Plywood under the tank?

[WestonNanos]

Okay, so I'm good to go? Thank you so much!

With all of the info I have to work with you are good to go!

 

[Notsolostfish]

If the shims are unsealed that is an issue, but them used to level isn't an issue.

If the plywood is in place I would use linseed oil instead. Use it where you can put it on the wood. This will stop any dry rot. You will need to re-apply it yearly but it should work for what you have now.

For the future remember to seal the wood before you put it in place.

How do I use varathane on the sanded plywood I got?, Just get a brush and paint it basically? I'm not that savvy with this stuff.

 

[EricR]

How do I use varathane on the sanded plywood I got?, Just get a brush and paint it basically? I'm not that savvy with this stuff.

Yes, that's fine.
Any exterior urethane should be fine (weatherproof and UV protection for when you're blasting your high-tech LEDs at it,,, just kidding) -- something like Helmsman Marine Spar Varnish or similar if you really want but it's not like you're submerging it in saltwater.

Multiple coats with dry time in between.

P.S. Plywood is a pretty broad category,,, there's better and worse (number of plies, etc) but whatever you have should be fine as long as supported via the frame below as others mentioned.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Yes, that's fine.
Any exterior urethane should be fine (weatherproof and UV protection for when you're blasting your high-tech LEDs at it,,, just kidding) -- something like Helmsman Marine Spar Varnish or similar if you really want but it's not like you're submerging it in saltwater.

Multiple coats with dry time in between.

P.S. Plywood is a pretty broad category,,, there's better and worse (number of plies, etc) but whatever you have should be fine as long as supported via the frame below as others mentioned.

What frame below? Theres the wood shims, and then the plywood and the tank stand, and then the tank.

 

[EricR]

What frame below? Theres the wood shims, and then the plywood and the tank stand, and then the tank.

I meant the frame of the stand that the plywood is sitting on.

 

[Notsolostfish]

I meant the frame of the stand that the plywood is sitting on.

English is not my first language. So bare with me. What frame? So in my picture u see the carpet, then the wood shims, then the plywood,and then the tank.

 

[EricR]

English is not my first language. So bare with me. What frame? So in my picture u see the carpet, then the wood shims, then the plywood,and then the tank.

Sorry.
Please ignore that I said "frame."
Also ignore what I said about "plywood" and "broad category."

Get your stand level by using shims, if you can.

 

[AquaBen]

Okay so I went to buy a piece of plywood to put it under my marine x60.3 because I have carpet in my basement. The guy at the hardware store telling me that plywood does not hold weight. Here I got terrified for a second because on my clear 4820 who is filled with rocks, water and thick layer of substrate 72 gallons. I have the same piece of plywood across it with wood shims under it. Now the guy telling me one day I'm going to be back home and I'll find my tank cracked. And I can't stop thinking about it now.

I had an old tank -- 40gal and it was on a stand that was largely made out of plywood. Over 10 years or so it had the usual spills and salt creep. In the end, when I went to dismantle it, the tank had become welded to the plywood such that I could not separate them. I still haven't figured out how I am going to remove it and take it downstairs. For my new tank, a Red Sea Reefer 250, I went down to my local granite counter top store (there are about 10 of them along one street not too far away) and I bought a remnant 2 inches all around larger than my tank and stand. It sits on the stand and the tank sits on it. It looks cool and no water drips are going to get to the stand.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Sorry.
Please ignore that I said "frame."
Also ignore what I said about "plywood" and "broad category."

Get your stand level by using shims, if you can.

And ditch the plywood?

 

[theMeat]

I had an old tank -- 40gal and it was on a stand that was largely made out of plywood. Over 10 years or so it had the usual spills and salt creep. In the end, when I went to dismantle it, the tank had become welded to the plywood such that I could not separate them. I still haven't figured out how I am going to remove it and take it downstairs. For my new tank, a Red Sea Reefer 250, I went down to my local granite counter top store (there are about 10 of them along one street not too far away) and I bought a remnant 2 inches all around larger than my tank and stand. It sits on the stand and the tank sits on it. It looks cool and no water drips are going to get to the stand.

Like that thinking.
Quartz won’t stain like granite, and a water drip cut around the outside edge along the bottom will get any water to drip off before it rolls around and runs down the cabinet

 

[EricR]

And ditch the plywood?

No.
Plywood is good on top of your stand.