Help! Do I need a plywood bottom on my stand?

[Pprice01]

Hello all,

It's for a 180 going on carpet. I was planning on putting the bottom inside the framing instead of underneath it but wonder what the majority opinion was.

Thanks.

 

[Shadow Optik]

As I am quite new to aquarium stands and such I am not sure this will help however, I do know that most DIY aquarium stand builders are recommending a 1/2" or more Styrofoam plate underneath the tank itself to help with any non level areas or a knot or a screw or nail that might shift out of the wood. For the Styrofoam to do any good would require the Styrofoam to be on a flat hard surface. This would enable it to compress more in an area that might hurt the tank, such as, a knot or a nail or a screw. Good luck with your build, I hope it comes out well!

 

[barjam]

Actually most glass tank manufacturers recommend that you don't put foam underneath and if you do it will void the warranty. Check with your tank manufacturer.

 

[cherubfish pair]

I have always been afraid of dropping a liverock through the bottom of my tank.

 

[billdogg]

If it has a plastic trim, the plywood does nothing for the tank, but may help the stand structurally. You should NEVER put foam under a tank that has plastic trim. It can compress enough to actually push up on the bottom glass and cause the seal to fail.

If it is a rimless - glass or acrylic, then the solid (plywood) base is needed for support, and a thin (1/4") layer of foam is helpful to even out any slight imperfections in the surface of the plywood to avoid pressure points that can crack the bottom of the tank. If you think you need more than 1/4" of foam, perhaps you should try a little harder to get the surface flat.

 

[allsps40]

I dont have a top on my stand, you can see the sand and worms from the bottom of the tank.

 

[Pprice01]

Thanks everybody,

I understand about the top of the stand and the plywood/foam; but I was asking about the bottom of the tank/floor.

I wound up calling my LFS and asked what the tank MFG does.

They told me that the frame is used to contact the floor - not plywood or other material.

So I raised the floor inside my stand to 1.5" up from the floor by installing glued/pocket-screwed 3/4" plywood strips that were 4" wide across the width of the stand 3/4" up from the bottom and then the 3/4" plywood panel on top of those braces/supports. I used glue to connect the floor to the braces and pocket screws all around to attach it to the stand.

Here it is waiting for the glue to dry on the top before I remove the clamps and route the edges flush to the stand. I didn't use any mechanical fasteners to secure the top plywood- just glue and clamps.

 

[SpacedCowboy]

If it has a plastic trim, the plywood does nothing for the tank, but may help the stand structurally. You should NEVER put foam under a tank that has plastic trim. It can compress enough to actually push up on the bottom glass and cause the seal to fail.

I see this statement over and over, it's almost canon here.

The real answer is to check with your manufacturer. There are some glass-tank manufacturers who will void your warranty if you *do* put foam 'twixt stand and tank; equally, there are some glass-tank manufacturers who will void your warranty if you *don't* put foam 'twixt stand and tank.

It totally depends on how the glass is bonded, how the glass is physically arranged (sides on top of the base, sides adjacent to the base), etc. etc. My own manufacturer insists on foam between the tank and stand. YMWV (Your milage *will* vary).

Simon

 

[syrinx]

traditionally built tanks- no foam- acrylic or tanks where people have "a better idea" foam.