Foam under yout tank?

[NewReefer]

Who uses some type of foam under their tank?
Just wondering!

[NewReefer]

I never did use it but it was a thought at one time.

[thefatman]

foam? as in like expanding foam..ie: great stuff... under the tank, between tank and stand? if so, nope never heard of it.. i do however use 1/4" styrofoam. picked up a 4x8 sheet at lowes for like 4 bucks. had to since my stand top was exactly level all the way around.

if you mean like a foam block type of filter pad thingamajiggy, yeah iuse one it came with the wet dry, but i'm gonna be removing it. before too long.

[CAT]

I used 1/2 in foam under my old 55. I built the cabinet and wanted to make sure there where no bumps to stress the glass. I was amazed at how little the foam compressed under the weight of the old tank. Didn't bother on my new set-up because I used mdf for the top instead of plywood.

[NewReefer]

Yep I meant Styrofoam. My tank and stand came with a 5 year warranty as is, so I didn't bother to put anything underneath. It is 5ft long so I got it as close to perfect as possible, but on a carpet floor it isn't easy, wish it was wood flooring.

[Mrs Smith]

Heh... we have a tile floor right on the concrete slab - and somehow, our water line isn't straight - after we shimmed the tank stand! I'm honestly thinking it's the floor.

No cracks yet...

Danielle

[Calvinc4s]

Styrofoam here

[NewReefer]

I have an interesting information. I'm fixing to call the manufacture. The reason why is because underneath my tank, there is nothing supporting it. The only support is the edge all the way around, the only way I could use Styrofoam is if I added a plywood bottom. There has to be a reason it is manufactured this way and now I must know. More later..........

[thefatman]

it's because the edge is the only thing that supports the tank, and the cross support strap, if your tank has one..

you dont want the BOTTOM of the tank to support the weight, you want the edges and cross support strap to support.

i built my stand with a full top, and also put a full piece of foam underneath, however the only thing actually touching the foam, is the black border/molding that holds everything together. none of the bottom glass actually touches the stand shelf.

MOST prebuilt stands at lfs' do NOT havea full top shelf, just the front, back, sides, and center.

[NewReefer]

It is very funny, the stand is well made, but the cross braces down the center is offset from the glass, so it doesn't touch. I guess they know what they are doing, because they back it up with what I think is good, 5 years.

[Doug1]

Like Jay said most stand for glass tanks only support the moulding frame on the tank. In theory the glass is thick and stiff enough that it need not touch.
On acrylic tanks tho, they have enough flex , at least in the typical retail tanks that you have to have full support over the entire bottom. Years back there was an ugly thread that ran pages over months regarding someone who installed an acrylic tank on a open top frame and how it sagged like 3" underneath. the installer insisted it was fine, and the customer was not happy, having visions of it blowing out the bottom and thousands of $$$$$$ all over.
So open is OK on glass tanks, and esp nice if you have the AGA /Oceanic bottom plumbed setup overflow, but for acrylic tanks best cut appropriate hole to acommodate plumbing, or do it all from the back or ends, thats the beauty of acrylic

[grazhopr]

I used cork under the tank and under the stand. I'd rather be safe than sorry......
5-10 $ is nothing vs. a $ 3-5k setup. MHO!!!

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Stryofoam under my whole stand.

First filled the tank and it was no level about an 1/2 in off.

I used 3/4 in styrofoam. It did not compress that much and the tank is only off 1/8-1/4 now.

[uryy4me]

no foam, but I do have a sheet of PVC under mine