EMERGENCY 125 GALLON STAND HELP

[cmsbthebest]

Currently setting up the newly built 125 gallon stand and I've got a big problem: Each corner is not the exact height....

I've measured 3 of the corners and they are 28", 27 15/16" and 27 14/16". Not sure about the fourth leg just yet.

My fish are all sitting in buckets with aerators so things are kind of urgent in figuring this out.

What is the solution here? Putting a piece of plywood and a foam pad?

Thanks

 

[fishguy1978]

If you have a piece of plywood you can lay on top I would do that. Also, get some composite shims from Lowes/HD and shim the plywood where ever the stand is not supporting it.

 

[tlindsey]

I agree with fishguy1978 . How did you cut the wood? What tool did you use?

 

[cmsbthebest]

It was cut with a table saw.

I’m just kind of confused how to properly shim the tank in a way that gives full contact around the entire rim of the tank. Would this really be better than a foam board mat?

 

[fishguy1978]

It was cut with a table saw.

I’m just kind of confused how to properly shim the tank in a way that gives full contact around the entire rim of the tank. Would this really be better than a foam board mat?

Is this a standard plastic framed tank or a flat bottomed tank with no trim? My 220g is a flat bottom tank with no trim similar to an acrylic tank and it sits on a 1/2in foam sheet. My 2x 55g and 8x 29g tanks are plastic trimmed and sit either directly on the 2x4 framing or on a piece of plywood/pressboard. Plastic framed tanks do not do well sitting on foam.

 

[cmsbthebest]

Is this a standard plastic framed tank or a flat bottomed tank with no trim? My 220g is a flat bottom tank with no trim similar to an acrylic tank and it sits on a 1/2in foam sheet. My 2x 55g and 8x 29g tanks are plastic trimmed and sit either directly on the 2x4 framing or on a piece of plywood/pressboard. Plastic framed tanks do not do well sitting on foam.
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Okay thanks for the advice.

just bought a piece of plywood and some composite shims. I’m hoping the plywood will solve most if not all the issues with stand. Anyone leftovers gaps I’ll shim.

 

[cmsbthebest]

Just wanted to again thank you fishguy1978 and tlindsey for your help.

Plywood and shims seemed to work pretty well. The large majority of the stand is now within 1/32 of an inch with a few spots within 1/16 of an inch. Definitely alot more peace of mind than having a stand where a quarter of it has a 1/8 difference from the rest of the stand.

 

[fishguy1978]

Just wanted to again thank you fishguy1978 and tlindsey for your help.

Plywood and shims seemed to work pretty well. The large majority of the stand is now within 1/32 of an inch with a few spots within 1/16 of an inch. Definitely alot more peace of mind than having a stand where a quarter of it has a 1/8 difference from the rest of the stand.

You're welcome. Glad to hear that worked. We want to see pictures too.

 

[cmsbthebest]

You're welcome. Glad to hear that worked. We want to see pictures too.

Here is the new stand in all its glory. It’s made out of 2x4 and 2x6, and is incredibly sturdy. Upon inspection, the issue appears to be that the upper front and back 2x4 were both cut slightly crooked by the manufacturer This is apparent due to the fact that the entire left side on the front is even, and about halfway along the board it starts to narrow and in turn the stand drops in height.



here is a closeup of the shims on one of the two corners that needed them. They are spaced a few inches apart from each other and have done a very good job at leveling everything out.