Why Add Styrofoam Under Your Aquarium?

[NetCop]

Okay, I seem to have the just of why people use styrofoam under thier tanks but I thought I would make this thread as perhaps one of the experts here could go into detail as to:

-Why would someone add styrofoam under thier aquarium?
-Is it recommended or just a preference?
-How thick should the styrofoam be?
-Where are the good places, best prices to purchase styrofoam?
-Etc...

I thought this would be a good thread to inform those new to the hobby.

Okay Experts... Your Turn!

[Dr. Ashtray]

I have never used Styrofoam but I would imagine it would have a dampening effect on the shock waves produced by all motion outside the tank.  I usually put some double or triple walled cardboard for the same effect.  Well, I mean, Styrofoam would probably be better but is usually not handy when I am putting a tank together.  If I were to use Styrofoam I would probably use a higher quality that that white crap they use to pack televisions.  I would probably go with Styrofoam rail they use for highways if you can snag some of that.  It is a very dense and weather resistant grade of Styrofoam.  Other than that I would have to fill the rest of this with the literal/proverbial gravel in the fertilizer. 

Main purpose of Styrofoam thus is to keep the shocks of everyday life away from your prized co-inhabitants. 

Jeffrey...

[Dr. Ashtray]

Almost forgot about heat loss in the tank and how Styrofoam would insulate the bottom of the tank to help with that as well as keep the de-shock zone in effect.

Jeffrey...

[babblefish1960]

The original reason for adding styrofoam underneath a tank was based on two distinct factors.
The first being that the tank had the bottom plate truly on the bottom, whereas most tanks now are made with floating bottoms, in that they bottom pane of glass is not the bottom of the tank, it is suspended from within the tank about an inch usually from the base.

The second being that the surface which the tank usually resided upon was either homemade or a piece of furniture such as a dresser or such and as such was not always a truly flat surface.

These two conditions would meet together and create what were called stress risers in a tough and flexible homogeneous material that sadly has a distinct breaking point, with the usual accompanying sounds.  These stress risers would culminate in catastrophic failure from a single point in the two surfaces having so much pressure applied, and that often meant water everywhere all at once.

Why we still do it, is for similar reasons, but largely to meet two objectives, the first being that it is a good insulator for the tank to not lose, or sometimes gain heat too easily, and also to keep the irregular contact surfaces from creating these errant stress risers.  Busdriver can explain what happens when a stress riser erupts on the front panel of a 150 gallon tank with a 30" height.  It made a mess.

Do not be misled or mistaken in the belief that styrofoam will level a tank, it will never happen.  Your stand must be solid, secure, and perfectly level, and the styrofoam will iron out the little imperfections in either surface.

Any thickness is good, making certain that the mounting of tank onto the foam won't become imperiled by instability, but I use 1" commonly, and have lately been finding that the 5/8" foam is equally amusing.  I believe there is 1/2" as well, and by styrofoam, I do not mean the white packing foam, I am referring to the blue or pink extruded foam that is found at any hardware store.

[PoisonJello]

best place to buy: home depot, the pink stuff 1/2" or thicker and its cheap

[darkdep]

I always use 1/2in, and the white foam from Home Depot.  Put your tank on it, and cut it slowly with a sharp razor blade, and you can get it to the exact dimensions of your tank...you'll forget it's there.

[KLKelly]

I had followed this thread a while back when it was posted by someone else and I have to admit to it not making as much sense as it does now.  Attending that resealing workshop helped with some concepts that I wasn't understanding very well.

I need to take down my 90 gallon and redo it (levelling and styrofoam)!  Thanks for posting this again.

[succinctfish]

The larger the tank, the more important I think it is to use styrofoam, especially if, like me, the floor the tank is being supported by is less than level or solid.  It's insurance against the possibility of stress on the tank.  A leaky tank that could have been avoided is a distressing, depressing thing. Why have to reseal a tank, or risk an expensive tank crack with the resultant water damage and risk to the fish, when a less than $10 investment could have prevented that?  I walked in the door one time, and unexpectedly stepped in water, lots of water. I looked over frantically at a tank, and there are the fish, desperately trying to let me know that they are in only 6 inches of water, and it's going down fast.    That was a stressful afternoon.  Better safe than sorry, I say.
Folks on the site when this subject has come up in the past, stated they have used various things underneath for support, exercise mats, white styrofoam, those interlocking foam things that people use in basements or for their kids to play on...  Cardboard is a new one to me, if you never spill or splash water I guess it works, but I'm far too messy for that. Pink styrofoam is my choice, I use 1/2 inch, super cheap, doesn't compress over time the way white styrofoam and exercise mats do, so it's a great long lasting, waterproof choice.  I have used one of those blue camping mats under a 40 gallon breeder, but I wouldn't use it under a bigger tank, as it did compress a fair bit. I don't bother with anything under the tank if it's 20 gallons or less, I just make sure with my trusty level, and shims under the stand, that all is well, which of course, is the most important step, level the stand, never the tank.

[beowulf]

I've never done it but will be trying for the first time when I set up the 90g I got.  I am using it for the above mentioned reasons.

[NetCop]

I'm glad I set up this thread to inform those who were not sure (and it seems also to refresh the minds of others when this topic came up before... my bad fo rnot knowing this).

I will be moving my 100 gallon soon and will purchase some for it's new spot.
By the sounds of it, I'd be best/happiest going with the ½" pink stuff.

[succinctfish]

1/2 inch would be okay, but as you're looking at a 100 gallon tank, 1 inch would be ideal.  I use 1/2 inch for up to 65 gallons, for larger tanks, I use an inch.  Either way, good for you, and have fun moving your tank. (bend at the knees)

[NetCop]

...bend at the knees

After bringing in the think up the stairs... to the top floor, I think this will be easy enough.
I think it's going ot be more of a hassle cleaning out the tank of it's contents and inhabitants before moving it then actually having to move it.

Now, to make plans to go shopping for the styrofoam!

[RoxyDog]

but but...it's not asthecially pleasing?  what about those of us who don't want a big pink thing of styrofoam between my lovely tank bottom (especially with no black plastic rim, I like it rimless) and a black stand?  any idea?  both of my tanks are not level, and my vanity will sure bring me down (well I hope not!)...but I refuse to use styrofoam.   

[darkdep]

Paint it black?

[babblefish1960]

Well in your case roxydog, besides needing to be certain that the stand is perfectly level, is give this a thought.  What I have done with my tanks, particularly as they are mostly wooden stands I constructed, I have made a mitred trim piece that encircles the tank along the styrofoam edge and high enough to cover the bottom plastic trim as well, it looks rather nice actually.  However, as you have a trimless tank, one suggestion that I have seen done convincingly well is jet black shiny electrical tape to cover the styrofoam in a nice way that can only be noticed upon close inspection.  Either that, or use a more stiff form of black rubber foam that is only about 1/8" thick.  It too can make a difference if you are concerned.

[Adam]

I emailed all glass aquariums about this awhile ago.  They suggested not to put styrofoam underneath an aquarium.  I can't remember their reasoning, but it had something to do with warranties and floating glass panes vs. plate glass bottoms.

Just for information, the 6' tank bottoms can support 10 000 psi, the 4' tank bottoms can support 8 000psi. 

Adam

[audioslave_36]

Jen you could get a nice piece of trim to go around them


I use 1" pink on all my tanks, from my 70g to my 220g, I have entirely to much water "suspended" in my house not to I even used on my store bought "recommended" stand and when I built my fish room an moved all my tanks into the walls, the foam that was under my 220g showed clear signs of compensation, so I would never go without it under my tanks.

[veron]

foam is never recommended for glass tanks! don't do it.
foam is recommended for acrylic tanks, reason being is that if theres any unlevelness or pock dips etc.. it could help even it out. use thin foam on acrylic bases.
as BIGDADDY mentioned pretty much all glass tanks have a plastic trim along the bottom that is in contact with the stand. if the foam was compressed enough it could pop the bottom out.
a solid stand is needed and most large tank makers prefer you buy there stand for warranty

[succinctfish]

if the foam was compressed enough it could pop the bottom out.

Hence the recommendation to use pink styrofoam which is rigid and compresses very little,  enough to compensate for unevenness in the stand, and also creaky old floors, but certainly the styrofoam never comes into contact with the glass bottom of the tank, so I don't see how it could pop it out.  The point is to cut it to the size of the tank, not to fit inside the bottom trim.

[NetCop]

but but...it's not asthecially pleasing?  what about those of us who don't want a big pink thing of styrofoam between my lovely tank bottom (especially with no black plastic rim, I like it rimless) and a black stand?  any idea?  both of my tanks are not level, and my vanity will sure bring me down (well I hope not!)...but I refuse to use styrofoam.   

You could always cover the pink with...

[veron]

sooo all the tank makers are wrong?? I think a 90g tank with rock,sand and water gets pretty heavy! and that brace can cut threw. and ridged foam will not even out an unlevel stand.the foam will be unlevel as well so the tank will still be unlevel causing stress on the tank

[PoisonJello]

the foam is not there to level anything, it is just incase there is a stress point on your stand..for instance if there is a flaw or maybe a bump from dirt that you didn't notice when you put your tank on the stand it will cause a stress point and over time can weaken the glass and cause a break, then you have an even bigger problem with water everywhere...with foam there won't be any stress points
tank builders alway recommend buying there stands because they don't make money if you buy someplace else or build one yourself (not to mention those store bought stands are made really cheap)
they don't recommend foam because there is many different kinds of foam and not everyone would think to use proper stuff..if you used foam that is not dence enough it will just compress and that could cause problems also
so really it is up to you in the end, you can believe the people that make the tanks that want your money and probably don't even own aquariums or you can believe the guys and gals that have kept aquariums for years... with or without foam its still just about the fish

[NetCop]

I don't think they're saying all the tank makers are wrong; it just depends on the situation of your tank, the stand you are using etc would all play factors in this.

Such as in my situation, I have a 6' long 100G with no trim on the bottom.
The bottom plate is flush, not raised.
I wasn't going to fuss about how it was made... I got it for free.
But from what has been brought up here, as I said in each thier own situation, I am best to buy 1" pink foam to lay my tank on to absorb any shock when I move it to it's new spot (after I make sure the stand it's going on is level).

Oh, and of course bribe a friend with alcohol to help me move the sucker!
*and bend at the knees!

[veron]

your tank is definatly out of the ordinary. that type of buils is nomaly reserved for very big tanks. but for the 99% of tank owners of glass tanks foam is not recommended. the stand should be sturdy
and flat.chances are if the person is looking to use foam then there must be a stand issue. theres lots of new tank owners reading this site and I'd hate to give them the impression that whatever is wrong with the stand they want to use [furniture] that it can be just fixed by foam. I've had tanks since I was 12, I'm 43 now so I have had a few tanks and I built my own 500g glass tank.

[charlie]

The original reason for adding styrofoam underneath a tank was based on two distinct factors.
The first being that the tank had the bottom plate truly on the bottom, whereas most tanks now are made with floating bottoms, in that they bottom pane of glass is not the bottom of the tank, it is suspended from within the tank about an inch usually from the base.

The second being that the surface which the tank usually resided upon was either homemade or a piece of furniture such as a dresser or such and as such was not always a truly flat surface.

These two conditions would meet together and create what were called stress risers in a tough and flexible homogeneous material that sadly has a distinct breaking point, with the usual accompanying sounds.  These stress risers would culminate in catastrophic failure from a single point in the two surfaces having so much pressure applied, and that often meant water everywhere all at once.

Why we still do it, is for similar reasons, but largely to meet two objectives, the first being that it is a good insulator for the tank to not lose, or sometimes gain heat too easily, and also to keep the irregular contact surfaces from creating these errant stress risers.  Busdriver can explain what happens when a stress riser erupts on the front panel of a 150 gallon tank with a 30" height.  It made a mess.

Do not be misled or mistaken in the belief that styrofoam will level a tank, it will never happen.  Your stand must be solid, secure, and perfectly level, and the styrofoam will iron out the little imperfections in either surface.

Any thickness is good, making certain that the mounting of tank onto the foam won't become imperiled by instability, but I use 1" commonly, and have lately been finding that the 5/8" foam is equally amusing.  I believe there is 1/2" as well, and by styrofoam, I do not mean the white packing foam, I am referring to the blue or pink extruded foam that is found at any hardware store.

Veron, perhaps you missed this post, i think it addresses your concerns.
Regards

[PoisonJello]

maybe there is a better way to see why people use styrofoam under any tank...
take a small plain of glass and put a pebble under it then put some weight on top of the glass to see what happens  (that will show what a stress point can do)
you could try the same with plexiglass but it will not have the same affect (plexiglass will just bend but with a lot of pressure it might crack) 
styrofoam is a good thing especially with a flat bottom
if your stand is prefectly flat, foam is not needed but the odds that it is prefect are pretty slim, and those store bought stands well....just ask busdriver 

In life you just have to go with what you know or ask someone else and be just as lost as they are 

[Dr. Ashtray]

Makes sense!

Jeffrey...