setting uo a large aquarium

[ctenopoma]

Hi , I'll be setting up a 125 gallon , and I choose to go with a wooden stand, My floor is unlevel and I was wondering if I can just put metal shims underneath the legs to correct the problem. I also heard alot of people talking about putting "foam board" under larger tanks , to "level" the aquarium , I'm confused to how putting some foam under the tank would make it level? Also if the stand is level do I really need to use it?

thanks
ctenopoma.

 

[gthiele]

you need to level it at the base so the metal shims would work, personally I don't put foam underneath my tank because it gives a little and could become unleveled over time.

 

[Mr Pleco]

Is your tank glass or acyrlic?

Glass- shim the stand, don't use any foam board, it will lead to a cracked bottom.

Acyrlic- shim the stand , you can use a foam board to correct any minor defections < 1/8"

 

[duke33]

I would shim the stand, not just the corner that needs it...don't allow airspace under any areas.

 

[ctenopoma]

I would shim the stand, not just the corner that needs it...don't allow airspace under any areas.

I should shim every leg your saying , or just the ones that will be off balance?

 

[Pharaoh]

Definitely shim the stand. Throw a shim under any vertical support on the stand. This will help distribute the weight.

Don't bother with the foam. It is really only useful for acrylic aquariums IMO.

 

[spiff]

Any suggestions on shimming an acrylic tank if there is no stand? I have a 90 gallon sump sitting on my basement floor, which of course is not level. I shimmed it with various junk, like tighly folded up plastic containers pounded flat with a hammer, ect. But this leaves spaces between the shims and the bottom on the inside is not supported as the shims are just on the edges.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Mr Pleco]

Any suggestions on shimming an acrylic tank if there is no stand? I have a 90 gallon sump sitting on my basement floor, which of course is not level. I shimmed it with various junk, like tighly folded up plastic containers pounded flat with a hammer, ect. But this leaves spaces between the shims and the bottom on the inside is not supported as the shims are just on the edges.

Any thoughts on this?

Throw the tank on a sheet of plywood and then shim the playwood level..my 2 cents

 

[spiff]

Throw the tank on a sheet of plywood and then shim the playwood level..my 2 cents

Thanks.

Yeah, thats what I was thinking too. I was kinda hoping to hear some suggestions that its fine shimmed the way it is because I don't have an extra inch to spare for adding the board.

Now I'm wishing I went with a glass sump.

 

[Chago09]

you need to level it at the base so the metal shims would work, personally I don't put foam underneath my tank because it gives a little and could become unleveled over time.

I second this, use wood shims not metal. As for the foam, I have never used this. It looks ugly and quite honestly like you said does nothing. If your stand is not level then the water will tilt to one side of the tank making that side heavier. If thats side is heavier it will push the foam down further then the lighter side making it the exact same thing. I never understood why people use foam.