Where to find black styrofoam?

[baranne]

Hi,

Anybody know where I may be able to buy some of the above? I need them thin (~0.5cm). Does not need it to be big. Intend to cover 4 sides (including bottom) of a 1 ft tank.

Any ideas/informaton appreciated!

[bossteck]

Suggest you take a trip to Art Friend, even if they don't have black styrofoam (which I have never seen before) there may be other suitable materials for your purpose there.

[fotoudavid]

You can paint yourself.

[baranne]

Suggest you take a trip to Art Friend, even if they don't have black styrofoam (which I have never seen before) there may be other suitable materials for your purpose there.

Art Friend
www.artfriend.com.sg

Bras Basah Complex #03-33, 231 Bain Street (S)180231


Thanks! A bit far and in town (= jam). Wondering if I could get it from C328 or any other shops in the west/alexandra. Anyone has an idea?

[baranne]

You can paint yourself.

I have seen black ones used in packaging new notebooks etc. But couldn't find any. Just thought I could save some time.

[limz_777]

one feet tank , why dont use black sticker ?

[baranne]

one feet tank , why dont use black sticker ?

sorry forgot to mention the purpose of using styrofoam instead of oyama paper. I am trying to do an experiment to see if it would help maintain the temperature of the tank.

[Fuzzy]

You might also want to consider rubber sheeting. There is a shop that sells high density rubber foam (even comes with adhesive already on one side), rubber sheeting etc, just across Towner road from Bioplast in the row of shops with the bunch of clinics.

I don't think insulation wise it will make a huge difference in a 1ft cube though, but interesting experiment, do let us know your results.
Have you already measured the rate of temperature loss before applying the insulation for a baseline?

[eviltrain]

i guess it's better to stick the oyama sticker on first before puting the rubber sheets. it might cause bubbles to form if you stick the rubber on first. good luck for your experiment.

[baranne]

Have you already measured the rate of temperature loss before applying the insulation for a baseline?

thanks for the note - that's a good thing to do beforehand to compare the results. i would intend to do so and probably measure on an hourly basis. Of course the ambient temperature at the time of experiment would make a difference too.

Shall post results if I do get to work on it.

Thanks all for the responses.

[Jungle-mania]

I remembered someone on this forum selling an insulated chiller tank for CRS, awesome stuff, worked wel and look good too, though bit on the overkill side.

[Slash]

I suggest if you can't find them, you can try buying the normal ones then use black spray and spray them completely.

Best used for supporting tanks. I've used this method a couple of times.

[limz_777]

I suggest if you can't find them, you can try buying the normal ones then use black spray and spray them completely.

Best used for supporting tanks. I've used this method a couple of times.

spray cans ? won't it damage the styrofoam ?

[Fuzzy]

Yes most aerosol paints will melt styrofoam. You usually have to seal it with a hand coat of latex paint or emulsion paint before spraying it.

[stormhawk]

baranne, eviltrain has a point. Instead of going around hunting for the styrofoam, apply the Oyama paper first, then just use regular white styrofoam behind the paper. Problem solved.

[baranne]

baranne, eviltrain has a point. Instead of going around hunting for the styrofoam, apply the Oyama paper first, then just use regular white styrofoam behind the paper. Problem solved.

yeah that's a good idea. I would try it out.

thanks everyone for the feedback.

[eviltrain]

i once did something like this before, i put white styrofoam board on the sides of the tank ( excluding the front ), chiller seems to kick in slower. hope brother barrane will have some results from this.

[baranne]

i once did something like this before, i put white styrofoam board on the sides of the tank ( excluding the front ), chiller seems to kick in slower. hope brother barrane will have some results from this.

yup the temperature exchange really does seem to be much slower. A simple test indicate a rise in 2 degrees celcius from 24.5C to 26.5C in 4 hours with ambient temperature of 29C (daytime). 4 sides of the tank are covered (including the base) leaving only the top and front glass - guess that helped with maintaining the water temperature.

At the end of the day after 8 hours (night), temperature is still 2 degrees celcius below ambient temperature of 28C. However, temperature did eventually became the same overnight.

Caveat: Was trying with a spare tank, thus no filter/light was being run which may change the result.