Leveling the Tank
- Thread starter beth
- Start date
mr . salty
Active Member
Depending on how far off it is,you can just use wooden shims under the stand/cabinet.Place then about one foot apart across the length of the tank.The shims I am talking about are about two inches wide,and five or six inches long.They are shaped like a wedge.You put two of them together with the thicker ends opposite each other.Then as you slide them over each other they get thicker or thinner.builders use these to level doors and windows. The main thing to keep in mind is to use as many as possible accross the front and back ot the stand.This will ensure that there is no stress or binding in the tank.But if your tank is as bad as mine was,you will need to level the floor in the room.I did this with floor jacks in the basement of my house under the tank...I had to raise the floor about 1 1/2 inches.
jimi
Active Member
I had a unlevel concrete floor where i put my tank so I built my stand out of four inch concrete block and the back has a 5 foot concrete lintel so it is open to the sump. On top of the stand I put 3/4" dense rubber mat and my tank is perfectly level. My tank is in the wall and the front is covered with wanes coat. I realize everyone cant do this but if on concrete its hard to beat.
Well, the level with my tank empty and full measures the bubble in the middle, but just slightly to the right [but still within the parimeters of the middle measurement of the level]. If I raise the level about a quarter inch then it is perfect. I'm sure my floor is not level, and the tank is located on a carpeted section of the home. I'm afraid if I start making modifications such as the shims, the integrety of the AGA stand might be compromised. Speaking of which, this stand has no top. The aquarium rests on the perimeter of the stand and a middle support. The aquarium itself, also has a middle support. This was ok for FO, but I am wondering what the added weight of lots of rock in a reef system will do here. What do you think is a lighter weight base rock is, but not so light that the foundation will crumple over time?
sasquatch
New Member
I've also heard that you should use hardwood shims because softwood will eventually get crushed under the weight of the water. I found some mahogany slats of wood at a local hobby shop that worked great.
In my case, my floor was perfectly level. However the stand was not!
Jim
http://jimurban.home.mindspring.com
In my case, my floor was perfectly level. However the stand was not!
Jim
http://jimurban.home.mindspring.com
mr . salty
Active Member
Hey BETH,I wouldn't worry about the open top on your stand. As long as the tank is evenly supported all the way around the parimiter you will be fine. You could however use a 1/2 inch styrofoam sheet under the tank.Most setups I have seen use this.
b_ball12_99
Member
The styrofoam add support but doesn't add weight.
krazzydart
Member
I have allways checked the tank with a level before filling it up with water.... 
if it is a little low in a spot I use a wood shim... it is alot E-Z'er to check it all out BEFORE filling the tank with water.
if it is a little low in a spot I use a wood shim... it is alot E-Z'er to check it all out BEFORE filling the tank with water.
Styrofoam, adds support?? You're kidding, right?
Why add styroforam? I kind like being able to look under my tank and see what's going un underneath the substrate.
Don't the shimps make the floor of the stand itself off a bit...like the sand won't be soldidly hitting the ground all the way around. My stand does not have "legs" is is wood frame all the way around.
Why add styroforam? I kind like being able to look under my tank and see what's going un underneath the substrate.
Don't the shimps make the floor of the stand itself off a bit...like the sand won't be soldidly hitting the ground all the way around. My stand does not have "legs" is is wood frame all the way around.
pufferlover
Active Member
Like some of the others I use a carpenters level to check out level when re setting tank. Where needed I use a piece of wood to level the tank putting it flush with the front of the cabinet. It seems to work fine. The use of the foam is to compensate for any gaps between the stand and tank but I to do not like the look of it and have never used it.
Well, being the "leveling dummy" that I am, before I started this thread, I came up with the brillent idea of leveling the tank by inserting compressed cotton between stand and aquarium. Obviously when I finished with this brillent project, I realized that the aquarium was now unstalbe because the cotton raised the aquarium level, but there was a cap between stand and aquarium in some places. My aquarium is not level from side to side, not from back to front; so I'm trying to raise up one side of the aquarium.
Now, even if I put shims on the bottom of the stand, wouldn't the same problem result? This aquarium is on a thick carpet, so trying to modify from from the bottom, might be near impossble. Suggestions?
Now, even if I put shims on the bottom of the stand, wouldn't the same problem result? This aquarium is on a thick carpet, so trying to modify from from the bottom, might be near impossble. Suggestions?
jimi
Active Member
Beth trying to modify it from the bottom of the stand is your safest option. As you found out if you attempt to level it in one spot between the stand and tank you will have gaps which will create stress which could lead to disaster. The whole base of the tank needs to be uniformly supported. By leveling from the bottom of the stand the base of the tank is supported.
mr . salty
Active Member
This is exactly why I said to put the shims all across the front of the stand(not just at one end. You need to support the whole length of it if possible.
Well the hardware store closed before I could get the shims yesturday, so I headed over to Kmart and confiscated some wood paint stirers [9]. I glued 3 together x 2 and put one set on the side of tank and the other perpendicular to it under the front left of stand. This seems to have leveled things off, of course I'd have to do a pre-test with the tank full of water.
Do you think these make-shift shims will be ok?
Also, how thick does the styrofoam need to be between tank and stand?
Puffer, you said you didn't like the look of the foam, but can't you just paint it to match your stand-aquarium? Of does it deterioate and look raunchy after awhile?
Do you think these make-shift shims will be ok?
Also, how thick does the styrofoam need to be between tank and stand?
Puffer, you said you didn't like the look of the foam, but can't you just paint it to match your stand-aquarium? Of does it deterioate and look raunchy after awhile?
G
glenn
Guest
Hi Beth,
As long as you have the corners supported and a decent amout of the rest it should be ok. You dont want the tank twisting or getting stressed in one area. As far as the styrofoam goes, that is just a softener for the bse of tank to sit on. If he edges of your tank are sitting on the stand it should be ok. As usually styrofoam is more for insulation in colder climates tha yours.
Glenn
As long as you have the corners supported and a decent amout of the rest it should be ok. You dont want the tank twisting or getting stressed in one area. As far as the styrofoam goes, that is just a softener for the bse of tank to sit on. If he edges of your tank are sitting on the stand it should be ok. As usually styrofoam is more for insulation in colder climates tha yours.
Glenn
Hey Glenn, when I had my tank up before, it was obviously not level, leaning toward the left. I noticed the problem when the waterline would go down a bit and one side could be seen and the other was higher. Since I'm going reef, there will be a lot more added weight than with FO, and taking the tank down later is not going to be an option. It looks like I'm about 1/4" off according to my level. But I don't seem able to get it level, as when I fix one side, the other side goes ascrew! The problem is the stand, but when I measured the frame everything seems to match up. Perhaps the wood is heavier on one side...I dunno. The tank is on a thick carpet, which might be part of the problem.
The problem is the stand, but when I measured the frame everything seems to match up. Perhaps the wood is heavier on one side...I dunno. The tank is on a thick carpet, which might be part of the problem.
G
glenn
Guest
Hi Beth,
As long as you checked level when full and shim acordingly it should come out right. And remember to shim it at corners and also as much as possible all the rest of it.
Glenn
As long as you checked level when full and shim acordingly it should come out right. And remember to shim it at corners and also as much as possible all the rest of it.
Glenn
G
glenn
Guest
They cut easy with a razor knife Beth. jus cut a couple times and then break it off. You can do it.
Thanks, Glenn...I was hoping that would be the case, but someone else mentioned on this post that they go harder wood shims...which stands to reason as shims for the tank will be baring a lot more weight than the shims that are inserted into window frames [which is what they are generally made for to begin with]. Would getting harder wood shims be advisable, or doesn't it matter?
I went to the Shell Man tourist trap today [which I generally hate that store, cause there are so many dead things in there] but I was tempted cause I wanted to look at the rocks they have, thinking of base rock. They had the most awesome bleeched coral there. It must have weighted close to 100lbs, but would have made a spectacular center piece for my tank. It had crevises, tunnels, holes; very heavy base with beautiful formations. However, it is very hard to believe that a tank that is not supported by a stand top could hold this weight. I know that water would be much more poundage, but water is distributed throught the tank, and not center in one area. What do you guys think? Seeding the tank with LR, I figure this peice would get covered with coraline in no time.
I went to the Shell Man tourist trap today [which I generally hate that store, cause there are so many dead things in there] but I was tempted cause I wanted to look at the rocks they have, thinking of base rock. They had the most awesome bleeched coral there. It must have weighted close to 100lbs, but would have made a spectacular center piece for my tank. It had crevises, tunnels, holes; very heavy base with beautiful formations. However, it is very hard to believe that a tank that is not supported by a stand top could hold this weight. I know that water would be much more poundage, but water is distributed throught the tank, and not center in one area. What do you guys think? Seeding the tank with LR, I figure this peice would get covered with coraline in no time.