1000 words. even if most people would not sleep at night LOL
Right on 12 volt!!! i can rest easy now seeing those pics ill make sure my ends are perfect and i wont worry about that small small gap!!!! and thanks everyone for the help!