Foam mat under acrylic aquarium?

[MarcosD]

I’m having a hard time finding a foam mat big enough to place under both a 48x24 and a 36x24 acrylic aquarium. Any suggestions? I see some from Innovative Marine but it says they’re 5mm so that seems really thin? BRS also has some neoprene foam sheets but that’s only 1/8” thick… Is there anywhere I can find this stuff locally? I don’t recall ever seeing it any at Neptunes

 

[Turkeysammich]

Foam board from Home Depot. Or yoga mat. Cut it up. Doesn’t have to be a single piece.

 

[B the Nano Reefer]

I used a denser and slightly thinner than typical yoga mat for my last 36” from Marshall’s/TJ Maxx. Super cheap. Did fine.

 

[MarcosD]

Foam board from Home Depot. Or yoga mat. Cut it up. Doesn’t have to be a single piece.

By foam board, do you mean this stuff?

 

[Turkeysammich]

Yes

 

[derek_SR]

I just put my tank right on plywood. I don’t think foam mat is really all that necessary.

 

[MarcosD]

I just put my tank right on plywood. I don’t think foam mat is really all that necessary.

Your tank is acrylic or glass?

 

[derek_SR]

Your tank is acrylic or glass?

225g acrylic

 

[Ayman]

I used gym foam matts. worked great for me. Found them at Ross

 

[ReyDeFarts]

@MarcosDelgado0 I ordered this for my upcoming build, which has since been halted by the tank for @a.little.hypertonic

MEARCOOH EVA Foam

This is the IM foam underneath my 50 For comparison. I hope this helps.

 

[MarcosD]

@MarcosDelgado0 I ordered this for my upcoming build, which has since been halted by the tank for @a.little.hypertonic

MEARCOOH EVA Foam
View attachment 62807

This is the IM foam underneath my 50 For comparison. I hope this helps.
View attachment 62808

Do you remember if the IM foam was a little short before and then true to size after the tank was on it? I was looking at the IM foams that are already cut to size (36x24 and 48x24) on Amazon because I thought they’d be easier to use but some of the reviews said they were a couple of inches too short which would be a problem if true

 

[iani]

Generally from my understanding foam under acrylic can lead to more bowing of the tank.

 

[MarcosD]

Generally from my understanding foam under acrylic can lead to more bowing of the tank.

That’s why I’m a little confused. In my research, some people say foam is a must on a flat bottom and others say no. Maybe I’ll text John and see what he thinks. I’m sure he’d know since he builds them

 

[Darkxerox]

I've never kept foam under my acrylic tanks but they were heavily eurobraced. @MarcosDelgado0 what are the dimensions again?

@Kensington Reefer what do you think about this?

 

[derek_SR]

What is the foam supposed to do? Never made any sense to me. Unless you want it for insulation?

 

[MarcosD]

I've never kept foam under my acrylic tanks but they were heavily eurobraced. @MarcosDelgado0 what are the dimensions again?

@Kensington Reefer what do you think about this?

48x24x18 Eurobraced 1/2”

36x24x12 Rimless 3/4”

 

[MarcosD]

What is the foam supposed to do? Never made any sense to me. Unless you want it for insulation?

From what I was told, it’s to level out any imperfections in the stand that could create pressure points and over time make the aquarium fail

 

[iani]

From what I was told, it’s to level out any imperfections in the stand that could create pressure points and over time make the aquarium fail

I don't think this is really a problem for acrylic. Like I said above it can be detrimental. I never put foam under any acrylic tanks I've owned.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

I agree with @iani
All my acrylic tanks are on plywood no mat

 

[Turkeysammich]

It’s cheap insurance. IMO.