Concerned about level of tank

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M

Mattyg97

Feeder Fish
Oct 16, 2008
1
0
0
Oakville
Okay so I am new to this, and I got a 55 gallon starter kit from a big al's store. I made a stand for it out of cinder blocks and wood. I set the tank on the stand put my basic layer of substrate down ( still need gravel though) and filled the tank with water. I noticed the tank is not completely level but I think there is also a problem with the floors in our basement cause my roommates 24 gallon tank is not level the exact same way. What I want to know is is this a huge problem? Also I am trying to make an epic planted aquarium and the setup only came wiht two 19watt T8 bulbs, what you guys think?

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Isn't the use of cinder blocks rather very risky? Consider leveling the tank. Uneven levels can cause strain on corners and the tank will eventually leak.
 
It's level enough! As long as what it's sitting on is flat and not going to tip over you're OK!
 
The way the tank is positioned, I don't think so. I also noticed the middle part of the bottom glass has no support. If anything heavy strains the middle, cracks are bound to happen. IMO, buy a proper stand.
 
A tank being unlevel poses no risk and does not strain the glass… this is a very common misconception in the hobby…

If the surface the tank is sitting on is twisted or bowed, this can cause unnatural stress and can be detrimental… but as long as the “stand” has a smooth flat surface to set the tank on… it doesn’t matter at all that the surface is not perfectly parallel to the floor nor to sea level.

The fact that there are a couple inches on the sides that are unsupported… also will make no difference at all. I have several tanks in my fishroom that are only supported along the front & rear edges.

I do not understand the logic behind getting rid of cinder blocks and trading in for a cheap table. Concrete is much stronger and much more water resistant than pressboard. Due to the fact cinder blocks may have imperfections or slight variances in thickness, this would be a situation where I would use Styrofoam between the tank & the stand though.
 
Why can't you just shim it?
 
I'm staying out of the blocks vs. stand argument but I would at least shim it up. Its a 55 gal. so it wont take a lot of time and it cant hurt
 
The danger with shimming…

In this situation there are 3 legs… if you raise the right side w/ shims 1”… then you have to raise the middle .5”… but if you imperfectly shim and raise the right side 1.1” and the middle .4”… you have just turned your safe flat surface into a bowed surface, which we discussed above is a bad situation to be in…

Based on my understandings, the “best” way to do this would be to put ¼” Styrofoam between each set of cinder blocks… as well as between the tank and the boards it’s sitting on… But if I were doing it I would only use styro between the tank & stand.

(PS – I suggested the cinder blocks are better than a cheap table… not better than a proper stand ;) )
 
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