BIG aquarium

Question
Hello Chris

      You seem to have the most experience in the group so i'll ask you.

      I have a client that has just purchased a 300 gallon aquarium. He wants to know if he needs to put a piece of styrofoam between the tank bottom and the stand.

      I said no because it would be a nightmare for leveling, but by not doing so, he would be voiding the warranty. Is the styrofoam really necessary.

      Also, what is the proper way to shim a large tank like this. Here is the website where he got the tank. There are instructions on setup. If you could clarify them, it would most appreciated.

Thanks
Bob


http://www.glasscages.com/?sAction=AqWarranty

Answer
Hi Bob;

The largest tank I have ever personally set up is a 125 gallon. All the others I maintained or consulted on were already installed. Any tank, especially over 55 gallons can be very dangerous if not level. I have never heard of using styrofoam under a tank but I really can't second-guess a manufacturer's recommendation. They know their tanks and what they need better than I would. The customer really should use the foam if it's required and if they want the warranty to be honored in case of a problem. That's an awful lot of water and someone could be injured if it cracks!

Tanks that big should not be shimmed in my opinion. There is too much weight to depend on such a thin piece of material to support without some serious compression and subsequent off-leveling. They need a professionally made aquarium stand as the manufacturer suggests. The new stand should be perfectly level and will be guaranteed to be level as well. Shimming will not be necessary. They may need to level the bottom edges of the stand if the house floor is not level. I would consult an experienced carpenter or contractor for tips on doing that. Be sure they understand that there can be no gaps under any of the edges of the stand or tank. All edges must sit flush against the surface. We may even have such a professional here at AllExperts.com.

Another option for suggestions is to consult with About.com guides Shirlie Sharp (freshwater) and/or Stan and Debbie Hauter (saltwater). Their experience with larger setups may exceed mine. Here are their biopages with a link to contact them;

Stan and Debbie;

http://saltaquarium.about.com/mbiopage.htm

Shirlie;

http://freshaquarium.about.com/mbiopage.htm

Good luck and let me know how they solve their dilemma. I really would like to know more about the styrofoam thing.

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins