Sweetysmum Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 a six foot fish tank. Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 I'm not sure if there is a recommended thickness. My 4ft tanks have 2.5cm. I would have 4cm on a 6ft I think. I will be interested to find out what those who have that size tank use under theirs as I am getting one built soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 i have 20mm under my 460L which holds just a little less than your average six footer i think? im not sure there is a reccomended thickness either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 We have strips about 15mm thick. The tank is 200x60x60cm and holds about 660l of high quality H2O. There is ALOT of tank base not tougcing anything. The strips are taped on three slabs of machined granite. No problems in the 12+ months its been running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 not sure the recommended either but i have a 20mm under my 6' x 2' x 2'. better safe than sorry go for 25mm if ur unsure i dont think the cost would be that much different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoban Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Okay this is gonna sound Newb but what is the reason for putting poly under the tank again I know to balance weight and ensure no bumps etc but I look at my tanks without and poly and think if I put poly under them the weight of the tank is gonna send the plastic framing right through the poly or crush the crap outta it and the bottom glass will rest on it thus stressing the glass. Guess a lil confused at this point I get the base idea but looking for a lil better explaination or are these tank bare glass bases and thus no plastic frames that they sit on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 I have got 20mm under my 1060mmx 400x 600high. cheers Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopy Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Poly basically just smooths out the bumps. An added bonus is that it insulates the bottom of the tank. It isn't an item you must have but it is HIGHLY recommended. There is a poly called styroderm or more commonly blue and green foam. These are high density and aren't as forgiving as white foam. I do recommend insulating the back, sides and as much of the tank as possible. Use a glue gun to attatch the backing to the poly and the tank. Works far better than nails :-) This will reduce the power cost by a considerable amount if running heaters in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Mainly, as said, to smooth out those minor imperfections in the base of the stand and also to keep the heat in. Also a help in countries like ours where we have earthquakes. The poly absorbs a little of the shock (we like to think so anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tank Man Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 I am getting one built soon. Acrylic ? :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 When I got my first big fish tank made up (5ft), I was about 15 at the time, and I still remember the guy explaining to me in one short sentance why I needed to use poly underneath: "Glass doesn't bend well." 10 years later and I still find that amusing. I've only setup one tank without poly, it was 3ft and about 120 litres, previous owner said it didn't have poly under it before (turned out he was wrong btw), the base cracked right along the length of the tank, and within about an hour or two it'd fully drained dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 No not acrylic Tankman. I don't like acrylic as it marks too easily. I am getting TM to make me a tank and stand. He probably thinks I have forgotten about it but I am still working out size and what to put in it. Think I will get rid of the Malawis and get knifefish. Don't know anything about them so will have to research and see what can go with them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Malawis and get knifefish what type of knifefish are u thinking of getting? ghost, African or clown? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi_man Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 let me know when you want to get rid of your malawians caryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malawi_man Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 BTW i have 20mm on my 7'x2'x2' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 all clown knives, no matter the morph get relativly same size. Which is about 39 inch's. taken from Monster Fish Keepers. so obviously need very very large tanks. they average around 2 foot in most tanks though due to insufficient housing i would assume, seems not many people on MFK report of clowns over 30" though- http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... 819&page=2 not too up on africans but ive seen a 40cm BGK. sorry to hijack thread, i just love big fish :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 i wonder what happens to these clowns when they get that big in NZ the biggest one i've ever seen here is just over a foot/12'. so who is keeping them all? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Ummmmmmmmmmm!! This is about poly thickness, not MF thread. Please start another thread on that. Thanks. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 No not acrylic Tankman. I don't like acrylic as it marks too easily. I am getting TM to make me a tank and stand. He probably thinks I have forgotten about it but I am still working out size and what to put in it. Think I will get rid of the Malawis and get knifefish. Don't know anything about them so will have to research and see what can go with them too. good things take time, no rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetysmum Posted September 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 when my tank was delived last week he only gave me a 10mm poly to go under it. My tank would be sitting on it now if they hadn't have dropped the tank on the concrete and smashed the base as they reached our front step. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 i hope theyre making you another one free of charge! that has to be a fish keepers worst nightmare 10ml poly will most likely be totally fine, i think its just there to take out small imperfections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweetysmum Posted September 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 yes I was so excited when it came, and so disappointed when it happened. But thems the breaks I guess, no pun intended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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