Would you use foam under tank on a wire rack?

[IEatBugs]

I am debating on if I should put some styrofoam under the tanks I have that are going on a wire rack. I have not used a wire rack to hold tanks until now. Traditionally with an aquarium that has a rim its not important, but being as these have no rim I am a little concerned. I would like to not use foam but does anyone have experience with this?

[Philsuma]

I have done this many times...homemade tanks with bare glass on wire

HEAVY weight on cheapo Walmart and Home Depot racks - big tanks and decent false bottom water.

As long as the plastic collars are put on /used right and the shelving is reasonable space and big weight is in the middle to low. NO problem IMO.

Nary a single crash from Baker's racks that I was ever aware of.

[Eric Walker]

I don't think its a bad idea with rimless tanks. Maby just a one inch thick pad to protect it. Better solution would be a better rack but that's obvious. The wire racks do serve their purpose but I woulnt trust them with anything but plastic grow outs or a few ten gallons. . I won't link to another site phill but there was a thread last year about a disaster with multiple exos I think they were.

[Philsuma]

We agree to disagree on the strength and usefulness of Wire Racks Eric. Not a problem !

[Eric Walker]

No problem with that phill. My vivs are just a little heavier and larger then the typical 20 gallon. Which is why I don't use them.

I use one for airdrying all my bleached plastics like floating feeding bins for my theloderma and nyctixalus pictus. And other cleanable reuseable stuff.

[IEatBugs]

Thanks for the replies. I will admit I am a bit nervous using the wire rack. I have seen others who have had issues with them but on the other hand there are also many others who have never had a problem. My concern was not so much with the rack itself but the tank not sitting on a solid surface.

[Armson]

Always put foam under a bare glass tank.If the tank has a trim and weight is on the trim then foam is not needed. I would heavily advise against bare glass on a wire rack.

But don't take my word......

Marineland - advises not to use any foam under their tanks. Because the weight of the fish tank is on the trim.
Tom @Glasscages - requires foam under his tanks because they are bare glass.
AGA/Oceanic - I don't remember what they said officially.
Old Oceanic (name of the new company escapes me) - echo'ed Marineland's statements.

There was a big heated debate on one of the reef forums a few years back and because I work at www.blueribbonkoi.com, I called all of our reps and got an official word from more than a few companies.


-Byron

[IDPM]

Chuck had a brilliant idea to beef up the shelf support for the wire racks. Can't find the post.

Automobile hose gasket / clamps right under the plastic collars.

[Philsuma]

also...two important tools for every wire rack afficiando:

1. Large bubble level

2. Rubber mallet for correctly setting the racks into those collars.

[RanaVenenosa]

Dont use foam. If your baker rack is the 48" long, then the depth should be 18" wide, your fine to use bare, dont worry, the rack is stable enough. If they are 14" depth (typical of the 36" baker rack) I use wood stretcher strips intended for artist canvas to create a flat surface, else the vivs will slide around. They are cheap and you buy them at any art supply store.

[IEatBugs]

All great info!

Byron, thanks for the info. I will err on the side of caution and use the styrofoam under the glass. I have used foam under every rimless aquarium I have ever set up in the past 14 years, better to be safe than sorry that's for sure.

Brad, I think I might give the gasket clamps some thought. I was thinking of drilling holes through the tubing and putting a bolt through it so it had no chance of ever coming loose. Using clamps would be so much easier that's for sure.

Indeed Phil, one can not get the shelf "right" without those tools.

Scott, my concern wasn't for the sturdiness of the shelves really, more of concerned with the glass sitting directly on the wire. Lots of pressure points not evenly distributed. This rack is 36x18 and will hold two 34x17x22 tanks.

[Philsuma]

Scott's idea/fix is just excellent !

[Armson]

Ok ... I am just about done with this bakers rack stuff.
Am I the only one that thinks they look like crap?
So what to do about it...

Can we do a group buy for the aluminum 80/20, eztube, etc ?
(I have no idea how much this stuff is)

I am planning on building more than a few things with the stuff long before I got frogs.
Anybody interested?


-Byron

[Armson]

Scott's idea/fix is just excellent !

Hey Scott,

Which Marineland LEDs are you using?


-Byron

[Philsuma]

oh there ARE better looking rack systems out there, ohmyyes...but bang for the buck, multitude of uses, easy to get,cheap transportable - take apart and store and even though they aren't 'living room good looking' , they look good in a mad scientist or frog room/breeder sort of way.

The ONLY thing bad about them is possibly (not everyone) their 'looks'.

[Armson]

oh there ARE better looking rack systems out there, ohmyyes...but bang for the buck, multitude of uses, easy to get,cheap transportable - take apart and store and even though they aren't 'living room good looking' , they look good in a mad scientist or frog room/breeder sort of way.

The ONLY thing bad about them is possibly (not everyone) their 'looks'.

Well I think it's about time we all upgrade from Mad scientist to living room. Let's see if we can get something together and keep the Caviar taste at bologna prices.


What else is out there? I have really just seen the aluminum tubes, bakers rack and of course custom wood

[IEatBugs]

The aluminum tube systems are really nice, and from what I remember the price on that stuff is through the roof. I really like the look but the price I just can't do.

[IEatBugs]

I just looked up the EZ Tube site, I think you could build a 48x24x84 rack for around $350. I guess that really isn't as much as I originally thought it was.

[RanaVenenosa]

Scott's idea/fix is just excellent !

Hey Scott,

Which Marineland LEDs are you using?


-Byron

Hey Bryon,
Yeah, That thing is a piece of crapola! I use exo hoods w Jungle dawn LED. They have served me well! I bought them a while back. Youd have to find my thread, but I guess 2 yrs now. Of course LED strips have come a long way so maybe even something better from the reefer world. If you want sexy, there is a kessil pendent w plant lighting that would be nice for a narrow vert, but its pricy. I think if I have to replace any bulbs I would migrate over to strip LEDs for that beautiful rack in the pic.