The Puffer Forum

I'm just wondering, in the photo of the tank, you can see the bottom of the tank and it's looking as if nothing is underneath to give it support. If there isn't anything there to support the bottom of the tank, I highly suggest buying at least some cheap chipboard and putting it under there. I've learned a few lessons from not supporting my tanks correctly.

Oh yes, we plan on getting like, maybe 2-3 inch thick board to put under it - It's crazy to me to think we'll put 1,000 lbs of water in, plus substrate, decor - and NO support other than the glass? pshaw. Nothx. I'd lose sleep over that probably. The tank is pretty much almost a 'perfect' fit on it too, boyfriend wants to kind of... box it in, get the board, then get thinner boards (probably decorative trim even) and encase the bottom... lol... Fun Stuff.

I want to make a top for my babes 55g tank.. I just think it would look better.. of course we have to figure out to encase the bottom... gah.

Okay, I didn't mean to suggest that you didn't know what you were doing .... but I made the mistake of not putting any support under a couple of my tanks and paid the price for not doing so.

can you post up some pics of said support?

As far as I know tanks are only designed to be supported by the rim, I don't think you'd want anything touching that bottom glass and there's no point in putting wood all the way across if it won't be touching anything in the first place.

Nothing on the bottom? That sounds bad. Your not supposed to lift tanks when filled with water or substrate, cause the bottom may fall out. So I'd say get a bottom. I have all my tanks on dressers so they only have bottom support.

My cousin has an 85 gallon tank, they built the stand and it has a full bottom. He said that it would probably be fine without the bottom, but I'm just afraid that if I find a large rock, or get a large rock structure built - IDK... just seems scary to not have a bottom. Even if it's NOT touching the bottom glass, I think having the wood there to 'catch' any flexed out/broken glass may help slow the flow (I'm sure it wouldn't STOP the flow) but would be better than the whole bottom falling out into nothing?


Mezz, I think encasing would be easy - IDK if you have a Home Depot or something like that (Lowes?) near you, but they sell all kinds of decorative trim you can simply use wood glue to tack to a board, stain, and cut at proper angles to piece together to make a box. That'll be my next project, once I get this tank all together.

If you're worried about rocks you can put down foam or something like eggcrate. We got foam from the reef guy that we bought the rock and sand from. Under the rock we have foam and sand and that way it can't touch the bottom.

LOL I guess maybe I'm just overly... worried?

I've never had a tank this large, and it just seems scary to me that this glass is going to support the weight of 1000 lbs of water, 150 lbs of sand, plus decorations, and rocks... and possibly a large (maybe 30 lbs? idk??) rock? it'll hold it ok? I'd put the rock ON the sand, sand will def go in first - but really?? It's thick glass, but... I'm not even sure I wanna put the rock in LOL... Just scared it'll slip and drop... and SPLOOOSH! or something... I might just skip the rock...


but still ... really? all that?

Personally, I'd want more support for the bottom. You'd be surprised how stressed glass can get from all that weight being put on it.

You also have to consider, glass is very strong. Especially tempered glass. The bottom part is the thickest. the reason you dont want to pickup full tanks is because of the joints. the tank flexes, and it rips the silicone seals. My tank isnt supported.

As far as the leaking motor seal--check to see if there is an o-ring & than it is looking fresh.

, no 0 ring. =/ just twist it and it comes right out... All good tho, it's a pretty old filter, and going to replace it asap - so in the meantime I'm working on cycling with only one HOB filter - (gonna see about doing wet/dry) until this filter's new seal job cures (ran silicone around it, and put the motor back on...) we'll see how that works. If it doesn't, well... I guess I'll have to buy a new one

Maybe "no o-ring" is the problem?