Why Styrofoam?

[J-P]

I was wondering why there is Styrofoam under larger tanks. Is it to insulate? Or prevent condensation? OR what?

I am almost finished building the first base on my stand and was wondering if I should apply the foam....

[eieio]

compensates for uneven surfaces
i don't have any large tanks, but i always put a thick piece of corrugated cardboard beneath my tanks

[Flutter]

It's supposed to help level the tank. Apparently they'll level themselves but I haven't seen any evidence of that.

[L!$A]

+1, we had it under our 90 G to help even out the weight w/ the steal stand.

[J-P]

ohh... dang.. then I should have picked up some

Maybe I can scoop some from work tomorrow...

[Flutter]

We have floor underpadding under all of our tanks except for the 65 which has 1/2" foam under it.

[J-P]

I don't have any spare under pad, but the foam I can get for free, but it is kind of dense. I won't need it today (thankfully), but will need it this week.

If not, than I can just get some sheets from the hardware store.

[RTR]

All my tanks over 10 gallons have styrofoam under them.

It does not level the tank. The hobbyist must level the stand.

The compressibility of styrofoam compensates for any local irregularity in the surface on which the tank rests. Local irregularities can break tanks. Not all commercial stands are really flat. Not all floors are really flat, few are even level. Not all DIY stands are really flat. Do not ask how I know this.

I prefer the blue beadboard. It is denser, stronger and better insulation. All three are positives in my book. I hate working with white styro - it is a PITA, but I do have some in such use. I cover the edges with dark brown or black tape before positioning the tank on it - it hides the styro of whichever formulation quite well. Few ever notice it, eve other tank keepers.

HTH

[pufferpuggirl]

When we got our first really large tank (more than 100 gallons) it came with styrofoam. I wasn't sure if we needed it or not, but we went and put it down anyway, now I'm glad I did.
I had a tank that was sitting on my kitchen counterspace and I didn't find out until my tank developed a leak that the counter top wasn't level. So the next tank I put there, we cut up styrofoam shipping boxes and put under it. In fact, I went around cutting up quite a few shipping boxes to put under our tanks.
I've still got some tanks that have nothing under them, and that's only because I didn't realise the necessity when I set up those tanks, but any tanks I do from now on, will always have something under neath them.

[Flutter]

Thank you for clearing that up as I've never been able to understand how it levels a tank, hence my "haven't seen any evidence of that"

[hazima]

How big does a tank have to be before considering foam? Also my tank hangs off my end table an 1/2 an inch on both sides. Is itsomething I should worry about as well? I have a 29 gallon tank

[eieio]

How big does a tank have to be before considering foam?

RTR : "All my tanks over 10 gallons have styrofoam under them."

Also my tank hangs off my end table an 1/2 an inch on both sides. Is itsomething I should worry about as well? I have a 29 gallon tank

a tank should have 100% support beneath it...............
you might consider cutting a piece of 3/4" thick plywood to put under the tank, with styrofoam between the tank & the plywood

[Cuchulainn]

Ideally your stand should be a bit larger than the tank, not hanging over at all. I do have one tank setup(70g) with a black trim that hangs over about 5mm. I've used it on the same stand for 7 years or so, setting it up in two homes. If it didn't have the black trim I wouldn't even try it. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. One day I will get around to making a proper stand for it ;(

[Flutter]

Yes, the entire tank should be supported.

+1 to Eieio's suggestion or find another place for it.

[RTR]

+1 to the above comments on supporting fully any rimed tank, or any tank for that matter. But the rimmed tanks are engineered to have all the weight supported by that rim. Any lack of support invalidates any warranty for one item, and does not make sense in any case. Tanks are heavy. Give them proper support or consider them time bombs. Not in my house.