Stand Build Question

[nept2n]

I am building my own stand and canopy and I have some questions. I waterproofed the inside of the stand and I used flex seal which is very rubbery and thick. . I want to protect the top of the stand from the occasional water spill or drips when i'm doing maintenance but I don't want to use the same flex seal.

I also wanted to ask does anyone put foam under the tank bottom glass for support? Is it recommended?

 

[Matt Carden]

Foam is a must if glass will be directly touching the stand. A marine(boat) paint with maybe some silicone at the joints for the top and really inside as well.

 

[don_chuwish]

It depends on the type of tank. For my plastic trimmed Aqueon 120G there is no foam pad needed - I used Formica on the top of the stand to protect it and it also made it much easier to slide tank on and get it positioned.
If you have a rimless tank with all glass bottom then you want a 1/4" foam pad.

 

[BornHandy]

If the tank has a plastic frame, no foam needed on the glass. If the stand sits level, and the frame is fully supported, no foam is needed there either.

If glass sits directly on the stand, foam for sure...

The foam is to "absorb" irregular pressure on the bottom of the tank in the event the stand isn't perfectly flat.

As for the seal, a good paint or clear coat should do the job.

 

[nept2n]

Foam is a must if glass will be directly touching the stand. A marine(boat) paint with maybe some silicone at the joints for the top and really inside as well.

Matt thanks the tank has a plastic rim on the bottom. I'll at marine paint.

 

[nept2n]

It depends on the type of tank. For my plastic trimmed Aqueon 120G there is no foam pad needed - I used Formica on the top of the stand to protect it and it also made it much easier to slide tank on and get it positioned.
If you have a rimless tank with all glass bottom then you want a 1/4" foam pad.

Don I have the same tank a Aqueon 120G which I bought used and I'm modding it. I removed the top brace and installing a Eurobrace.

 

[nept2n]

If the tank has a plastic frame, no foam needed on the glass. If the stand sits level, and the frame is fully supported, no foam is needed there either.

If glass sits directly on the stand, foam for sure...

The foam is to "absorb" irregular pressure on the bottom of the tank in the event the stand isn't perfectly flat.

As for the seal, a good paint or clear coat should do the job.

Thanks born handy. I have a plastic rim on the bottom. It's a smooth surface and the area where the tank will is level but on the off chance I need to level what do you recommend using?

 

[BornHandy]

As far as a foam to absorb irregularities, a medium to low density styrofoam works great (sheets of styrofoam insulation are usually made of it). If the tank's rim makes contact all the way around the stand, you shouldn't need it. A quick dry fit should tell you. If you do need it, half inch foam should compress nicely around the rim and give your tank a "comfortable" place to rest.

If the stand itself is out of level on the floor, plastic shims are a great bet, but cover as much of the "foot print" as you can. Shims on a single corner amounts to a huge pressure point, but shims that cover twice the area are half the pressure, four times the area, 1/4th the pressure - etc. The shims shouldn't stick out, so cut them flush with the stand (wouldn't want them to get knocked out from under a tank full of water).

Good luck!

 

[nept2n]

As far as a foam to absorb irregularities, a medium to low density styrofoam works great (sheets of styrofoam insulation are usually made of it). If the tank's rim makes contact all the way around the stand, you shouldn't need it. A quick dry fit should tell you. If you do need it, half inch foam should compress nicely around the rim and give your tank a "comfortable" place to rest.

If the stand itself is out of level on the floor, plastic shims are a great bet, but cover as much of the "foot print" as you can. Shims on a single corner amounts to a huge pressure point, but shims that cover twice the area are half the pressure, four times the area, 1/4th the pressure - etc. The shims shouldn't stick out, so cut them flush with the stand (wouldn't want them to get knocked out from under a tank full of water).

Good luck!

Handy thank you so much for the advice. I’m not at the point of a dry fit yet. As I’m still working on the stand and the tank is curing. I bought a used Aqueon 120g and I am redoing all the silicone and I removed the plastic brace and installed euro bracing which is curing right now followed by a water test. I’ll let you know how it’s going.