Mats under rimless tanks

**shrimpnmoss** · 03-08-2012, 04:20 PM

I recently set up a RIMLESS 20 gallon long. Unfortunately, I did not put a yoga mat under this tank. There is water and a colony of shrimps in there right now. After reading some horror stories online about rimless tanks busting at the seams, I'm considering draining most of the water and putting a mat under the tank. HOWEVER, speaking to to other hobbyist some say its really not needed for smaller tanks. The tank is on a stand that is pretty level. Not perfect but only about 1/2 cm off. I have mats under all my other rimless tanks, I just skipped a step this time and I am kind of regretting it.

Should I stick a mat under anyways?

**duff** · 03-08-2012, 04:25 PM

Just my opinion, but an ounce of prevention.... PITA to now but I would feel a bit more at ease if it were me :0)

prototyp3 · 03-08-2012, 04:51 PM

Not sure I'd consider a 20 gallon rimless tank small.. 2 gallons maybe, but not 20. Get some foam under there.

vincent201089 · 03-08-2012, 05:01 PM

In my country, we used to put nothing under rimless tanks. I'm not sure if this will work for earthquake-socal-area.
However, I think you should do it, especially for rimless tank. We are in socal too.
Call few more friends, 20g is not a big deal. Cut it first, drain more than half water in it (a 20g with substrate and 5-7g of water is easy for 2 and a third person for putting the mat in), lift the tank up and put the mat or HD foam under it. So you don't stress out your shrimp.
Good look with your setup, I really like it. Learned many things from you.

**speedie408** · 03-08-2012, 05:18 PM

Do what I did, use those cabinet liners you see at Wallyworld. Stack them like 5 layers thick and viola. Instant foam cushion brotha! lol Works for my 120-P.

Actually here's how it looks when I first installed it:

Mighty spiffy if you ask me!

zergling · 03-08-2012, 06:57 PM

On my 120-P, I used 2 layers of foam board(?) at Office Depot. I think that product is supposed to be for sales presentations or something LOL!

Scyry · 03-08-2012, 06:57 PM

Has anyone used cork? I was looking at some cork pads for house plants pots the other day thinking they would work good for my 12" cube.

HD Blazingwolf · 03-08-2012, 07:37 PM

my question is.. why do you do this in the first place?

samamorgan · 03-08-2012, 07:58 PM

Took me 5 minutes to move my 20 long from my bedroom to my living room. Drain, lift, move. Filling took the longest. It only weighs about 50 pounds with most of the water drained.

Get the AquaPro 20 long? Exact tank I have. Great quality for $110

**shrimpnmoss** · 03-08-2012, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HD Blazingwolf

my question is.. why do you do this in the first place?

Concept is to evenly distribute the weight across the entire bottom of the tank due to the floor or stand not being perfectly level and stand sagging over time. Like a mini shock absorber/cushion under the tank. The reported failures on rimless tanks are usually the seams when one side or corner is stress over time compared to the other side.

**shrimpnmoss** · 03-08-2012, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samamorgan

Took me 5 minutes to move my 20 long from my bedroom to my living room. Drain, lift, move. Filling took the longest. It only weighs about 50 pounds with most of the water drained.

Get the AquaPro 20 long? Exact tank I have. Great quality for $110

We probably got it from the same spot or person.

HD Blazingwolf · 03-08-2012, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrimpnmoss

Concept is to evenly distribute the weight across the entire bottom of the tank due to the floor or stand not being perfectly level and stand sagging over time. Like a mini shock absorber/cushion under the tank. The reported failures on rimless tanks are usually the seams when one side or corner is stress over time compared to the other side.

good to know
thanks!

**antbug** · 03-08-2012, 10:44 PM

I was watching some Amano scaping videos and even under his big 180p's, I didn't see any mats? I'm I missing something or does he not use them?

**ZID ZULANDER** · 03-08-2012, 10:59 PM

I have a 20 gallon tank without a mat. Seems fine. I did find out that Mr. Aqua tanks will have mats in a few months for their size tanks.

prototyp3 · 03-08-2012, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antbug

I was watching some Amano scaping videos and even under his big 180p's, I didn't see any mats? I'm I missing something or does he not use them?

He has an army of boys to hand him plants and rocks, surely he has them hand sand his stands to perfect levelness as well.

View Poll Results: Should I stick a mat under my tank?
Yes	32	88.89%
No	4	11.11%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

03-08-2012, 04:20 PM	#1
shrimpnmoss Shrimpsanity (View User Tanks) PTrader: (59/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: 47° 31' 49" N / 122° 1' 53" W Posts: 3,015	Mats under rimless tanks I recently set up a RIMLESS 20 gallon long. Unfortunately, I did not put a yoga mat under this tank. There is water and a colony of shrimps in there right now. After reading some horror stories online about rimless tanks busting at the seams, I'm considering draining most of the water and putting a mat under the tank. HOWEVER, speaking to to other hobbyist some say its really not needed for smaller tanks. The tank is on a stand that is pretty level. Not perfect but only about 1/2 cm off. I have mats under all my other rimless tanks, I just skipped a step this time and I am kind of regretting it. Should I stick a mat under anyways? __________________ \|ShrimpTech\|v1\|v2\|v3\|v4\|

03-08-2012, 04:25 PM	#2
duff Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (29/100%) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dallas Posts: 594	Just my opinion, but an ounce of prevention.... PITA to now but I would feel a bit more at ease if it were me :0) __________________ 2nd Riparium Riparium

03-08-2012, 04:51 PM	#3
prototyp3 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (85/100%) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,166	Not sure I'd consider a 20 gallon rimless tank small.. 2 gallons maybe, but not 20. Get some foam under there. __________________ My: planted 40G

03-08-2012, 05:18 PM	#5
speedie408 Canon Pimp #001 (View User Tanks) PTrader: (362/100%) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bay Area, Cali Posts: 7,918	Do what I did, use those cabinet liners you see at Wallyworld. Stack them like 5 layers thick and viola. Instant foam cushion brotha! lol Works for my 120-P. Actually here's how it looks when I first installed it: Mighty spiffy if you ask me! __________________ Canon Pimp Club #001 \| "ADA 120-P" \| Shrimp PIX COLLECTION by speedie408 \| RIP 39g "The Beginning" \| RIP "Variance" 40B collectoritis tank"

03-08-2012, 05:01 PM	#4
vincent201089 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Garden Grove, CA Posts: 187	In my country, we used to put nothing under rimless tanks. I'm not sure if this will work for earthquake-socal-area. However, I think you should do it, especially for rimless tank. We are in socal too. Call few more friends, 20g is not a big deal. Cut it first, drain more than half water in it (a 20g with substrate and 5-7g of water is easy for 2 and a third person for putting the mat in), lift the tank up and put the mat or HD foam under it. So you don't stress out your shrimp. Good look with your setup, I really like it. Learned many things from you.

03-08-2012, 06:57 PM	#6
zergling Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (22/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bay Area Posts: 989	On my 120-P, I used 2 layers of foam board(?) at Office Depot. I think that product is supposed to be for sales presentations or something LOL! __________________ __________________________________

03-08-2012, 06:57 PM	#7
Scyry Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wheat Ridge, CO Posts: 137	Has anyone used cork? I was looking at some cork pads for house plants pots the other day thinking they would work good for my 12" cube. __________________ 26 Gallon Aqueon Bowfront: Anubias Nana, C. Lucens, C. Wendtii Red, C. Wendtii Brown, Amazon Swords, Tiger Lotus, Java Ferns 3 Leopard Cories, 2 Peppered Cories, 1 Bronze Cories, 2 Skunk Cories, 1 Clown Pleco, 2 SAE, 1 Geo. Jurupari, 4 Nerite Snails 2.5 Gallon Aqueon Bowfront: C. Lucens, Pearlweed Betta named George, and a Nerite

03-08-2012, 07:37 PM	#8
HD Blazingwolf Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 4,738	my question is.. why do you do this in the first place? __________________ Sump Pimp #7 75G Rainbowfish Journal

03-08-2012, 10:44 PM	#13
antbug I kill weeds! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37/100%) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,875	I was watching some Amano scaping videos and even under his big 180p's, I didn't see any mats? I'm I missing something or does he not use them? __________________ ADA mini L - ADA 120p ___________________

03-08-2012, 10:59 PM	#14
ZID ZULANDER Shrimp Crazy (View User Tanks) PTrader: (124/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 1,887	I have a 20 gallon tank without a mat. Seems fine. I did find out that Mr. Aqua tanks will have mats in a few months for their size tanks. __________________ Canon Pimp Club #005 I ship on Saturdays only in styro lined boxes and use Kordon breathing bags to ship. If you should have any DOA's. I need to know about it by email (mforman1@msn.com ) within 4 hrs of first attempt to deliver by USPS to get credit. No Shipping to HI, Alaska or out of the US.If you would like to order let me know what you want, how many of each item or animal and your paypal address so I can invoice you through paypal..

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