Question: Alternative to Poly foam under tank?

[blackdog]

I am setting up a new tank for my axies.

I wont be using a stand or cabinet, but just on top a low line cabinet.

So, this means the foam under the tank will be very visible (translate - ugly)

What solutions have others used?

I've seen foam wrapped in a black garbage bag - not keen on that.

I wondered about painting the foam black, gain, i'm not keen on that because i reckon it will look like - well - foam just painted

I was wondering if another type of product is available to use?

Some sort of black high density foam rubber perhaps might look a little neater and less visible than white eva foam?

Thanks in advance!

Bren

 

[Mac Myers]

How thick is this foam? I've been keeping aquariums for a long time and I've never used any. What's it for? :happy:

 

[sek]

I use a thin sheet of foam, which tends to ease condensation. Trays & Similar things tend to cause condensation on whatever you've got your aquarium on.

 

[blackdog]

How thick is this foam? I've been keeping aquariums for a long time and I've never used any. What's it for? :happy:

its about 20 mm thick? It's used to stop the tank from breaking / cracking from the weight of the water.

If you have only used smaller tanks, or your tank has some other sort of base (like plastic angle trim) - you might not have had to use it.

Imagine you put a flat glass on a table that has a small stone under it. If there is no weight on the glass, it will just sit there. But put weight on it, and the glass will push down on the small stone, and crack.

So the foam just evenly distributes the weight of the tank so any small faults (like an uneven surface) in the stand or base of the glass doesn't cause it to break.

I think ?

Any other alternatives?

B

 

[jclee]

Any other alternatives?

B

I've heard of people using cardboard, but I don't know how well that worked out for them. What about eggcrate? Or what about wrapping the material in a trimmed and fitted bedsheet, which would look a little prettier than a garbage bag (albeit less water-resistent).

 

[Mac Myers]

Ah.. Ok... that makes perfect sense. It's amazing what I don't figure out on my own these days. All of my tanks have had trim except for 1 that I made about oh...er....when we were all still living in caves. I put it on a piece of wood. :happy:

 

[Ken Worthington]

Hi, under my two small tanks I have used a double thickness of a 'camping roll mat' cut to size (very slightly bigger than the base of the tank). The roll mat is what people use as a 'mattress' when camping. Its made of closed-cell foam (rather than the inflatable type) and is about half an inch thick. It's sold in lots of different colours, also.
Closed-cell foam and polystyrene tiles will also help to keep the temperature stable, but to a very very small degree.
Blackdog's explanation on giving the tank an even surface on which to sit sums it up perfectly :happy:

 

[blackdog]

Thanks for your answer Ken.

I am very glad you offered it up, because i had done some research in the last couple of days and just spoke to the guys at Pools,Swimming Pool Packages,Foam & Rubber Products,Clark Rubber (for aussie members) They have sold "Closed cell foam" to fishy folks before for just the same reasons i have - it comes in black and it's prettier than white foam - Cost about $15 for 12 mm and $20 for 20 mm (for a 3 ft tank)

So Ken - the fact you specifically mentioned closed cell foam confirms they are not leading me astray

Another phone call to Reef & River Aquatics Home confirmed that for a 3 ft tank, 12 mm closed cell foam should do the trick - a heavier tank might need a thicker foam - but rule of thumb, if your tank needs 20 poly foam, then 20 mm closed cell foam should be ok

When i set this tank up (in a month - 6 weeks) i'll let you know how it all went.

Bren

 

[Ken Worthington]

Hi again! The camping roll-mats I was refering to are roughly 6x2 feet and sell in the UK for around £5, like I say, I use two layers to be on the safe side.

I use this successfully with my 24x12x12 inch aquarium (soon to be inhabited by a Xenopus laevis) and an 18x10x10 (cherry shrimp).

The planned 36x15x18 inch tank for the axolotls will probably sit on the conventional polystyrene tiles just because I'll prefer to opt for the 'tried-and-tested' with regards to the extra weight of the tank.

(By the way, I have handle-grips fitted to my motorbikes which are made of 'closed-cell' foam. They don't absorb water but they do absorb vibration through the bars!)