Tank cushion?

[Dan Norgard]

Hi;
I read about putting some kind of pad under a tank to even out the pressures
from the stand and tank bottom but no one gives the material.
What sort of material? Styrofoam?

Will carpet pad do?

How thick?

Should I put the LR on egg crate to disritbute the weight evenly? Will
there be stagnation in the egg crate under the rock?

This tank is 100g homebuilt with a 5/8th bottom and no trame...the glass
will sit directly on the 1-1/2 platform top.

Many thanks,

Dan

[Dragon Slayer]

putting padding under a tank is recommended for acrylic not glass.

hth
kc

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> Hi;
> I read about putting some kind of pad under a tank to even out the
pressures
> from the stand and tank bottom but no one gives the material.
> What sort of material? Styrofoam?
>
> Will carpet pad do?
>
> How thick?
>
> Should I put the LR on egg crate to disritbute the weight evenly? Will
> there be stagnation in the egg crate under the rock?
>
> This tank is 100g homebuilt with a 5/8th bottom and no trame...the glass
> will sit directly on the 1-1/2 platform top.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Dan
>
>

[Aaron J. Grier]

Dragon Slayer > wrote:
> putting padding under a tank is recommended for acrylic not glass.

depends on the size of the tank... I wouldn't imagine NOT putting down
some kind of dense padding under a large (100+g) tank unless I could
guarantee the stand was completely flat. a glass tank on an uneven
surface could stress the seams, and that much water is quite heavy.

--
Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." |
"someday the industry will have throbbing frontal lobes and will be able
to write provably correct software. also, I want a pony." -- Zach Brown

[Dan Norgard]

WHat sort of pad do you recommend?
Dan


"Aaron J. Grier" > wrote in message
...
Dragon Slayer > wrote:
> putting padding under a tank is recommended for acrylic not glass.

depends on the size of the tank... I wouldn't imagine NOT putting down
some kind of dense padding under a large (100+g) tank unless I could
guarantee the stand was completely flat. a glass tank on an uneven
surface could stress the seams, and that much water is quite heavy.

--
Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." |
"someday the industry will have throbbing frontal lobes and will be able
to write provably correct software. also, I want a pony." -- Zach Brown

[Dragon Slayer]

padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I have a
few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with them.
Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute the
pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic tanks
have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.

kc

"Aaron J. Grier" > wrote in message
...
> Dragon Slayer > wrote:
> > putting padding under a tank is recommended for acrylic not glass.
>
> depends on the size of the tank... I wouldn't imagine NOT putting down
> some kind of dense padding under a large (100+g) tank unless I could
> guarantee the stand was completely flat. a glass tank on an uneven
> surface could stress the seams, and that much water is quite heavy.
>
> --
> Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." |
> "someday the industry will have throbbing frontal lobes and will be able
> to write provably correct software. also, I want a pony." -- Zach Brown

[Dragon Slayer]

again I only recommend padding on acrylic tanks but as far as padding
goes..........."Blue Board" a Styrofoam insulation sold in the hardware
stores works great.

kc

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> WHat sort of pad do you recommend?
> Dan
>
>
> "Aaron J. Grier" > wrote in message
> ...
> Dragon Slayer > wrote:
> > putting padding under a tank is recommended for acrylic not glass.
>
> depends on the size of the tank... I wouldn't imagine NOT putting down
> some kind of dense padding under a large (100+g) tank unless I could
> guarantee the stand was completely flat. a glass tank on an uneven
> surface could stress the seams, and that much water is quite heavy.
>
> --
> Aaron J. Grier | "Not your ordinary poofy goof." |
> "someday the industry will have throbbing frontal lobes and will be able
> to write provably correct software. also, I want a pony." -- Zach Brown
>
>

[Dan Norgard]

My 100g will be homemade (by a friend in the glass business, not me 8^) and
the bottom will be flat, not raised. Does that cause a problem?

Dan

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I have a
few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with them.
Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute the
pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic tanks
have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.

[Dragon Slayer]

yes you dont want the tank supported by the bottom if its glass, but rather
the sides.

kc

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> My 100g will be homemade (by a friend in the glass business, not me 8^)
and
> the bottom will be flat, not raised. Does that cause a problem?
>
> Dan
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I have a
> few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with them.
> Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute the
> pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic tanks
> have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.
>
>
>

[Dan Norgard]

So you're saying I need to support the perimeter of the tank? Would I do
well to set it on styrofoam strips about 1-1/2 " wide by 1/4" thick and
leave the center hanging in the air?
Thanks

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
yes you dont want the tank supported by the bottom if its glass, but rather
the sides.

kc

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> My 100g will be homemade (by a friend in the glass business, not me 8^)
and
> the bottom will be flat, not raised. Does that cause a problem?
>
> Dan
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I have a
> few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with them.
> Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute the
> pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic tanks
> have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.
>
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

I'd think it would be heavy enough to smash the foam down and cause
problems. usually the bottom glass is allowed to sit 3/8" up inside the
tank between the 4 outer pieces of glass. this way the side glasses are
holding the weight on their "end-ways" rather then on their face so to
speak. this way the only pressure on the glass is from the water inside it
and the bottom has the weight of the rock/substrate as well (that's why its
thicker) not the entire weight of the tank on the face of the glass.

kc


kc




"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> So you're saying I need to support the perimeter of the tank? Would I do
> well to set it on styrofoam strips about 1-1/2 " wide by 1/4" thick and
> leave the center hanging in the air?
> Thanks
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> yes you dont want the tank supported by the bottom if its glass, but
rather
> the sides.
>
> kc
>
> "Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
> ...
> > My 100g will be homemade (by a friend in the glass business, not me 8^)
> and
> > the bottom will be flat, not raised. Does that cause a problem?
> >
> > Dan
> >
> > "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I have
a
> > few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with them.
> > Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute the
> > pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic tanks
> > have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Fishnut]

On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 21:32:08 -0600, "Dragon Slayer"
> wrote:

>I'd think it would be heavy enough to smash the foam down and cause
>problems. usually the bottom glass is allowed to sit 3/8" up inside the
>tank between the 4 outer pieces of glass. this way the side glasses are
>holding the weight on their "end-ways" rather then on their face so to
>speak. this way the only pressure on the glass is from the water inside it
>and the bottom has the weight of the rock/substrate as well (that's why its
>thicker) not the entire weight of the tank on the face of the glass.
>
>kc
>
Hi kc,

Most of the tanks in the U.K. (and maybe Europe) have a flat base, on
which the sides and ends rest. You would then normally have a sheet of
polystyrene, or marine-ply, underneath to spread the stress more
evenly.

I wonder which type of design is better ?

Regards, Fishnut.

[Dragon Slayer]

like I posted in the previous post how the sides hold the weight on their
sides rather then face, I'd think that would be the best.

kc

"Fishnut" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 7 Nov 2003 21:32:08 -0600, "Dragon Slayer"
> > wrote:
>
> >I'd think it would be heavy enough to smash the foam down and cause
> >problems. usually the bottom glass is allowed to sit 3/8" up inside the
> >tank between the 4 outer pieces of glass. this way the side glasses are
> >holding the weight on their "end-ways" rather then on their face so to
> >speak. this way the only pressure on the glass is from the water inside
it
> >and the bottom has the weight of the rock/substrate as well (that's why
its
> >thicker) not the entire weight of the tank on the face of the glass.
> >
> >kc
> >
> Hi kc,
>
> Most of the tanks in the U.K. (and maybe Europe) have a flat base, on
> which the sides and ends rest. You would then normally have a sheet of
> polystyrene, or marine-ply, underneath to spread the stress more
> evenly.
>
> I wonder which type of design is better ?
>
> Regards, Fishnut.
>

[critcher]

I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more liable
to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with the
UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.


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[Charles Spitzer]

what size tanks have you seen this in? every glass tank i've seen in the
past 30 years has the sides on top of the bottom piece of glass, and a
plastic trim piece around the outside edge. the plastic actually supports
the tank.

even my old metal framed with slate bottom tanks were built this way.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
> I'd think it would be heavy enough to smash the foam down and cause
> problems. usually the bottom glass is allowed to sit 3/8" up inside the
> tank between the 4 outer pieces of glass. this way the side glasses are
> holding the weight on their "end-ways" rather then on their face so to
> speak. this way the only pressure on the glass is from the water inside
it
> and the bottom has the weight of the rock/substrate as well (that's why
its
> thicker) not the entire weight of the tank on the face of the glass.
>
> kc
>
>
> kc
>
>
>
>
> "Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
> ...
> > So you're saying I need to support the perimeter of the tank? Would I
do
> > well to set it on styrofoam strips about 1-1/2 " wide by 1/4" thick and
> > leave the center hanging in the air?
> > Thanks
> >
> > "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > yes you dont want the tank supported by the bottom if its glass, but
> rather
> > the sides.
> >
> > kc
> >
> > "Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > My 100g will be homemade (by a friend in the glass business, not me
8^)
> > and
> > > the bottom will be flat, not raised. Does that cause a problem?
> > >
> > > Dan
> > >
> > > "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I
have
> a
> > > few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with
them.
> > > Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute the
> > > pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic
tanks
> > > have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Dragon Slayer]

comercial built have the glass on bottom with the trim used to make the
outter glass support the weight of the tank as you mentioned, the original
poster was refering to a home built tank.

kc


"Charles Spitzer" > wrote in message
...
> what size tanks have you seen this in? every glass tank i've seen in the
> past 30 years has the sides on top of the bottom piece of glass, and a
> plastic trim piece around the outside edge. the plastic actually supports
> the tank.
>
> even my old metal framed with slate bottom tanks were built this way.
>
> regards,
> charlie
> cave creek, az
>
> "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I'd think it would be heavy enough to smash the foam down and cause
> > problems. usually the bottom glass is allowed to sit 3/8" up inside the
> > tank between the 4 outer pieces of glass. this way the side glasses are
> > holding the weight on their "end-ways" rather then on their face so to
> > speak. this way the only pressure on the glass is from the water inside
> it
> > and the bottom has the weight of the rock/substrate as well (that's why
> its
> > thicker) not the entire weight of the tank on the face of the glass.
> >
> > kc
> >
> >
> > kc
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > So you're saying I need to support the perimeter of the tank? Would I
> do
> > > well to set it on styrofoam strips about 1-1/2 " wide by 1/4" thick
and
> > > leave the center hanging in the air?
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > yes you dont want the tank supported by the bottom if its glass, but
> > rather
> > > the sides.
> > >
> > > kc
> > >
> > > "Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > My 100g will be homemade (by a friend in the glass business, not me
> 8^)
> > > and
> > > > the bottom will be flat, not raised. Does that cause a problem?
> > > >
> > > > Dan
> > > >
> > > > "Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > padding under a glass tank will cause uneven stress on the tank. I
> have
> > a
> > > > few 100+ sized thanks and have never in 25 yrs had a problem with
> them.
> > > > Acrylic on the other hand requires the padding to help distribute
the
> > > > pressure of the tank across more surface area, that is why acrylic
> tanks
> > > > have a flat bottom and glass have a raised one.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Dan Norgard]

I agree, so I built a stand of 6 4x4 legs under a 2x6 frame with 2x6
'joists' on 12" centers. the top is a 24"x63" sheet of 1/2" MDF screwed to
the frame with another sheet glued to it's top (all joints are glued and
screwed). Although this gives a truly flat and smooth finish I am adding
1/4" of laminate flooring underlayment (foam pad).
Dan

"critcher" > wrote in message
s.com...
I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more liable
to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with the
UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.


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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 06/11/2003

[Charles Spitzer]

you're going to regret that mdf the first time it gets wet.

damhikt

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> I agree, so I built a stand of 6 4x4 legs under a 2x6 frame with 2x6
> 'joists' on 12" centers. the top is a 24"x63" sheet of 1/2" MDF screwed
to
> the frame with another sheet glued to it's top (all joints are glued and
> screwed). Although this gives a truly flat and smooth finish I am adding
> 1/4" of laminate flooring underlayment (foam pad).
> Dan
>
> "critcher" > wrote in message
> s.com...
> I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more
liable
> to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with
the
> UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
> flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 06/11/2003
>
>
>

[Dan Norgard]

Oops...guess I'll polyurethane the snot out of it.


"Charles Spitzer" > wrote in message
...
you're going to regret that mdf the first time it gets wet.

damhikt

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> I agree, so I built a stand of 6 4x4 legs under a 2x6 frame with 2x6
> 'joists' on 12" centers. the top is a 24"x63" sheet of 1/2" MDF screwed
to
> the frame with another sheet glued to it's top (all joints are glued and
> screwed). Although this gives a truly flat and smooth finish I am adding
> 1/4" of laminate flooring underlayment (foam pad).
> Dan
>
> "critcher" > wrote in message
> s.com...
> I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more
liable
> to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with
the
> UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
> flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 06/11/2003
>
>
>

[Charles Spitzer]

i'm not sure poly makes it water proof. you'd have to go to some type of
epoxy, and only certain types of that too, since some (like a polyester)
aren't waterproof either.

if you need a complete sheet to cover the bottom, exterior plywood is much
better at being water resistant. since i have a glass tank, i don't have a
top to my stand, just a rim of 2x4s for edge support, with 1/2" styro on top
of those.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> Oops...guess I'll polyurethane the snot out of it.
>
>
> "Charles Spitzer" > wrote in message
> ...
> you're going to regret that mdf the first time it gets wet.
>
> damhikt
>
> "Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I agree, so I built a stand of 6 4x4 legs under a 2x6 frame with 2x6
> > 'joists' on 12" centers. the top is a 24"x63" sheet of 1/2" MDF screwed
> to
> > the frame with another sheet glued to it's top (all joints are glued and
> > screwed). Although this gives a truly flat and smooth finish I am
adding
> > 1/4" of laminate flooring underlayment (foam pad).
> > Dan
> >
> > "critcher" > wrote in message
> > s.com...
> > I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more
> liable
> > to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with
> the
> > UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
> > flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> > Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 06/11/2003
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[erik]

I'll second that.
I built a light hood out of MDF. I painted the interior with 2 coats
of epoxy paint and the exterior with spray paint. Just the humidity
and with only spray paint on the outside it is starting to swell up
pretty bad.
No more MDF for me!


Erik

On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 14:36:57 -0700, "Charles Spitzer"
> wrote:

>you're going to regret that mdf the first time it gets wet.
>
>damhikt
>
>"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
>> I agree, so I built a stand of 6 4x4 legs under a 2x6 frame with 2x6
>> 'joists' on 12" centers. the top is a 24"x63" sheet of 1/2" MDF screwed
>to
>> the frame with another sheet glued to it's top (all joints are glued and
>> screwed). Although this gives a truly flat and smooth finish I am adding
>> 1/4" of laminate flooring underlayment (foam pad).
>> Dan
>>
>> "critcher" > wrote in message
>> s.com...
>> I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more
>liable
>> to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with
>the
>> UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
>> flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.
>>
>>
>> ---
>> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>> Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 06/11/2003
>>
>>
>>
>

[Dan Norgard]

Okay, now you all have me concerned. Luckily I'm a Tinner so I'l just make
a sheetmetal cover for the mdf and run it down the sides too.


"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
Oops...guess I'll polyurethane the snot out of it.


"Charles Spitzer" > wrote in message
...
you're going to regret that mdf the first time it gets wet.

damhikt

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> I agree, so I built a stand of 6 4x4 legs under a 2x6 frame with 2x6
> 'joists' on 12" centers. the top is a 24"x63" sheet of 1/2" MDF screwed
to
> the frame with another sheet glued to it's top (all joints are glued and
> screwed). Although this gives a truly flat and smooth finish I am adding
> 1/4" of laminate flooring underlayment (foam pad).
> Dan
>
> "critcher" > wrote in message
> s.com...
> I would think that a tank loaded on its side panels would be far more
liable
> to a rupture of the sealing compound under shear stress than a tank with
the
> UK design i.e. flat bottom glass supporting sides and ends and laid on a
> flat support with carpet or other pad to even out any imperfections.
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.537 / Virus Database: 332 - Release Date: 06/11/2003
>
>
>