Where does everyone find the styrofoam to put under their tanks?

[Roggio]

I didn't find any at Home Depot or Lowes? Maybe mine doesnt carry it?

Also, I'm building a tank stand frame out of steel and need suggestions on a good type of wood to use for the top piece. Should I try and find some ridged plywood?? My tank is a 48x48x24 cube.

Thanks in advance

 

[ca1ore]

Buddy of mine makes tanks and recommends 3/4 inch A/C ply and 1/2 inch Homasote. He does not rcommend the pink rigid insulation panels. Ask at HD - I'd be surprised if they didn't carry both.

 

[Bugcrusher]

TRY JoAnns or any of the home decorator/sewwing stores, they all seem to carry it.

 

[AvonleaPA]

Seems odd that they don't carry it. Any other building supply places around you, like an 81 Lumber?

I didn't bother with Styrofoam. seemed pointless to me.

 

[ErryDayImReefin]

Check in the insulation section of Home Depot / Lowes, I would find it kind of hard to believe they do not have the sheets of styrofoam. You could always use thick yoga mat as well, I have done this before for acrylic sumps and even large tanks with great success for years. It is a bit more money, but its a lot easier to cut and doesn't cause a mess.

 

[degibson84]

buy a new big screen and there you have it. nice pieces of styrofoam protecting the screen

 

[sfsuphysics]

Yeah insulation area is where it's at at Lowes/HD. Ask the people working there who are trying hard to stay away from customers trying to ask questions where foam insulation is. They should have some thin stuff, as well as the really thick stuff.

 

[tatuaje08]

I have bought the pink stuff at thd. I now think its useless. I have since only been using a piece of plywood under the tank. I don't believe the insulation really does anything.

 

[Rancherlee]

I've only used Foam under Acrylic tanks, and under hospital/quarantine tanks that are set on my basement floor. As for GOOD stand plywood I like to use Acauro Ply A/C plywood that I've found at Menards and Lowes. It a good multi ply that uses outdoor grade glue and comes in a 5ply 1/2" or 7 ply 3/4. I've used it in everything from re-decking my Pontoon to high quality DIY sub-woofers as the A side takes stains quite well and look pretty nice without a veneer.

 

[toky916]

Any craft Hobby stores carry them I bought to put under my sump .

 

[ca1ore]

I have bought the pink stuff at thd. I now think its useless. I have since only been using a piece of plywood under the tank. I don't believe the insulation really does anything.

All I would say is that most (all?) of th custom tank builders recommend it. Particularly for big tanks, even a perfectly flat and level stand will move a bit based on floor beam deflection. OK, if you are on a concrete slab and have a perfect stand maybe not, but I always put Homasote between my tanks and the stand.