All Glass Tank

[ukteacherman]

I'm an old hand at fish keeping, and, having finally settled back in England after wandering for years, am about to set up a tank, (I used to own an aquarists about 20 years ago).
I've bought a second hand tank - no leaks! The problem is this - it's all glass, and the base is set inside the walls, (about 1.5cm up). The tank came with a silicone edge about 4mm deep along the walls of the base, and part of this was missing. There is no way I can repair that because it was obviously applied professionally so have removed it.
I have always previously used a mat under the tank, but I read somewhere that this type of tank should not be stood on a base mat, but sat directly on the surface, nothing between the glass walls and the stand, (one made of wood).
Can someone please advise me which is correct? Mat or no mat?
Thanks in advance
Terry :blink:

 

[jennakid]

sorry. i cant help you with that.
xo
goodluck

 

[dave1987]

dont really understand what ur going onabout maybe a picture of it will help

 

[alysonpeaches]

dont really understand what ur going onabout maybe a picture of it will help

What sort of tank is it?

It sounds like mine. A Juwel Rekord 96. You dont use a mat with mine as the base is fitted. It goes straight onto a cabinet. Any repairs can be made with special silicone sealant, your aquarium retailer will sell it. But you say there are no leaks? Does it just need some more sealant?

Does it look a bit like this?

 

[kewskills]

If it is a completely glass tank, no support unlike the photo in the post above, then i would place it on polystyrene sheet.

As stated a photo will help greatly.

Oh to the forum

 

[Tetraking]

I have Rekord 96 aswell and i am sure it should sit on two square white poly tiles, i don't bother with mine, but the manual says you should. Check it out in members tanks

 

[msghael]

A all glass tanks should preferably have a base of soft resilient material. Thermocol (EPS) works fine. I have a 450 lit tank. It sits on 25mm EPS sheets (actually 12.5 x 2).

The purpose of this is to allow any dust particle, sand etc to get embeded into the EPS. Other it would have a localised point contact and a very high local stress. I have done it to play safe even though my tank, 12 thick, is capable of being supported on its edges. Have had no problem and the EPS sheets cost less than a pound here,
Hope this helps
Maninder

 

[alysonpeaches]

I have Rekord 96 aswell and i am sure it should sit on two square white poly tiles, i don't bother with mine, but the manual says you should. Check it out in members tanks

My manual says it doesnt need to sit on anything. Perhaps its an older/newer model?

 

[CentricOregon]

dont really understand what ur going onabout maybe a picture of it will help

What sort of tank is it?

It sounds like mine. A Juwel Rekord 96. You dont use a mat with mine as the base is fitted. It goes straight onto a cabinet. Any repairs can be made with special silicone sealant, your aquarium retailer will sell it. But you say there are no leaks? Does it just need some more sealant?

Does it look a bit like this?

You should probs clean you're tank, looks a bit yellow from the pic lol no offence.

 

[alysonpeaches]

dont really understand what ur going onabout maybe a picture of it will help

What sort of tank is it?

It sounds like mine. A Juwel Rekord 96. You dont use a mat with mine as the base is fitted. It goes straight onto a cabinet. Any repairs can be made with special silicone sealant, your aquarium retailer will sell it. But you say there are no leaks? Does it just need some more sealant?

Does it look a bit like this?

You should probs clean you're tank, looks a bit yellow from the pic lol no offence.

One word "BOGWOOD"

 

[Tolak]

A traditionally designed tank where the sides are supported by the bottom sheet of glass, and the bottom sits flush with the stand will do better with a little styrene or foam pad beneath the tank, on top of the stand.

Tanks of a floating base design, where the bottom is supported by the sides do not need this, and if you do use too thick of padding, which puts pressure on the bottom glass, you risk the bottom giving out.

 

[waterdrop]

I agree with Tolak, because there was quite a good discussion of this in the "Hardware and DIY" sub-forum and that discussion reached the same conclusion that Tolak summarizes here (perhaps Tolak was one of the main contributors there too! Can't remember but know he has many wonderful and experienced answers.

When placing a floating base design on styrofoam (or other such cushioning), besides the danger of the material crushing and then giving out, as Tolak says, there is also the added problem that you are raising the height of a very heavy object (the tank) and putting it on something more flexible, therefor opening the possibility that it will sway more with floor movements and vibrations. This could further exacerbate the crushing problem and be more dangerous in and of itself.

So for a floating base design (which sounds to be clearly what you have) the consensus appears to be that it should sit directly on the stand. The stand should be very level and carefully cleaned of any debris.

If the stand is wood, particularly particleboard, it can help to cut a sheet of thin but strong "plastic moisture barrier" (essentially like a black plastic garbage bag, but sold in greater thicknesses in hardware stores for the construction industry) to be just barely wider than the tank base. This may help keep the particleboard from getting wet, which can cause it to swell, placing the tank on an ueven surface and cracking it. Particleboard bases should still be inspected frequently.

~~waterdrop~~