Tank Leveling

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orlok

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 3, 2005
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St. Louis, Mo.
Any tips on leveling tanks and stands on uneven floors?

Can this cause stress on the silicon, causing leakage, even if it is off just a little?

Comments, experiences, problems? Please let me know!:)
 
One thing you can do it set your stand where ever you want it. Get yourself a level and level it by shiming one end or the other, length ways and front to back. After you do that make sure you shim all the way around your tank to make sure once the tank is on it and filled with water it doesnt sag in the middle.

Yes if your tank stand is unlevel and you dont level it up it will cause stress and cause leakage down the road. Or the worse case senario will be your tank cracks, which when i was new to the hobby, I did to a 55 gallon tank.

The longer your tank and larger the tank the more critical it is to get it perfect. Hope this helps
 
I just leveled out a 300g. It sits on a metal stand w/surround. It only has 6 feet, I put 2x6's longways then 2x6's the 2' way. I shimmed what little there was then started filling it. Every couple inches I checked it. Yes it moved. So then I would move my floor jack and roughcut 2x4 to whitchever end to lift and shim. It has been up for a week or so. I still check it with a 4' level just to make sure nothings moved.
 
How much off is acceptable? I have heard that if it's more than 1/4 of an inch off from one corner to the other corner it's not acceptable. I think I'm off less than 1/4 of an inch. Do you guys think this would be ok in the long run? I checked the floor with my level marker and the bubble is off center by just a little and the bubble is still between the line. This is a 5ft long tank. I could see how shimming would be such a pain because I would have to empty out the tank then shim each leg and fill water up to 1/4 mark then inspect again.

tankfullshot1qs5.jpg
 
I'v always used shims but so far even thats been rare. I don't think minor differances in level (under 1/4 inch end to end) is going to adversly effect the seals on a modern glass aquarium. The older metal framed tanks are a differant story but there are not many of those around anymore.
 
While it's nice to get the tank pefectly level, I think getting the base -flat- is more important so the tank isn't being twisted or having more pressure in the middle or the ends ect.

I'd rather have a tank on a bit of a lean with an evenly supported flat base than a one that is level but with the stand out of whack trying to twist the tank.
 
Volenti;988693; said:
I'd rather have a tank on a bit of a lean with an evenly supported flat base than a one that is level but with the stand out of whack trying to twist the tank.
Click to expand...

Styrofoam between the stand and tank is great for this purpose. I use it on all my tanks.
 
It is crucial to to get all the aspects of a tank and stand level and sitting flush on the floor, unless you are the type that likes buying new tanks and cleaning up water. Because down the road it will have an adverse affect somewhere.

Once I got my 240 level I used a flashlight and got down on the floor to see if there were any places where the stand wasnt touching. Then shimmed those areas, that way I never had to worry about the stand bowing or saging over time.
 
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