...right on the plywood?!?

[scumonkey]

When I finish making my new 112 gal.glass tank, and am ready to place it on the stand, can I just put it right on the water proofed plywood top?
OR
Do I need to lay something down underneth around the edges?
I'm building it with the bottom inside the outside walls and, 1/4 inch off the bottom as per instructions on Garf.
It will not have any trim or outside molding, like the plastic on the ones bought at a LFS.

 

[GARFVolunteer]

You can either place it on either a solid top stand or an open top stand. Glass tanks are supported by the front, back and side panels so a silid top is not nessesary.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[scumonkey]

I think you missed the point of my question?
The top of the stand is solid- I know that makes no diff BUT...
The edges of the glass that WILL be supporting the weight, will NOT have any plastic covers protecting them. I'm concerned that a gain of sand or speck of dust caught inbetween the glass and wood could cause a crack ?!? I saw somewhere somebody used 1/4 inch strips of plastic around the bottom edges to keep the glass off the wood and help keep the weight evenly distibuted.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I think the strips are to keep the middle of the glass off the stand to allow it to flex without shattering. Someone else will who knows more than I will hopefully give their opinion.

 

[scumonkey]

I don't think the glass should flex enough for the middle to ever touch the bottom (at least I hope not)!
The strips are only placed on the bottom along the outside edge.
Do I need to do this to keep the glass from cracking (being frameless),or can the edges of the tank just sit on top of the treated wood.
I also just saw a thread on another board where the person layed down a vinyl mat under the whole tank...again only the sides touch the bottom BUT his tank also is frameless.

 

[tye_c]

Why not just cover the top of the stand in styrofoam? It provides plenty of chushion.

 

[afelder]

I would get some of the foam underlay that they use for flooring and use it to cover the top of the stand. If you have no plastic edge pieces the foam will allow you peace of mind and cushion for the tank. If your building it yourself you might try acrylic; it will be much less likely to shatter although it can happen with any type of material.

Good luck
Ariel

 

[david8956]

I'm concerned that a gain of sand or speck of dust .....

You are WAAAAAY over thinking this. No way a "grain of sand or speck of dust" will cause any damage. Any small foreign substance like that caught under the tank will easily be embedded into the much softer plywood from the weight of the tank.

 

[deep6er]

my fresh water 108 is a tad uneven (1")and i have it resting on 2- 7' 2x4's on both sides with no side bracing. (with 1" stiro under the tank) It has not shifted yet. But i think you should use a peice of foam just in case

 

[scumonkey]

david8956 - i didn't think so BUT...I keep getting told horror stories
(none of which I have ever experienced), 'bout not laying down some kind of plastic or foam under the bottom edges of the tank.
"Grains of sand" and "specks of dust" (not my words) were just some of the causes of frameless tank failure I just started hearing about!
I thought I would get more feedback, before I just threw it up on the 'ole stand, (which is all I had planned on doing till I started hearing the stories).

 

[BeanAnimal]

1" a tad uneven? :eek1:

 

[BeanAnimal]

The problem is not going to be a grain of dust or sand. If you supporting surface is not 100% flat (in the same plane) then it will stress the tank.

If it is twisted or wracked (two low corners and two high corners) the tank will have a lot of stress along all of the sides. If there is a high spot on one edge (or two parallel edges) it will tend to point load the edge of the glass.

On plastic frame tanks, the glass is embedded in a bead of silicone and pushed into the frame. The frame acts to distribute the point load to the entire edge of the tank (in the event that it is small).

You could lay the tank on a sheet of neoprene rubber (shower pan liner for example) or similar medium density material. The thin edge of the tank would push to deep into foam or soft material (I think).

Bean

 

[BeanAnimal]

Opps...

regarding the top of your stand. If there is any doubt about it being perfectly flat...

A nice trick is to build a small lip around the tank with molding (quarter round for example) and then pour self leveling epoxy into the frame. The material used to embed objects into bar tops is one such product.

Another trick is to spread a thin layer of bondo or similar material out around the permimeter and lay saran wrap over it (so it does not stick to the tank) and use it like embeding mortar.

From you response I take it that your bottom pane of glass is set inside the perimeter glass and slightly raised up to and will not contact the stand?

 

[scumonkey]

"From you response I take it that your bottom pane of glass is set inside the perimeter glass and slightly raised up to and will not contact the stand"?
That is correct.
I have no doubt that my stand top is 99.9/10 % flat and level, (nothing is perfect)!
Thanks BeanAnimal! this info "On plastic frame tanks, the glass is embedded in a bead of silicone and pushed into the frame. The frame acts to distribute the point load to the entire edge of the tank (in the event that it is small)". ,explanes it all!
I have an extra piece of thick vinyl flooring, I think that should do the trick.....?!?

 

[BeanAnimal]

It should do the trick. If in doubt you can always use the epoxy to self level it. I used it for my in-wall 75, as I know my stand was not perfect.