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Posted by NetMax on January 31, 2006, 9:41 am
Please log in for more thread options > Bob wrote:
>> I am going to setup a Mbuna Cichlids 75gl tak. I would like to keep the
>> top open and suspend a 4' shop light over the tank. Would there be a
>> problem with the fish jumping out? I am not sure if they are jumpers or
>> not. My tank is in the garage and I will build a simple stand. Is it
>> recommended to place styrofoam between the tank and stand?
>> One more question, I will have a lot of rock and sand. would it be best
>> to put a plastic eag crate down and then sand and rocks?
>>
>> Thanks
>> Bob
>
> As I sit here with the Mbuna tank behind me the number of splashes would
> suggest to me that an open tank would not be the best idea...as for
> styrofoam I would go for it if you are building your own stand - you can
> get away without it with a factory built tank and stand - but don't risk
> it...
>
> I don't have egg crate in my tank and have around 30Kilo of ocean
> rock...most people would describe me as reckless doing this - I'd probably
> agree with them :-)
>
> Gill
A common method is to put a sheet of Styrofoam down first inside the
aquarium. Then assembly all your rock structures. Then add your substrate.
Then add water very slowly (on to a plate to not stir up the substrate
unnecessarily). As the waterline rises, you might want to pause
occasionally to tweak the rockwork. The Styrofoam under the rockwork
provides traction (they won't slide around), and removes point-load contact
point from stressing the glass.
Keep in mind that Styrofoam is buoyant, about 60 lbs per cubic foot.
Generally, mbuna tanks have more than enough weight in rocks to hold the
Styrofoam down. You could silicone the Styrofoam down to the base, but I've
never seen a case where this was needed (the more rocks you have, the more
you need Styrofoam, and more unlikely it is that the rocks are lighter than
the Styrofoam).
Egg-crate is used when you want to stop digging fish from exposing UGF
plates. Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam made of little bubbles of foam) is
not as good as extruded polystyrene (little bubbles of air) if you have
aggressive diggers (many medium-large cichlids) or chewers (some Plecos).
Also expanded polystyrene will degrade with time and begin falling apart
after several years. The extruded stuff lasts *much* longer underwater.
The use of any Styrofoam under the tank is to account for minor
imperfections or protrusions in the stand's surface. It's use depends on
your application. It's more commonly used with tanks over 500 lbs (your 75g
is in the 675-750 lb range).
hth
--
www.NetMax.tk
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> open and suspend a 4' shop light over the tank. Would there be a problem
> with the fish jumping out? I am not sure if they are jumpers or not. My
> tank is in the garage and I will build a simple stand. Is it recommended to
> place styrofoam between the tank and stand?
> One more question, I will have a lot of rock and sand. would it be best to
> put a plastic eag crate down and then sand and rocks?
>
> Thanks
> Bob
>
>