Help on tank not sitting flat on stand

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Watch22

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 6, 2016
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I picked up a brand new Marineland 180 72" x 24" tank, and built the stand, using 5/4" 1 x 4 oak.

I was test fitting the tank on the stand today. The stand is level and true, all checked with a long straight edge and feeler gauges. The tank sits perfect on the sides and front, no gaps anywhere. The back is tight from the outside edges in about 6" then start to open up from 3 Thousands to 22 Thousands of an inch.

I took the tank off today and flipped it over and discovered the back plastic trim is bowed upward and not straight. What are my options? I know people say put 3/4" plywood down and shim and tried that. The bow in the middle is to high causing the outside edges when using plywood wood to torque.

I can get stainless steel shim stock and build up to fill the void. Any advice or help would be appreciated.

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Last edited:
Watch22 said:
brand new Marineland 180 72" x 24" tank,
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Hello; Since the tank is new my first suggestion is to contact the manufacturer for information. It may be the frame defect will warrant a replacement tank. If not that then their required procedure for setting up the tank can be learned.
Good luck
 
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skjl47 said:
Hello; Since the tank is new my first suggestion is to contact the manufacturer for information. It may be the frame defect will warrant a replacement tank. If not that then their required procedure for setting up the tank can be learned.
Good luck
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, since I already drilled the tank the manufacturer won’t help. They did say it possible the the trim will even itself out and if all the corners are touching I should be fine.

At this point I think my only option is to find some kind of bondo to level the plastic frame.
 
One option is to keep a layer of thermocol sheets or rubber mats on which the tank can be placed. Minor alignment issues would get sorted out this way.
 
Use some Bondo in the center of stand and shape it until it matches the trim. Quick, easy, and holds up well. Once a layer of paint is applied, you'll never know its there.
 
I just bought some Bondo this afternoon. I'm going to flip the tank over and Bondo in the low spots in the plastic trim. Its on the back of the tank against the wall, nobody would ever know its there.

What a ordeal, spend way to much time making sure the stand was true and square, then to have the plastic trim our of whack. :)
 
Ended up buying some metal shim stock and getting the back of the tank to sit flush with the stand. Shimmed between the plywood and stand. It wasn't what I really wanted to do since now I have to change the wood trim around the top of the stand.

Lesson learned to check the plastic trim of the aquarium before leveling the stand. It would have made this much easier. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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