Should I pour melted candle-wax on the bottom of my tani?

[HungryGoldfish]

I have an old-style 90 gallon tank which does not have a crossbrace at the top and bottom. I would like to help support the bottom of the tank. I was thinking of filling up the entire bottom of the tank (on the outside) until the wax is flush with the frame.

That way, when I fill the tank with water the pressure will press against the wax, and the was will press against the thick plywood under the tank. That way, the bottom of the glass is supported.

What do you think of this idea? What do you use to cushion your tanks?

[Slappy*McFish]

styrofoam works well.

[somefinnfishy]

most tanks made dont have the bottom brace even my new 75 and 55

[Wulfy]

Unless you buy the REALLY EXPENSIVE candles.
You know from the health food shops and hippe hangouts
you will be buying parafine candles. Nothing to do with wax.

I would go with styrofoam.
Its proven and it works.

[HungryGoldfish]

Are you sure about the styrofoam? I'm concerned that it will only compress a little where the tank frame makes contact with it, but won't depress enough for any of the styrofoam to actually make contact with the bottom of the tank.

[FASTRAKR]

I trimmed a piece of styrofoam to fit inside the frame on the bottom of the tank and then also put a piece under the from between it and the sheet of aluminum that is on top of the stand. The piece inset in the frame is a little thicker than the depth of the frame which should allow it to compress some.

Not saying this is the best way, just the way I did it.

FASTRAKR

[HungryGoldfish]

Mr. FASTRKAR,

In the medium lifespan I have lived I have come across 2 types of styrofoam. One of them is pretty tough stuff, and requires not a small amount of pressure from my fingers to make a dent in it. The other type is the rather fragile stuff where you can break it easily, and when you do it sometimes sends a shower of small particles around when you do so.

I assume you use the more spongy, fragile stuff?

[FASTRAKR]

I guess it is the stuff that breaks and little pieces fall. I got it at a home building supply store. It is the insulation that you would put behind vinyl siding or ??? It came in a 4x8 sheet for about $5 I think.

Sorry, I usually design in steel and aluminum so I am not really up on my styrofoam terminology!

Fastrakr

AKA Tim

[skeletalmachine]

The bottom of your tank most likely doesn't need support under the glass. Supporting it only along the edges should be just fine. Several of my tank stands only support the edges of my tanks, I can even reach under and touch the bottom glass. If the tank needed support under the bottom glass then it would be constructed in such a way that it would recieve that support. I think the crossbrace on some larger tanks is there to stop the front and rear glass from bowing.

[Slappy*McFish]

Very true, those braces do nothing for preventing the bottom glass from breaking....You could also use 3/4 plywood under your tank, though I really don't think any form of extra support is neccessary.

[somefinnfishy]

save the hot wax for the bedroom:D

[valerie]