Un-level Floors

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BellycrawlerJaws

BellycrawlerJaws

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Sep 25, 2010
1,902
3
38
Long Island, New York
Alright so I'm moving to a new apt soon, but the house itself was built in the early 1900s and the floors (wood except for one room) are all pretty uneven (the bubble on the level is about 1/3 out of the "safe" zone on the best spots, others are impossible). There is one spot that is completely level, but it's on a middle wall in the apt that doesn't seem to be a load bearing wall. This is where I want to put my 75 gallon along with the 200 lb oak stand... I can shim things I just don't know if shimming is a good idea when things are uneven like that


Thoughts? Suggestions?
 
Ive shimmed plenty of tanks. Just make sure your shims are sturdy.I used small stainless steel plates I took from the scrap dumpster at work.
 
The engineers at work told me as long as the tank is not off level leg to leg your fine.

So for example your right side legs the front one and back one must be level resulting in the water line just being off, if they are off the tank will "twist" which causes danger. another point is salt water tanks with lots of flow causing the tilt effect in some causes the glass does not become weaker.

I try to level all my tanks with steel scraps also. but I have some 4fts that are not level but each leg is level to the one in front and touch wood no issues. I guess it depends who you talk too some people dont even think about leveling a tank and they are fine.
 
Squirtle919 said:
The engineers at work told me as long as the tank is not off level leg to leg your fine.

So for example your right side legs the front one and back one must be level resulting in the water line just being off, if they are off the tank will "twist" which causes danger. another point is salt water tanks with lots of flow causing the tilt effect in some causes the glass does not become weaker.

I try to level all my tanks with steel scraps also. but I have some 4fts that are not level but each leg is level to the one in front and touch wood no issues. I guess it depends who you talk too some people dont even think about leveling a tank and they are fine.
Click to expand...

Good to know, I've always had a feeling that keeping things level from front to back was something to shoot for. Any thoughts because I'm on the 2nd floor and worry about the house's structural ability to hold this tank (the 75 will weigh around 1000 lbs including stand)
 
you have to know whats under the floor, our second floor is a cement slab thicker then some peoples first floor so I can have monsters up stairs too.

Some floors are pine beams some are steel.

if you have joints in your floor best way is to go with a stand that has a flat base, this will allow the pressure to spread over a larger area vs creating pressure points in the 4-6 legs. I would try to place the start of the tank on one joint and the end on a 2nd joint, the more joints you go over the better. you should be fine though if its a newish built place. you could also try to see if you can rest the tank on a floor area where the level under you has a wall if this makes sense. will give more support also.

Hope this makes sense I just woke up =O
 
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