Another uneven stand question...

Charley Diesing · 07/20/2017, 10:14 PM

Facts:

Rimmed tank.

DIY stand using Rocket-engineers design.

The tank is NOT sitting on all 4 corners (2/4) (the two off corners are off by about 1/32-1/64th of an inch). Everything is square and level. Except the WOOD. I have tried several times (like 14) sanding down the 2x4 top frame and without success. I'm going nutz.

Question:

What should I do? I do think its possible that the trim on the tank has some warps in it I bought it used. And it isn't completely flat.

I am leaning towards using liquid nails and a 1/4" piece of plywood. And essentially "Molding" an exact replication of the tank.

mcgyvr · 07/21/2017, 04:38 AM

Is water in it? If not I'd just fill it and call it a day but I'm not there to see how bad it really is.. but a 1/32-1/64 is really not something I'd probably be concerned about..

The added water "should/may" settle it right down..

danferd2002 · 07/21/2017, 05:07 AM

Ive always liked to put a plywood top on my stands for that exact reason. You can shim in between the plywood and your top frame to get it perfectly flat. Personally i went around with a .010 feeler gauge until i got it perfect. Probably overkill, but i cant understand not spending a few extra hours and a few extra dollars to keep even 10 gallons of water off the floor.

billdogg · 07/21/2017, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danferd2002

Ive always liked to put a plywood top on my stands for that exact reason. You can shim in between the plywood and your top frame to get it perfectly flat. Personally i went around with a .010 feeler gauge until i got it perfect. Probably overkill, but i cant understand not spending a few extra hours and a few extra dollars to keep even 10 gallons of water off the floor.

This. Use 3/4" plywood.

JTL · 07/21/2017, 07:32 AM

Put on a thin coat of Rock Hard Water Putty (available at any big box store) in the low spots and sand level. This stuff is cheap, drys quickly and works like a charm. Paintable and sandable.

Clowning_Around · 07/21/2017, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Diesing

I do think its possible that the trim on the tank has some warps in it I bought it used. And it isn't completely .

For checking your tanks levelness, if you think the trim is warped, out some water in it, a few inches deep. The water will of course automatically be level. The using a tape measure, spot check the perimeter of the top against the water line.

This is of course after youve worked out your stand. Which, as others have starred a simple plywood shim plate would suffice.

Gluck

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Charley Diesing · 07/21/2017, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Is water in it? If not I'd just fill it and call it a day but I'm not there to see how bad it really is.. but a 1/32-1/64 is really not something I'd probably be concerned about..

The added water "should/may" settle it right down..

No water in it...

Charley Diesing · 07/21/2017, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danferd2002

Ive always liked to put a plywood top on my stands for that exact reason. You can shim in between the plywood and your top frame to get it perfectly flat. Personally i went around with a .010 feeler gauge until i got it perfect. Probably overkill, but i cant understand not spending a few extra hours and a few extra dollars to keep even 10 gallons of water off the floor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

This. Use 3/4" plywood.

If I go this route. Can I use the 1/2" plywood that I already bought?

danferd2002 · 07/21/2017, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Diesing

If I go this route. Can I use the 1/2" plywood that I already bought?

What size tank. Should be ok.

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billdogg · 07/22/2017, 07:31 AM

1/2" plywood should work just fine. The quality of 3/4 tends to be a bit better - you can get a nice piece of 3/4 oak plywood at HD/Lowes that, for your needs, wouldn't even need to be sanded. Once you get whichever thickness you end up with nice and flat/level, remember to give it several coats of paint of polyurethane to seal it from the inevitable spills.

Horace · 07/22/2017, 08:50 AM

I have a steel stand, and I have the same problem. I am going to put 1/2" plywood first, then 1/2" insulation foam sheet, then shim between the plywood and steel in that corner. I personally would NOT shim between the glass and stand. I think this would create small pressure points directly to the glass.

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danferd2002 · 07/22/2017, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horace

I have a steel stand, and I have the same problem. I am going to put 1/2" plywood first, then 1/2" insulation foam sheet, then shim between the plywood and steel in that corner. I personally would NOT shim between the glass and stand. I think this would create small pressure points directly to the glass.

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Top frame of the stand not the bottom of the tank

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07/20/2017, 10:14 PM	#1
Charley Diesing Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,162	Another uneven stand question... Facts: Rimmed tank. DIY stand using Rocket-engineers design. The tank is NOT sitting on all 4 corners (2/4) (the two off corners are off by about 1/32-1/64th of an inch). Everything is square and level. Except the WOOD. I have tried several times (like 14) sanding down the 2x4 top frame and without success. I'm going nutz. Question: What should I do? I do think its possible that the trim on the tank has some warps in it I bought it used. And it isn't completely flat. I am leaning towards using liquid nails and a 1/4" piece of plywood. And essentially "Molding" an exact replication of the tank. __________________ Have dominion over the fish of the sea Current Tank Info: Currently Tankless: In the planning stage of next build.

07/21/2017, 04:38 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Is water in it? If not I'd just fill it and call it a day but I'm not there to see how bad it really is.. but a 1/32-1/64 is really not something I'd probably be concerned about.. The added water "should/may" settle it right down.. __________________ Who me?

07/21/2017, 07:32 AM	#5
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	Put on a thin coat of Rock Hard Water Putty (available at any big box store) in the low spots and sand level. This stuff is cheap, drys quickly and works like a charm. Paintable and sandable. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

07/22/2017, 07:31 AM	#10
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	1/2" plywood should work just fine. The quality of 3/4 tends to be a bit better - you can get a nice piece of 3/4 oak plywood at HD/Lowes that, for your needs, wouldn't even need to be sanded. Once you get whichever thickness you end up with nice and flat/level, remember to give it several coats of paint of polyurethane to seal it from the inevitable spills. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/22/2017, 08:50 AM	#11
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 5,009	I have a steel stand, and I have the same problem. I am going to put 1/2" plywood first, then 1/2" insulation foam sheet, then shim between the plywood and steel in that corner. I personally would NOT shim between the glass and stand. I think this would create small pressure points directly to the glass. Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk __________________ -Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress

07/21/2017, 05:07 AM	#3
danferd2002 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 882	Ive always liked to put a plywood top on my stands for that exact reason. You can shim in between the plywood and your top frame to get it perfectly flat. Personally i went around with a .010 feeler gauge until i got it perfect. Probably overkill, but i cant understand not spending a few extra hours and a few extra dollars to keep even 10 gallons of water off the floor.