Is this a problem?

[peathenster]

Just set up a new acrylic tank (72 x 30w x 24h) and the right side seems to be higher by 1/4". It's my floor...the stand and tank are fine. I was wondering if this is going to be a problem long term?

This is what the stand looks like structurally. It's got 10 4x4 vertical support sitting on 4x4s. The top is 4x4 also, with three additional 2x4 horizontal support with extra reinforcement. On top of that is 3/4" plywood then 1/2" styrofoam. Should be strong enough...I'm more worried about the tank...

Any input would be greatly appreciated.... thanks!

the whole thing looks like this

 

[mrfuzz]

oneword. baddass!

tank and stand are just awesome. I want a rimless acrylic tank now.

anyways, Put Styrofoam underneath the tank. Level the stand before placing tank onto it. If you are off by a 1/4, shim either side.

 

[peathenster]

oneword. baddass!

tank and stand are just awesome. I want a rimless acrylic tank now.

anyways, Put Styrofoam underneath the tank. Level the stand before placing tank onto it. If you are off by a 1/4, shim either side.

Thanks

Styrofoam (1/2") is already there. I thought about shimming the stand, but the bottom 4x4s won't perfectly sit on the floor anymore, which may create some pressure points. I hope this makes sense...

 

[Joao M]

IMO the stryrofoam will compress and level the water in the tank, thus "correcting" that 1/4" diff. I do not antecipate a problem (I have a similar one in my tank).

Great looking tank btw

 

[peathenster]

IMO the stryrofoam will compress and level the water in the tank, thus "correcting" that 1/4" diff. I do not antecipate a problem (I have a similar one in my tank).

Great looking tank btw

Thanks!

This is my first acrylic tank. My other larger tanks are all glass and none of them is perfectly level . Just wondering if acrylic tanks are more susceptible to this....

I think the stand should be strong enough to handle the difference. As long as the tank is ok, I'm fine with it.

 

[Conner]

Well, I had my acrylic tank (72x30x24, same dimensions, don't you love the 30" width ) filled with water to test for leaks, and it had almost 3/8" difference from one corner to the other. Unfortunately that was due to the floor of my house being unlevel, not the stand. It didn't seem to make any difference, other than the water level in the tank ticked me off being so uneven from end to end.

 

[Conner]

I should say, it was set up like that, filled with water, for almost a month, with no indication of any issues. It is no longer set up like that, however, because I had to move the tank to a storage location.

I think that acrylic tanks have a little more give when it comes to being level vs glass tanks. Acrylic is designed to be a little more flexible, and so that difference should cause less stress in an acrylic tank than a comparable glass tank.

 

[graphicGr8s]

You shim the lower side so it's level. If you're afraid the 4 x 4 will sag shim along the length of it for support. It's done all the time.

 

[peathenster]

Well, I had my acrylic tank (72x30x24, same dimensions, don't you love the 30" width ) filled with water to test for leaks, and it had almost 3/8" difference from one corner to the other. Unfortunately that was due to the floor of my house being unlevel, not the stand. It didn't seem to make any difference, other than the water level in the tank ticked me off being so uneven from end to end.

I should say, it was set up like that, filled with water, for almost a month, with no indication of any issues. It is no longer set up like that, however, because I had to move the tank to a storage location.

I think that acrylic tanks have a little more give when it comes to being level vs glass tanks. Acrylic is designed to be a little more flexible, and so that difference should cause less stress in an acrylic tank than a comparable glass tank.

Thanks! I do love the width I have exactly the same problem - floor is off, not the stand or tank.

You shim the lower side so it's level. If you're afraid the 4 x 4 will sag shim along the length of it for support. It's done all the time.

Thanks. That's definitely an option. A third option is to jack up the floor slightly. Just wondering if the tank would be OK like this before trying other things.

 

[Conner]

If the tank is flat, level, and square on the stand, then I don't think there should be any issue, other than the water line will seem angled.

If the tank is sitting at all skewed, crooked, or whatever (where its twisting in any dimension), then I would shim it, or adjust somehow to make the tank sit correctly.