Tank leveling question

[fishie111]

I am in the process of setting up a 75G tank on carpet in my living room.

When I checked it with a level, part of the bubble was just over one of the lines from left to right and was within the lines from front to back. When filled, the water was off-level about 1/4 inch from left to right.

I drained it and shimmed up the left short side with builder's shims (I did the entire length of the short side). Now the bubble is within the lines on the level both left to right and front to back, but it is not dead center within the lines. I filled it halfway, and then measured the water height. It appears to be about even in all four corners.

I am wondering if this is good enough or whether I should do more than this. The next step would be to get a sheet of plywood and put it under the tank and then reshim it.

I did not put any foam between the tank and stand because of the mixed feedback I found when I read up on it.

Advice appreciated. Thanks!

 

[islander671]

Is it acrylic or glass? If it is acrylic i would use the sheet of styrofoam underneath the tank.
IME for a glass tank, i wouldnt be overly concerned if all the four corners are supportedly evenly and it isn off by more than an 1/8th of an inch. Sometimes carpet takes time to settle before your tank levels out.
Also if using shims, as long as your tank is square (supports the tank evenly) i would shim underneath the tank itself as opposed to between the tank and stand.

 

[svtim]

You are fine I have a 265 that is not perfect but close and its ok

 

[vfc]

Styrofoam is too stiff. A 75G tank only exerts 5.5lbs/frame inch on the stand. Styrofoam (pink or blue sheets found in hardware stores) needs over 25lbs/frame inch before the foam starts to compress.

Use 1/2" or 3/4" exercise mat under your 75G. I have it under my 75Gs and I can see how it has filled in the gaps of a stand that sagged over three years.

Toys R Us sells colorful interlocking mats.

 

[fishie111]

It is a glass tank. Interesting idea about those exercise mats- I have a stack of them in my basement that I could use for this.

 

[fishie111]

Will I be okay if I end up going without anything between the stand and the tank?

The tank is already half full and it would be great if I could just add the substrate and the rest of the water. I don't want to take bad shortcuts, but I don't want to do extra work if I don't have to.

Thanks!

 

[Noto]

Set the tank on the stand and try to run a piece of paper between the stand and bottom of tank. If there are no gaps, there is no need for foam. The foam is only needed if there is uneven contact between tank and stand, creating pressure points.

 

[jcardona1]

i shim under the stand

 

[invisyblegypsey]

i shim under the stand

ditto i also sim under the stands i have 4 tanks from 55g to 285g on carpet and sims work. dont breake them off untill you have your tank , setteled with all your substrates and ECT.give it a water change or two.
that way you can ajust it as needed

 

[svtim]

Acually most stands only support the tank in all 4 corners with a brace in the middle that does not touch the tank so a piece of paper will not tell you anything