- Joined
- Apr 21, 2017
- Messages
- 58
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While in Petco during one of their sales, I couldn't resist picking up a 40 breeder and a stand to go with it (for around $100).
So I get home and build the stand. It's a simple metal stand that seems sturdy enough. The instructions say to ensure the top brace of the stand is flush with the end pieces. I do my best and tighten up all the allen screws and set the tank on top. While all 4 corners sit just fine, the metal going between the end pieces has a gap you could fly a plane through...
Being somewhat resourceful, I grab a large 1" thick piece of styrofoam sheet (the kind used for shipping) and put it between the tank and stand and fill it up for a leak test:
(Apparently my porch isn't as level as I expected...)
No explosion, no cracks or leaks, just odd looks from my neighbors as I fill the tank on my porch. So far so good, I guess?
I decided to check the internet on whether this was a good idea, and it seems this is a holy war topic among aquarists. Some say foam, some say no foam. Some say as long as the tank is supported on all four corners, the middle brace doesn't matter. Some say it needs to be supported all around.
All the forum threads and info I've read have just left me more confused as to what I should do.
Should I remove the styrofoam or not? Should I consider the stand bad and trash it? Does an Aqueon 40 breeder need complete support around the rim, or just the corners?
So I get home and build the stand. It's a simple metal stand that seems sturdy enough. The instructions say to ensure the top brace of the stand is flush with the end pieces. I do my best and tighten up all the allen screws and set the tank on top. While all 4 corners sit just fine, the metal going between the end pieces has a gap you could fly a plane through...
Being somewhat resourceful, I grab a large 1" thick piece of styrofoam sheet (the kind used for shipping) and put it between the tank and stand and fill it up for a leak test:
(Apparently my porch isn't as level as I expected...)
No explosion, no cracks or leaks, just odd looks from my neighbors as I fill the tank on my porch. So far so good, I guess?
I decided to check the internet on whether this was a good idea, and it seems this is a holy war topic among aquarists. Some say foam, some say no foam. Some say as long as the tank is supported on all four corners, the middle brace doesn't matter. Some say it needs to be supported all around.
All the forum threads and info I've read have just left me more confused as to what I should do.
Should I remove the styrofoam or not? Should I consider the stand bad and trash it? Does an Aqueon 40 breeder need complete support around the rim, or just the corners?