Stand top- flat or framed

[Holygral]

Trying to decide rather to put my 125 on the (diy) stand with just the frame work supporting it, or use a piece of plywood for the top of the stand. I have seen a lot of discussions both ways on it. And if using plywood, should it have a piece of insulation board on it, then set the tank on top of that?

thanks

 

[seattle989]

here is mine with just the framework and a solid piece of plywood for the top.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41640

i would use insulation foam regardless . It also gives some wiggle room in case the plywood top is not even btw glass tank or acrylic?

if glass u can get away with just the frame, for acrylic u want it to support everything so it doesnt bow.

 

[delemi]

I'd throw the plywood on. It will allow you to add another area of insulation/buffer from equipment heat in the sump area to your tank, plus then you don't need to worry about accidentally looking at the bottom of your sand bed - sometimes all that black detritus freaks me out and makes me think I need to do something!

Plus like above - if its a flat bottom you will want the support

 

[Holygral]

It is a glass tank

 

[MC Lighting]

with a glass tank you can go either way I had a 60 gallon for 4 years on a 2x4 frame stand that made it just fine through a 6.7mag southern CA Earthquake actually walked half way across the room... I put a top on my 180 and to be honest I regret it I did not have the means to check for how true the ply was and one corner is a whole 1/8" low I did not find this out until the glue had cured and the tank set on it :-(

 

[Holygral]

-And what about the foam board? I have read that it helps with inperfections in the stand?

thanks

 

[Myteemouse]

yes get some 1/2 inch foam from home depot to compensat for imperfections on the top of your stand!

 

[MC Lighting]

actually it is not recommended at least by all-glass to put foam board under a glass tank. I am not too stressed about it I shimmed it so the tank was level and all has been fine. In the near future with the new business going I will probably end up doing a new stand and canopy anyhow as well most likely build a acrylic tank.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I am fond of plywood under large tanks. I also like styro as a shock absorber. My concern isn't pressure, it is having a large rock fall against the bottom and blow it out. Perhaps fansasy, but thats one part of personal preferences.

On my 72 bow, have it sitting on the open stand

 

[Holygral]

As I have noticed before, there does not seem to be a meeting of the minds on the foam. Do we have a gathering of the minds on using plywood under the tank? I was thinking about the foam, lets say that your tank is not level, so there is going to be higher/more water at one end than the other, and with a 6 ft tank it would not take much. So with more water at one end than the other, there would be more weight at that end also. Wouldn't that make the tank settle into the foam board more at that end which the end result would make that end of the tank sit even lower at that end?

thanks to all for the help

 

[Myteemouse]

the foam doesn't make the tank level. the foam helps compensate for the uneven (little hips or valleys) plywood or wood under the tank. Sanding can only do so much but even to the naked eye you might not catch it all, so the foam takes up those little imperfections in the wood itself.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

the foam doesn't make the tank level. the foam helps compensate for the uneven (little hips or valleys) plywood or wood under the tank. Sanding can only do so much but even to the naked eye you might not catch it all, so the foam takes up those little imperfections in the wood itself.

Correct, if the frame isn't level, need to shim the frame from the floor and not from the tank