Are mats/tiles necessary under a tank?

[Fazzafaris]

Hi guys.

I'm setting up a new tank soon and wonder whether it is worth bothering with putting anything between the tank bottom and the stand. Before I have used ceiling tiles but have found they discolour over time and spoil the look of the tank. I have seen special mats are available too, but have not found any big enough for my tank. Are they actually necessary?

Thanks.

John.

[Sploke]

I use weatherstripping. Some people worry about it more than others, and some tanks specify that the tank has to be on some cushioning layer to keep the warranty valid.

[galen]

lol, i use old towels folded up.

[Mgamer20o0]

i use styrofoam.... not a must but should add it.

[khombre]

i use styrofoam.... not a must but should add it.

Styros are the common practice here too :)

[elementkid65]

polystyreene

[Brian Bivens]

What is the purpose of placing something between the tank and the stand>?

[VFC]

You need to make sure the stand and/or floor doesn't put any twisting force on the tank. Virtually all tanks are not laying perfectly square on the stand. Some may start out square, but after a few months, one corner of a wooden stand may compress more than the others; or the floor may sagged a bit under one leg. The best way to describe the problem is to imagine placing a quarter under one of the corners of your tank. The force of the water and tank contents will try to push all four corners down to make contact. The raised corner will cause a twisting force that will put considerable force on the glass panels and silicon seams. If the twist is severe enough, even a perfectly manufactured high-end tank, can suddenly fail.

In order to minimize the twisting force, you need to use foam that is the proper density and closed cell so it doesn't crush completely over time. You know you have the correct density foam if it compressed about 25% after the tank is filled. Most styrofoam boards are too stiff and offer little protection.

I used a 1/2" exercise mat under my 75G and a low density blue-foam board under my 150G. The stand under my 75G has sagged quite a bit after two years (floor is concrete). The foam compression varies from the original 25% to over 75% under two corners.

[loaches r cool]

Foam is required on a glass bottom tank - meaning the bottom glass is against the stand. In that application any tiny imperfection can creat a pressure point directly on the glass. Thats is not good. On a framed tank like you often see, the frame sits slightly lower than the glass so the demand is less. It can still be used to help minor imperfections but its effect isnt much, unless you have a twisting force like VFC mentions were the tank corners are not level. If they are not level at the time of installation though, its much better to use a shim to level it.

[Fazzafaris]

Thanks for all answers so far!

To loaches r cool
Excuse my ignorance, but what's a shim?

[Bk718]

Thanks for all answers so far!

To loaches r cool
Excuse my ignorance, but what's a shim?

http://www.shimcoshims.com/images/products/GS-1040-4-lrg.jpg

[ibr3ak]

Thin cut pieces of wood, like this:

http://media.mydoitbest.com/imagerequest.aspx?sku=160695&size=2&warehouse=C&newsize=200

[grannylvsfish]

wow I have nothing between my tank and stand, :eek:

[ibr3ak]

If your tank and stand are leveled and the tank's bottom glass is not resting on the stand then you don't really need anything.

[grannylvsfish]

If your tank and stand are leveled and the tank's bottom glass is not resting on the stand then you don't really need anything.

I have one tank on a desk. and I can see there is a difference in levels.( about half an inch :eek: but the big tank is on a stand and the glass does not touch it, just each corner.

[ibr3ak]

By level I mean that there is no twisting, as was mentioned by VFC earlier. The tank can actually be out of level (not by much) on a sloping floor for example, as long as it seats leveled on a stand.