Cinder block stands

[kcress]

That looks a hell'v'a lot better than c-blocks ever could!

 

[on the spot]

That looks a hell'v'a lot better than c-blocks ever could!

You must have missed the gold paint tip.:thumbsup:

How much space under the tanks are we talking about?

 

[Fishbulb2]

I just went and checked all six tanks. All six have a very slight rocker and the gaps range from slightly thinner than the width of a credit card to me just being able to slide the card under to balance them. I'm not sure how this happened. Any tips? I've actually put everything on hold (like insulating and plumbing the tanks) until this gets resolved.

Thanks,
FB

 

[TheFishTeen]

Hmmm, Im wondering if the pressure from the tanks completely full with press the tank flat and remove the gaps.

How thick is the glass on the tanks? 1/4"?

 

[kcress]

I just went and checked all six tanks. All six have a very slight rocker and the gaps range from slightly thinner than the width of a credit card to me just being able to slide the card under to balance them. I'm not sure how this happened. Any tips? I've actually put everything on hold (like insulating and plumbing the tanks) until this gets resolved.

Thanks,
FB

Are you talking empty or full?

If every tank has that issue it sounds like your bench is torqued in some way. Got a level? Hunt down what's going on then you can apply an efficient solution.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Unfortunately I don't have a level yet. I may need to go out an buy one. I was just researching them online last week but never pulled the trigger. I does make sense that the whole bench might have a slight torquing to it.

FB

 

[kcress]

You can always add another piece of plywood which acts to average out the problem. But without a level... eh.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Thanks for the help kcress. I feel like the theme here is motivation to do things correctly through shame.

Ok, so I went out and bought a level. When I put the level running front to back on the left most side of the stand, the bubble is between the gauge lines, but slightly towards the back. So the back is slightly taller at the left side. At the right side it's the opposite. Although everything is slight. Assuming this is the problem causing the tanks to have a slight wobble, how would you go about re-squaring everything?

Thanks,
FB

 

[kcress]

Hmmm. You could possibly shim the the opposite corner to force a tweak in the other direction.

The problem is that you could be chasing your tail if when if you load up the bench it would all straighten out anyway. You've got problem in that your tanks weigh almost nothing compared to the stand.

Put down a thin layer of foam. Then pile the tanks on and fill them.

 

[Fishbulb2]

Thanks kcress. I'll give that a shot.

 

[Fishbulb2]

What do you think about this option. I couldn't find thin styrofoam but only 1/2", which seems thick to me. I don't want the center of this foam to push up on the center pane of glass under the tanks. I'm thinking of laying down the foam and then placing thin cdx plywood on top of the foam. Then the tanks on top of that. That would make it like a foam sandwich.

Thoughts?

Thanks again for the help. I'm excited to get water in these.
FB

 

[kcress]

Weird but it would probably be fine. Might have a level issue doing that.. I'd fill the tanks with hose water and see what happens.

You can also use lots of non-Styrofoam mats. There are usually some rubber options at hardware stores. I've never used Styrofoam but always some sort of rubber.


I wouldn't recommend mat solutions for any BIG tank but your small cheap tanks doing a 'service' kind of job? Sure.