What to put under a tank

[sandy_n]

I read a post that mentioned putting foam or something under a tank to even it but I can't seem to find it now. I think they said Home Depot carries it. Could somebody tell me what it is that I'm looking for?

[Algenco]

1/2" foam insulation, get the pink or blue, the white is too soft and is messy

[wezel815]

ha!! i used cardboard guess im a little more redneck then i thought

[Deftec]

I didn't use anything, and my water is level...Not bad for a 50 year old house haha

[Minderella83]

Wezel 815, I have cardboard under my 10 gallon that is on one of those wrought iron stands.

[Algenco]

cardboard works, until it gets wet

[toddnbecka]

The best thing to put under a tank is another tank, provided the stand will allow room to maintain it. Otherwise, you'll need to get creative w/water changes.
Obviously, I don't contribute to research to find a cure for MTS. :18: :hmm3grin2orange:

[sandy_n]

Great...I'm going with the foam insulation, lol.

Thanks guys!

[Tigerbarb]

Reading this thread made it occur to me that I might want to look into something to put under my next tank when I set it up. Is it a must?

[smoochxoxo]

I have a 10 gallon and didn't put anything under my tank with thickness, I just used an old white flannel pillowcase. It looks like a little table runner and hopefully absorbs some shock that the environment will give off so the tank wont crack. I think being that it is only a 10 G with not alot in it, it should be ok, I hope. I never thought about putting foam or anthing under!!! eeeeek
Hugs

[sandy_n]

I think I read that it's not as critical as it is with the larger tanks. :c3:

[Algenco]

the foam will prevent small imperfections, high spots in the stand from causing pressure points that could crack the tank.

Some manufacturers will not honor the warranty if foam isn't used under the tank

[Cichlid*Newbie]

Hmm i have a 30gal and was never told to put anything under it, it just sits on a solid wooden stand...

[Burlock]

i dont have any under mine hope it doent end up being a problem :/

[Lady Hobbs]

I used the box my tank come in. Made 2 layers of the cardboard. The "stand" (my bedroom dresser) had the slightest warp to it in the center. No more than the thickness of a dime but the cardboard took care of the problem.

As Algenco says, until it gets wet. So far as good after 2 months so we'll see. I was actually thinking of taping a plastic bag to it to prevent it from getting wet but got lazy and didn't.

[Incredulous_Ed]

If you have soe carpet laying around, you can use that. Ise it on 2 of my tanks and the results are great. PLus its free if you already have it laying around.

[BkD]

I'm pretty sure the foam is used so when you put your tank on a table or something if there's a slight bow in the table the foam stops the tank from cracking/breaking because if the bow is big enough and you put a decent sized tank on it and fill the tank with water there's a lot of weight so then the bottom of the tank trys to flex to go with the bow and cracks.

[elfritobandito9]

I have a 20 gal on the top of a wood stand and a 10 gal below it. Its a 100 year old house and the water is slightly lower on the right side than on the left. I moved in 3 weeks ago. No problems yet. Do you think it will continue to hold up?

[Dave66]

I use cork, but that's because I always have, and have seen no reason, nor cracked tanks, to change. elfrito, your tank may or may not fail due to the unequal pressure on the glass. Only solution would be to shim the stand until the water is level.

Dave

[Dubie]

I was reading in a book the other day that you don't need to put something under if you have one of those aquariums where the bottom glass is suspended up inside the side walls a little bit, and the side panes contact the table top while the bottom doesn't.