Tank not level (yes another thread)

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 11:04 AM

Facts:
Tank: 150 SC Aquarium 60x24x24
Floor: Concrete under carpet with thick pad
Stand: RJ enterprise birch stand (sheet to support glass and a lip)
Stand weight: ~200lb
Tank weight: ~2500lb
Level Issue: Right side is 1/4 to 9/32nds higher then the left//.26ish degree slope based on water level measurements.
Side Load on Stand: including stand weight its about 11lbs

Questions:
1) Is this a safety issue? (Please include reasoning as opposed to the blanket everything must be level answer. Plenty of heavy items have tolerances)
2) How heavy can an object be and still be shimmable? (Sand, Rock, and sump are installed. Water could be drained down but I'd like to hear from people as to what worked in real life. Basically can I get a shim in there?)
3) This stand is in the corner. What risk do I have of this stand settling lower in time which would make the shims a problem in the future?

Thanks in advance!

mcgyvr · 04/17/2018, 11:19 AM

1) all visual issues only.. Very little structural/safety issues with it being off level by that little amount..
2)You can shim it.. May take using a long crowbar to get the whole system up or driving composite shims under it but its most certainly addressable..
3)In general at this point the tank is unlikely to change much if any as the carpet/pad is already compressed and while there can be some plastic creep overtime its unlikely to change much if any now.. 99% of the deformation has already occurred..

If you want to fix it you can.. If not its fine..

hkgar · 04/17/2018, 11:25 AM

My 180 is not level by about the same amount and has been since I set it up a few years ago. So far not a problem and do not expect it will be.

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 11:37 AM

Thanks for the replies, ive got the visual issue figured out (powerhead making a few waves in that corner). Its the 11 lb force that worries me.

Anyone know if shimming is possible if I remove a lot of water? Or will it still be too heavy?

carrots · 04/17/2018, 11:40 AM

I have a 125 gallon 6 foot long tank that settled the same 1/4 inch..It has been 6 years now and no issues. But seeing the water line did drive me nuts. To hide the water line I used some 1/2 inch tape and ran it the length of the tank just under the top trim.

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 11:44 AM

Really appreciate the replies, the water line did bug me until I aimed the powerhead at it. Now it raised a ripple up a quarter of an inch.

mcgyvr · 04/17/2018, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icewing726

Anyone know if shimming is possible if I remove a lot of water? Or will it still be too heavy?

It can be shimmed without taking any water out of it..
Shim under the stand not the tank..

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 12:08 PM

Was asking because of the weight of the tank...

mcgyvr · 04/17/2018, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icewing726

Was asking because of the weight of the tank...

I know... I had no problem in the past shimming under a 120G tank + 60G of sump/fuge full of water/rock/sand,etc... when I needed to years ago..
Just needed a simple crowbar and a block of wood as the fulcrum.. (I think it was a 36" crowbar)

Icewing726 · 04/17/2018, 12:47 PM

Sounds good, guess ill see if i can make anything happen. Otherwise I'll leave it be (thats a lie I'm way too much of a worrier). Thanks everyone!

hkgar · 04/17/2018, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

I know... I had no problem in the past shimming under a 120G tank + 60G of sump/fuge full of water/rock/sand,etc... when I needed to years ago..
Just needed a simple crowbar and a block of wood as the fulcrum.. (I think it was a 36" crowbar)

It does sound like a two person job though, or did you kick the shim in?

My water line is right at the rim line on the low end so when the return is on I never see the water line. If I shimmed I think that the space along the floor line might drive me crazy.

mcgyvr · 04/17/2018, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

It does sound like a two person job though, or did you kick the shim in?

My water line is right at the rim line on the low end so when the return is on I never see the water line. If I shimmed I think that the space along the floor line might drive me crazy.

I stuck the crowbar under.. put a block and pressed down as a pushed the shim in and moved along the edge as needed.. As it was in carpet,etc.. you couldn't even see the shims as I only needed like 1/4" or so and that stayed hidden in the carpet..
It really wasn't that hard at all...

I move 8-10k pound machines at work all the time rearranging the factory with just a 6ft riggers pry bar/boards to get it up then onto rollers or whatever as needed.. That typically takes 2 guys on the bar but sometimes its quite amazing what a simple lever allows you to do

hijinks · 04/17/2018, 01:57 PM

I'd make sure to add a lot of shims down the side of the tank just so all the pressure isn't on that single shim

tarlon · 04/18/2018, 03:46 PM

Use 2 or 3 "pump wedge" to raise and then shim it. that way i level my 180g

Icewing726 · 04/19/2018, 10:04 PM

Ok, I leveled the tank without any immediate pain and suffering. Now left to right over the course of 60 inches is off by maybe like 1/32nd and front to back is now off by about 1/16th maybe 3/32nds... Honestly I think I'm ok with that. Thank you for all the advice on this thread guys, seriously wouldn't have even attempted this without your advice.

One last question if anyone cares to answer. I have shims under the entire exposed tank now but I had to double up slightly on some under the feet to elevate it. Since I did that on some do I need to do the same thing on all? I had to use the hammer to get the last bit under while doing this, not sure if that means everything is snug enough.

Icewing726 · 04/19/2018, 10:05 PM

Btw front to back is 24 inches

mcgyvr · 04/20/2018, 05:01 AM

If its level.. Its level..And if feet aren't floating its fine..

Single shims also don't get jealous of other shims laying on each other so you are good there too..

Icewing726 · 04/20/2018, 05:03 AM

Cool, thanks again everyone!

04/17/2018, 11:04 AM	#1
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Tank not level (yes another thread) Facts: Tank: 150 SC Aquarium 60x24x24 Floor: Concrete under carpet with thick pad Stand: RJ enterprise birch stand (sheet to support glass and a lip) Stand weight: ~200lb Tank weight: ~2500lb Level Issue: Right side is 1/4 to 9/32nds higher then the left//.26ish degree slope based on water level measurements. Side Load on Stand: including stand weight its about 11lbs Questions: 1) Is this a safety issue? (Please include reasoning as opposed to the blanket everything must be level answer. Plenty of heavy items have tolerances) 2) How heavy can an object be and still be shimmable? (Sand, Rock, and sump are installed. Water could be drained down but I'd like to hear from people as to what worked in real life. Basically can I get a shim in there?) 3) This stand is in the corner. What risk do I have of this stand settling lower in time which would make the shims a problem in the future? Thanks in advance!

04/17/2018, 11:19 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	1) all visual issues only.. Very little structural/safety issues with it being off level by that little amount.. 2)You can shim it.. May take using a long crowbar to get the whole system up or driving composite shims under it but its most certainly addressable.. 3)In general at this point the tank is unlikely to change much if any as the carpet/pad is already compressed and while there can be some plastic creep overtime its unlikely to change much if any now.. 99% of the deformation has already occurred.. If you want to fix it you can.. If not its fine.. __________________ Who me?

04/17/2018, 11:25 AM	#3
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	My 180 is not level by about the same amount and has been since I set it up a few years ago. So far not a problem and do not expect it will be. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

04/20/2018, 05:01 AM	#17
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If its level.. Its level..And if feet aren't floating its fine.. Single shims also don't get jealous of other shims laying on each other so you are good there too.. __________________ Who me?

04/17/2018, 11:37 AM	#4
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Thanks for the replies, ive got the visual issue figured out (powerhead making a few waves in that corner). Its the 11 lb force that worries me. Anyone know if shimming is possible if I remove a lot of water? Or will it still be too heavy?

04/17/2018, 11:40 AM	#5
carrots Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Mendham, NJ USA Posts: 395	I have a 125 gallon 6 foot long tank that settled the same 1/4 inch..It has been 6 years now and no issues. But seeing the water line did drive me nuts. To hide the water line I used some 1/2 inch tape and ran it the length of the tank just under the top trim.

04/17/2018, 11:44 AM	#6
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Really appreciate the replies, the water line did bug me until I aimed the powerhead at it. Now it raised a ripple up a quarter of an inch.

04/17/2018, 12:08 PM	#8
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Was asking because of the weight of the tank...

04/17/2018, 12:47 PM	#10
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Sounds good, guess ill see if i can make anything happen. Otherwise I'll leave it be (thats a lie I'm way too much of a worrier). Thanks everyone!

04/17/2018, 01:57 PM	#13
hijinks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 505	I'd make sure to add a lot of shims down the side of the tank just so all the pressure isn't on that single shim

04/18/2018, 03:46 PM	#14
tarlon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 5	Use 2 or 3 "pump wedge" to raise and then shim it. that way i level my 180g

04/19/2018, 10:04 PM	#15
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Ok, I leveled the tank without any immediate pain and suffering. Now left to right over the course of 60 inches is off by maybe like 1/32nd and front to back is now off by about 1/16th maybe 3/32nds... Honestly I think I'm ok with that. Thank you for all the advice on this thread guys, seriously wouldn't have even attempted this without your advice. One last question if anyone cares to answer. I have shims under the entire exposed tank now but I had to double up slightly on some under the feet to elevate it. Since I did that on some do I need to do the same thing on all? I had to use the hammer to get the last bit under while doing this, not sure if that means everything is snug enough.

04/19/2018, 10:05 PM	#16
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Btw front to back is 24 inches

04/20/2018, 05:03 AM	#18
Icewing726 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Posts: 248	Cool, thanks again everyone!