75 Gallon Stand - Shim Ideas?

[RTCfan86]

Just applied the 2nd coat of polyurethane Sunday night. I might set the tank on it tonight with gravel then fill with water tomorrow night and begin cycling. I think I’ll need to shim the front of it to keep it level due to the slope of the floor. Any particular shim ideas?,

 

[deeda]

The only way to know if you need shims is to use a level, checking front to back and side to side on the stand.

Some people use traditional wood shims, others use the plastic type. Much easier to install the shims under the stand with only a couple inches of water in the tank once the tank is in it's final location.

 

[RTCfan86]

The only way to know if you need shims is to use a level, checking front to back and side to side on the stand.

Some people use traditional wood shims, others use the plastic type. Much easier to install the shims under the stand with only a couple inches of water in the tank once the tank is in it's final location.

Thanks for the advice. Level was good side to side, but the front just a little off because of the slight downward slope of the floor going away from the wall. Will one shim on each side of the stand under the front legs be enough, or do I also need through the middle of the long floor brace?

 

[fishguy1978]

Thanks for the advice. Level was good side to side, but the front just a little off because of the slight downward slope of the floor going away from the wall. Will one shim on each side of the stand under the front legs be enough, or do I also need through the middle of the long floor brace?

If front to back you are with 1/8in I would not worry. A single shim under each corner support should be enough. You may want to lay 2 shims side by side under each corner to ensure the upright is fully supported as that member is what is really supporting the tank. Place the tank after shimming the stand and check again.

 

[RTCfan86]

Need some advice please D deeda fishguy1978 . The length of the stand is level. One side of the width is level (back to the front), but the other side is about 1/4 off from being level. If I shim just the one side to be level, it throws the other side off. The tank would fit flat across its entire surface though. Do you think I need to bother with shims?

Right


Left

 

[tlindsey]

Need some advice please D deeda fishguy1978 . The length of the stand is level. One side of the width is level (back to the front), but the other side is about 1/4 off from being level. If I shim just the one side to be level, it throws the other side off. The tank would fit flat across its entire surface though. Do you think I need to bother with shims?

Right
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Left
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I personally would shim that corner.

 

[RTCfan86]

I personally would shim that corner.

With the tank on the stand and gravel only, it seems to have mostly corrected it. Closer to 1/8 off than 1/4 on that side. Tank sitting flat on entire border.

 

[Backfromthedead]

A long strip of plywood cut to fit across the bottom of the stand should work fine.

 

[fishguy1978]

Does the stand rock? I would use a shim to keep the stand from rocking if it does. Just enough of the shim to stop the stand from moving but not necessarily level.

 

[RTCfan86]

Does the stand rock? I would use a shim to keep the stand from rocking if it does. Just enough of the shim to stop the stand from moving but not necessarily level.

The stand/tank do not rock. It didn’t rock before the tank was on it either. Just weird the one side would be slightly off.