I remember reading somewhere before, that most people with tank over 55g will put a foam pad under their tank or something? I am setting up my 90g and wondering if I should do this also. My only concern is that my stand doesnt have a solid top so if I were to put foam or something under it, then I dont know how much it would do...
Foam under tank??
- Thread starter tehon3299
- Start date
I think I remember reading about this over on www.cichlid-forum.com when I was setting up my 55g tank. My tank also only has like a 1/4" lip that the tank sits on so I dont know if I would be able to do this.
you really should place foam under your tank.. if there is any bumps or unlevelness in either your tank and or stand you could spring a leak in time.. it may look great for a little while but give it a few weeks or a month and you will most likely have problems. we used 1/2 inch white Styrofoam under ours. It only costs a few bucks to do it now... new floors etc etc cost alot more.
Two people in our family didnt in there 90's... one popped all over the living room and the other split and leaked all of theres as well.. they both have foam under theres now.
"Spend the money"
http://www.usu.edu/recycle/Images/foam/dense white styrofoam.JPG
basically this stuff in 1/2" sheets that you cut to fit under your tank
basically this stuff in 1/2" sheets that you cut to fit under your tank
Alaskan Reefer
New member
Glass tanks generally are supported solely by their edges. Adding foam to the entire edge surface might be a good idea, but any under the glass might put upward pressure on glass that's connected to an edge with a lot of downward pressure on it. I don't see how that can be positive. Acrylic tanks definitely...
You are correct in saying that tanks outer edge is the support for the bottom but by using the Styrofoam it will/should compress evenly. We are or should be only talking millimeters here. Can you imagine if a small piece of grit was lodged into the plastic base of your tank.. put it on a hard surface and you have no where to go..with a foam barrier at least you stand a chance. What if your stand itself wasn't dead flat or the building happened to flex under the weight of a bigger tank... way to many variables that $5 could have prevented or protected agaist.
I can only speak from experience.. . I have seen two without foam leak or split open within a very short while of being set up that didnt go this route ... for the money.. I would rather be safe than sorry.
I can only speak from experience.. . I have seen two without foam leak or split open within a very short while of being set up that didnt go this route ... for the money.. I would rather be safe than sorry.
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
I have actually been debating this issue for awhile now. I originally read about it on Melev's Reef Site, but that is in referance to mostly acrylic although I think he uses it under glass too. I figured a few bucks was worth it so I bought a sheet, and am convinced I don't want to follow through with it. Here is how it looks with the tank empty and I am pretty sure I will not fill it like this.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/110730610/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/110730610_0620d5070c_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSCN0359" /></a>
Now I didn't put any at the corners, (this is a 54 bow) because that is where the plastic is that the AGA engineers decided the load should be carried
. The more I think about it, my stand is level and even if it wasn't I think I would shim with wood before using this option. May be a bit of foam weatherstripping would be effective for the surface not being totally smooth but, I don't think I will go more extreme than that.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58279226@N00/110730610/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/41/110730610_0620d5070c_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="DSCN0359" /></a>
Now I didn't put any at the corners, (this is a 54 bow) because that is where the plastic is that the AGA engineers decided the load should be carried
. The more I think about it, my stand is level and even if it wasn't I think I would shim with wood before using this option. May be a bit of foam weatherstripping would be effective for the surface not being totally smooth but, I don't think I will go more extreme than that.
Ocicat
Premium Member
If only it were that clear cut! The difficulty is that some say that using foam can actually CAUSE problems. I would definitely rather be safe than sorry... However, I've seen arguments both ways for a glass tank... and ultimately I think I should go with AGA's instructions and warranty policy, which do not involve any sort of foam. That seems more cautious to me than introducing an additional factor for which the tank builder didn't account.
RobbyG
Active member
When I contacted Oceanic about this the guy said if the Tank has A Plastic Rim then dont put foam or it will push up the bottom and crack it. If there is NO rim and the whole bottom lies flat then it's ok to put foam. In all cases I would highly recommend that you feel out the stands surface and also check it with a long metal ruler to make sure there are no bumps or uneven areas.
a4twenty
Premium Member
dandy, you don't put the foam only on the glass. the way i am seeing this in your picture, you cut the foam to go inside the plastic. that would be a huge mistake. the weight of the tank is supported by the black plastic, if you filled it like that you would have huge mess.
you have to ignore the GHA but this is how i set up my tanks
you have to ignore the GHA but this is how i set up my tanks
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
that makes alot more sense to me, I still am unsure if I will use it or not. But at least I understand the principle.
