Is your tank PERFECTLY level???

[scooter8416]

Is ur tank PERFECTLY level????? I know its supposed to be, but lets all be real nothing is "perfect".
Here my sit., i just set up my 75 on my diy stand. I put blue building foam on the bottom of the tank, so it will sit level on the stand, now the weight is evenly distrubated through out the base of the stand. Just now the stand is not perfeclty level, just off 2/16 on the and and side. Used crapy level found this out when got all done. Will it be ok. Its all setup and running now. Everything form my 55 is in there now.
Also, whoes to say the tank is "perfectly" square. Its an AGA tank btw.
Thanks for ne input.
Shawn

 

[logan15]

Well actually I was in the same position as you but I dumped 75 gallons of water out and me and my dad re-leveled the tank.Even the slightest slant can cause pressure on the tank.Mine is also a 75 gallon AGA so I would try and level the stand the best you can
Logan

 

[justinx]

To be honest, yeah. My tank is perfectly level. I dont trust those level things. I use a glass marble. Works perfect every time. I just place the marble in the dead center of an empty tank and watch which way it rolls.
If you just filled your tank, then yeah. I would relevel it. As previously stated, any uneven pressure can wear out seals over time and create a leak, or even a blown glass pane. Not a good idea IMO. I would relevel.

 

[scooter8416]

i've tried to get it level and its the best i can, the stand is a little off and my floors are uneven. With it be just 2/16 unlevel on the sides a big concern? I would hate to take everything out and redo it, it took a week to build the stand. Its perfect as i could make it. lots of fustruation and time went into it. Ill get some pictures up in a few mins. Let me know what you think.

 

[slick]

Mine is not perfect but it is close. 2/16 is actually 1/8 inch not trying to be a smart a$$ but that is quite a bit IMO. I would empty the tank and try to level the stand a little better.

 

[richard rendos]

Get some wooden shims and wedge under the stand on the end that is low (the end where the water is high). You may be able to do it without completely draining the tank.

 

[leboeuf]

you should be fine. There are a couple of ways to ensure pressure will be evenly distributed. Shims would work and also a snug canopy. Check out the DIY board. For future advice, ask professionals these questions, not a bunch of hobbiest. Call the manu as I did. If I would have listened to all the advice I recieved, I too would have emptied my tank only to find out it wasn't neccessary!
by the way, 99% of the tanks out there are NOT PERFECTLY level, guaranteed!

 

[dive1]

My tank was way out of level I found out after I filled it. Floor had a hump in it.. 240gal reef. I turned off the pumps and used the water in the tank as my level. I could ck all four corners as a guide that way. I just measured the water to the top of the glass. Then I took door shims I bought from Lowes for about $2.00 and slowly tapped them under the stand on which ever end needed them as well as several locations down the tank untill tank was level. I then cut off the extra wood and placed moding around the base. The actual leveling job took less than 30min and did not have to empty the tank. Your tank is the biggest level you can have and It cost nothing. After your done just turn the pumps back on....this also lets you ck to see if you sump will handle the water in case of power loss. Good Luck..

 

[rogeta]

Get some wooden shims and wedge under the stand on the end that is low (the end where the water is high). You may be able to do it without completely draining the tank.
This is what i did and it worked great for me Good Luck!

 

[dreeves]

I wouldnt think 1/8inch is too much...1/4 inch and more maybe...
As was mentioned...use shims if it concerns you that much...
Another way to view the perfect level requirement from the manufacture...imagine if they didn't make any level requirements...people being how they are...would let it set an inch off and then complain that a seam busted a couple of weeks later...

 

[sammystingray]

My tank is off because the floor is.....I don't see how that would add all that much extra PSI...more of just an annoying thing. If a tank is so border line that uneven floor will bust it out from the tilting water pressure....I would say it is quite poorly built, and mine BETTER be designed to actually be able to withstand quite a bit more than it is intended to. I would think it would have to be a pretty serious tilt to add the pressure to cause damage, and actually, I think most tanks would hold at any level since the water would eventually run over the side at whatever tilt. I would have to say that eventually almost any long term tank on a wooden floor would go out of level.....the whole house does, so the tanks do as well. I hate when I see the water line though.....got to keep it filled. Expert on tank level pressure? no, of course not, but just throwing out some uneducated thoughts.

 

[attml]

I have kept either fresh or reef tanks for the last 11 years in my 90 year old house. It doesn't have a place anywhere in the house that is level and I haven't had anything closely resembling a tank failure yet!

 

[javatech]

Like sammystingray said it won't be a problem the water is pushing out and down from inside the tank not on top of the tank. as long as it is out on one side or the other not just on a corner then you might have a problem in other words as long as the top of the stand is flat it won't hurt the tank just look funny

 

[billwinterholer]

A leveling trick they use at Electric Boat to level submarines being built in the ways:
Take a piece of clear, plastic tubing one or two feet longer than your tank is long. You can use the small diameter tubing used for air pumps, but larger diameter is easier - and you can always find a use for it later.
Holding both ends in the sink, fill the tube with water and then cork each end so the water doesn't spill out. Take it to your tank and place it inside. Uncork the ends and have someone hold one end at the top of one side while you take the other end to the other side. Raise or lower the tube until the water level on your end is even with the top of the tank and have your helper see where the water level is in relation to that end of tank.
To measure the front and back, just shift the tubing one way or the other. Remember to cork it when you're done.
When I had problems with levelness I used pieces of flooring tile to help shim the stand.
Bill

 

[dreeves]

I wonder why someone wouldn't just use a level to check the level of their tank...they are not that complicated to use...

 

[footbag]

...Yes but the better question is how do they level the level?

 

[dreeves]

Buy a better quality level...then place trust in it...