Question on levelling tank

[robroy]

I've just purchased a metal stand for a 180G tank. The stand is very slightly uneven.
The tank I'm shortly getting is a standard Marineland with a top and bottom plastic trim. I'm assuming the tank won't need any polystyrene/styrofoam underneath as a result

I've been reading around levelling the tank such as shimmying the stand-the floor it's going on is in the basement suite and not quite level but nothing too significant and can be shimmied

I recently saw some youtube video footage which said it didn't matter if the tank was slightly uneven provided the actual base of the tank is completely flush with the stand (i.e. there is no significant gap around the perimeter between the tank and the actual surface of the stand). Somel videos said the water level could be off by some 0.5-1" but provided the tank sat flush on the stand this didn't matter.

Is this the case? Looking back on my old set-up in England the water level was off by say 0.5 for nearly 10 years without any disasters. The thought of this current set-up is giving me nightmares though and I just want to be sure as its the biggest set-up I had to date and don't want any disasters

Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[tlindsey]

I've just purchased a metal stand for a 180G tank. The stand is very slightly uneven.
The tank I'm shortly getting is a standard Marineland with a top and bottom plastic trim. I'm assuming the tank won't need any polystyrene/styrofoam underneath as a result

I've been reading around levelling the tank such as shimmying the stand-the floor it's going on is in the basement suite and not quite level but nothing too significant and can be shimmied

I recently saw some youtube video footage which said it didn't matter if the tank was slightly uneven provided the actual base of the tank is completely flush with the stand (i.e. there is no significant gap around the perimeter between the tank and the actual surface of the stand). Somel videos said the water level could be off by some 0.5-1" but provided the tank sat flush on the stand this didn't matter.

Is this the case? Looking back on my old set-up in England the water level was off by say 0.5 for nearly 10 years without any disasters. The thought of this current set-up is giving me nightmares though and I just want to be sure as its the biggest set-up I had to date and don't want any disasters

Any thoughts would be appreciated

I personally would just shim the stand and be worry free.

 

[cigars]

I would shim the stand as well as long as there is no twisting in the stand (diagonal unevenness) now that would worry me.

 

[skjl47]

The stand is very slightly uneven.

Hello; have you laid a straight edge on the top of the stand to see where it is uneven?
If it is it the stand out of true for sure then perhaps take it back and get another.

If the stand is square and true then having a floor out of level is pretty common. If it is the floor then you will have to shim to get it all level.

good luck

 

[robroy]

Hello; have you laid a straight edge on the top of the stand to see where it is uneven?
If it is it the stand out of true for sure then perhaps take it back and get another.

If the stand is square and true then having a floor out of level is pretty common. If it is the floor then you will have to shim to get it all level.

good luck

Yes done that-I had to get a buddy to collect the stand as my car is too small. I'm going to shimmy one of the corners once I put the tank on it. Its a pain as its metal and therefore only has 4 small corners

 

[tlindsey]

Yes done that-I had to get a buddy to collect the stand as my car is too small. I'm going to shimmy one of the corners once I put the tank on it. Its a pain as its metal and therefore only has 4 small corners

Once you level the stand first you should be good and the aquarium should be level as well.

 

[robroy]

Once you level the stand first you should be good and the aquarium should be level as well.

Yep done it-enough enough to do with plastic shims from Home Depot
When I get the tank I'll place it on and see how it fits

 

[skjl47]

Yep done it-enough enough to do with plastic shims from Home Depot
When I get the tank I'll place it on and see how it fits

hello; This is a personal choice of mine, I use metal shims under metal stand legs. I prefer aluminum or stainless as they are less likely to cause additional problems like rust stains.

I picked up some new , To me, composite shims a while back. Do not know if they will compress as I have not tried them yet.

 

[robroy]

hello; This is a personal choice of mine, I use metal shims under metal stand legs. I prefer aluminum or stainless as they are less likely to cause additional problems like rust stains.

I picked up some new , To me, composite shims a while back. Do not know if they will compress as I have not tried them yet.

Will the plastic/polythene ones not last then?

 

[skjl47]

Will the plastic/polythene ones not last then?

hello; They should be good in that they do not rust nor absorb water. My main concern would be the possibility of the concentrated weight deforming the plastic.

I have used metal stands many times and have tried some plastic types. The legs on my stands are often simple angle iron with no base plate, at least for the smaller tanks. Tanks up to 55 gallons. I have found that the edge of the leg to have sunk into the shim over time.

A 180 gallon might weigh over 2000 pounds with all the stuff. That is around 500 pounds possible on each leg.

A way to use plastic might be to have a metal plate of some sort on top of it to spread the weight from being concentrated at a small point.