Reef Bruh's 600 Gallon Upgrade

Acrylic "flows" even though it's a solid. I'm not an expert on it, but know that it takes significant support to keep it flat, which I think your beams will do.

From an overall stability standpoint, I would say the plywood is a must before the styrofoam. What you have is similar to building a floor. The beams are like floor joists. When you have just joists, you can walk on them, but it's unstable. They don't flex in the vertical direction, but they will deflect in the horizontal direction. The blocking you've added helps that, and a floor begins to stiffen after you've added the blocking. However, it becomes very solid once you've added the plywood as it ties everything together.

I think your acrylic bottom will probably "flow" and form to any small imperfections in the plywood. My mom has a 180 gallon acrylic that sags at least a couple inches because she has a plywood only stand with no center support. She doesn't have any leaks. However, I would have to defer to an expert on that if they say the styrofoam is a must. My only experience with it is my mom's tank and my corner hex, but I added a beam to my stand after seeing the sag on hers.

 

Gosh that's alot of sag on a tank that size. That would freak me out.

 

Don't want to steal the thread, but yeah, it did me too. I saw that and put in a 2x4 post in the center to keep it from getting worse. I added a beam across mine to support the entire span.

 

You are not stealing, just making me and other reefers more knowledgeable.

 

I would add plywood on top. My 180 stand has this and its rock solid.

 

Did you screw it down?

 

I have the screws placed above the tank for the lighting system. They are around 5" long and screwed in the center of the joists.





I have to move this

before I can move forward.

 

I would screw down the plywood. It will help keep the beams from twisting/deflecting.

Those hooks should work well. Going to add a receptacle to the box after you remove the fan and use that to power your lights?

 

I will be placing one of those fans with the light that is used in bathrooms. There will two receptacles for lighting and maybe power heads and two more will run through a dry chamber and provide power for the equipment under the stand.

 

Good idea. Though might make it hard to incorporate into a controller or timer unless you run it over to wherever the rest of the electrical is.