Needing Major HELP!

[doviiman]

Ok, I am having a serious issues with stand and floor (slab) getting my tank leveled. I have attached pic's. I am not sure what's un-level most, but between the stand and the floor I am not sure which is the best way to go. The stand sways from left front cornor to back right cornor. I can add a composit shim on one of the corners to level it, but at least 65 % of the stand is not seated flush on the floor. Does anyone have ideas as to the best way to get full contact fo stand and floor.
Thanks in advance

 

[Oughtsix]

Some sort of dense but pliable rubber product seems like it might help.
A very dense whether stripping?
A very light weight crush-able wood strips almost like Balsa wood?
Strips of those ground up tire rubber mats that they sell at feed stores?
The dense floor cushioning mats they sell at harbor freight... Spread them out, put the stand on top, fill the tank, then cut away the excess?
Beads of silicone caulk?
Surgical / other tubing?
Level the stand with shims... make a temporary frame around the base of the stand where it meets the floor... remove the stand... fill the frame with floor leveling compound... put the stand back on the shims before the leveling compound has set?
A piece of dense commercial carpet (yeah, I know... yuck!)?

Just some thoughts.

 

[aaronb]

I don't think you really need full contact considering that's a really heavy duty looking metal stand and a cement floor. Maybe you could make cut shims for all the supports that run front to back out of a 2x4 and then just put something softer like the other poster suggested just to give a little more support and weight distribution.

 

[swk]

wood shims every foot or so

 

[skjl47]

Hello; I like to use solid stuff to shim a metal stand so that it is very stable and level side to side and front to back. I have used metal washers (fender washers can be had in various diameters and thickness), strips of sheet metal cut to fit the base of the stand legs and other things that do not compress. At least one corner of the stand will likely be on the floor. The other corners may have to be shimmed to get it level. I use one of those flat bars with ends curved something like a crow bar to lever a stand up and down. Once the corners are shimmed, I would add additional shims under each of the verticle braces of the stand and the re check the level before placing the tank on the stand and after placing the tank, but before adding water. Before setting the tank on it, I would also lay a straight edge along the top of the stand to check that it is true and does not have high spots.

 

[pacu mom]

If you do decide to shim your stand, check out these shims (Home Depot). They are much stronger than wood shims.

From the time our cement slab was poured, I was concerned that the slab was not level. I made it very clear to the contractor that the slab under the stand had to be perfectly level. Instead of trench drains, he talked me into slanting the slab behind the stand toward two floor drains. Unfortunately, he started the "slant" too soon. My husband was not concerned as he had fabricated a monster stand out of 3 1/2" tubular steel. He said that even if the floor was not level, the stand and tank would be, because there was no way the stand could flex. This week, the tank/stand were moved into position. It turned out that we were both right. The floor was not level, but the tank was perfectly level. My husband "shimmed" up the stand by shoving shims in the spots where the stand did not touch the floor (under the uprights).

The tank was perfectly level in all directions before shimming, so I'm completely comfortable with the gaps under part of the stand. Your situation is different than mine, as my stand and tank were level to begin with, and our stand is a bit more heftier than yours. I'm not advising you to just shim your stand. I'm just suggesting that you check out these shims, if that's the direction you decide to go. Too bad you can't just grind down the high places in the cement until the floor is level....by your pics it looks like there's more low than high places under the stand.....

 

[Gervahlt]

All good suggestions above. Since you're dealing with what looks like a large tank and a concrete floor, I'm assuming you intend on it being somewhat permanent. If that's the case, maybe consider leveling the floor itself with some self-leveling cement and a grinder. I'd think you could do this in a very short amount of time and not have to worry about shimming it at all (or at least very minimally).

 

[zoohouse]

It only would need to be shimmed under the vertical supports. At worst you can use self leveling mortar (the same that you would use to level the floor for tile), I would only suggest this route if you have experience with floating a floor.

 

[doviiman]

I'd ilke to thank all of you that have taken the time to post and help in this matter, especially Pacu mom with the photos.
I tried the composite shims last night, (from home depot) but I was conerned about using two shims on top of one another for larger gaps, I did not know if that was safe, but after looking at your pic, I assume they are strong enough, as you tank looks twice the size of mines.
I will do some measuring today and try an get some steel shims cut to feel the larger gaps and then use composite to fill all the other spots.
I guess my biggest concern is does the whole bottom of the tank need to be in contact with the floor or can I shim every foot or so?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; My thinking is that the load from the tank will run down the verticle braces of the stand. I would likely place shims under the stand directly below these verticle braces and the corners for sure. Shims spaced out under the other parts of the stand will not hurt and at the very least will be added insurance and is not a bad idea. Add shims untill you feel comfortable with the spacing, perhaps six inches apart?? The stand looks to be strong from the pictures.
As posted from others, the absolute best would be a very flat floor with no shims needed at all. This is a more involved process and I have not yet come across a truly flat floor. I nearly always have to use shims. Others have used shims with good results.