180 ??

[reefsandrotts]

Hey all
Im currently doing final prep for a new 180 and have a question,
The tank is frameless and I have a custom metal stand with 3 supports on top
I was thinking of putting 1/4" ply on the metal and 1/2" foam over that to keepthe tank from tweaking and blowing out.Do you think this is good or should it be different?I should add that my local stores only have the 1/2" styro
Thanks

 

[coralnut99]

When you say "frameless" are you talking about a stock tank with the trim/braces removed?

 

[reefsandrotts]

No
Its custom euro braced on top and inside on the bottom.

 

[coralnut99]

Gottcha.

I think that tank is made to be fully supported. Hard to say with 100% certainty, but I would bet the bottom isn't tempered. The bottom may not handle much in the way of wracking. I would suggest something more than 1/4". The foam underneath only deals with small imperfections in the surface of the plywood, and won't coompensate for the stand not being level on all planes. So my opinion would be to go to 3/4" cabinet grade with a half inch of foam. But the stand has to dead level on all planes first.

 

[coralnut99]

PS, even after you think it's all levelled out, I would weight test it with cinderblocks or something of considerable weight to make sure it will stay level throughout.

 

[dave.m]

A quarter inch bit of plywood isn't strong enough to hold up anything. I would go with at least 3/4" marine grade plywood, and make sure it is fully sealed and painted to prevent delamination by the inevitable spills that will come from regular maintenance of the tank.

Dave.M