I bought a used 220 gallon tank with a home built steel stand. The steel stand is 2" L bracket all around the top. Then on top of that is 1/4" plywood, 1.5" of foam then the tank. The tank sank into the foam at the previous owners house when it leveled itself out. Now at my house I'm about 3/8" heavy out of level from front to back. I'm wondering what option would be better. I could get another 5/8" sheet of foam and put it on top, but when I put the tank on will it break the new foam in the spots the old foam has already sank down? Or I was thinking of shimming between the metal stand and plywood. I'd like the shim idea better because I can do that without help. My question is if I shim between the metal stand and plywood will it cause stress to the tank? Once I shim from the front level I'll add shims down the side and through the middle so it's not floating.
Leveling tank
- Thread starter jeffm86
- Start date
Why not remove the old foam and get new foam? Have you already filled it?
I wouldn't use shims. You should get it as level as possible sitting square on the flooring and on the plywood. Let some new foam settle out the minor imperfections. Having said that, me being a bit of worry-wort, I'd get a new sheet of 1/2" plywood. Old is old and it probably will need replacing as well. No point to fill the tank and have to swap it out in a year.
If it's filled, I would get more input before shimming since the stress is sort of hard for me to guess.
I wouldn't use shims. You should get it as level as possible sitting square on the flooring and on the plywood. Let some new foam settle out the minor imperfections. Having said that, me being a bit of worry-wort, I'd get a new sheet of 1/2" plywood. Old is old and it probably will need replacing as well. No point to fill the tank and have to swap it out in a year.
If it's filled, I would get more input before shimming since the stress is sort of hard for me to guess.
Ya I'll have to shim the stand. I was hoping to not shim the stand as the stand is level and the foam is throwing it off. I'd like to do new foam but then would have to ask some friends over here again to lift the tank.
Hello; I agree with the shim the stand base. I level my tanks at the base of the stand and used metal shims under the legs of a metal stand.I also use the longest carpenters level available. I level the stand without a tank first (this may not be so easy if you do not have help to move the tank around.) The bottom shim should be large enough to spread the point load out a bit. I have seen the feet of a metal stand make indents in hardwood floors.
I do not think that I would ever shim between the bottom of a tank and the top of a stand unless the stand is out of true a great deal and would be concerned if this were the case. I do use a sheet of plywood under my tanks and on top of a metal stand.
Goo luck
Good luck
I do not think that I would ever shim between the bottom of a tank and the top of a stand unless the stand is out of true a great deal and would be concerned if this were the case. I do use a sheet of plywood under my tanks and on top of a metal stand.
Goo luck
Good luck
If the stand is level, then you DON'T shim the stand. Get new foam and throw out the old foam if that is what is causing the tank to not be level. Why is the foam so thick? Most people use .75 to 1" foam under their acrylic tanks. Foam under glass tanks is personal preference and usually considered optional.
Ya I have never used that thick of foam before. The guy I bought it off of was a bit weird. I'll just have to get new foam.