DIY 40 breeder stand.. Not coplanar, suggestions?

[SpankythePyro]

Just got done making and trying to sand the top of my stand to make it coplanar. I'm having problems where three of the corners are touching the stand but the 4th is not. Tried sanding only makes it minimally better and even the lab you need to make sure that the middle spans are not bowing up at all. Suggestions?

 

[SpankythePyro]

Turned the tank upside down. Looks like it is a little "wobbly"

 

[woodnaquanut]

Is the tank bottom coplanar? Easy to check with 'winding sticks'. Google it! Another choice would be a granite counter top. They are usually mostly flat. (distant second choice to winding sticks)

Sanding a stand straight takes lots of work. Belt sander would be my choice and lots of dust masks!

Find a woodworking buddy and see if he/she could hand plane it into submission.

 

[SpankythePyro]

Yea the tank itself,
Or the bracing looks to be a little off. I'm going to shim and glue the shim the. Sand it down a bit and see where I'm at tomorrow


EDIT: What about a plywood top? I know the diy plans here said no plywood, esp for rimmed glass tanks, but really what is th reasoning behind that? (dispering the load instead of running the load between the weight-bearing legs?

 

[Gorgok]

I don't know of any reason you couldn't have a plywood top on the stand, as long as the frame is still supporting the frame of the tank, something solid in between doesn't matter. Foam in between is bad though, especially if its thick enough to push on the actual glass of a framed tank...

 

[SpankythePyro]

Alright I'm going to look into it more. I'm going to rip the glued shims off between the tank and the top of the stand as hindsight those seem like a bad idea. I just remeasures and leveled the base and top of the stand, oddly enough everything is square... so I'm holding true to the fact that it seems like the tank bracing may be a little off

 

[uncleof6]

Yea the tank itself,
Or the bracing looks to be a little off. I'm going to shim and glue the shim the. Sand it down a bit and see where I'm at tomorrow


EDIT: What about a plywood top? I know the diy plans here said no plywood, esp for rimmed glass tanks, but really what is th reasoning behind that? (dispering the load instead of running the load between the weight-bearing legs?

A plywood top will not disperse the load evenly, by common definition. The load will still go straight down, through the bottom rim of the tank, through the top rim rim of the stand, to the legs, and through the legs to the floor. Plywood will not change the manner inwhich the load is transfered to the floor... The 'top frame' of the stand is the only 'load spreading' component (transfers the load to the legs.) That is why a plywood top is not needed for a rimmed tank, as the bottom rim of the tank carries the load. Really, it is just a waste of wood...

A rimless tank DOES require a solid bottom support, plywood top, and additional bracing between the 'rim' of the stand. This however still does not 'disperse' the load evenly, by common definition, rather keeps the bottom of the tank from deflecting down. The load is still transefered to the legs via the outer rim of the stand. If the bottom glass were not in contact with the top, the plywood top would be unnecessary. (by design.)

IF you want to disperse the load, you need not less than 1 vertical support (to the floor) in the center of the stand. (the geometric center.) But even that would not disperse the load of a rimmed tank...

 

[03LightningSVT]

Caveat emptor! Click the link, I'm going through a similar situation...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2438538

 

[SpankythePyro]

so what is your take? this 40b ive had is almost 2 years old (i've been in grad school)

I'm just going to make sure all 4 corners are level and even, sand down the middle portions of my stand and see what happens when its filled, If not i just wasted $40+$30 for stand materials

 

[woodnaquanut]

Caveat emptor! Click the link, I'm going through a similar situation...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2438538

@OP. If your tank is like the one(s) linked to, return it! It's not worth the risk. 40g on the floor is a LOT of water!

 

[SpankythePyro]

i doubt i can return it, its well past the return date, and its not as bad as that guys. Its slightly unlevel but now bowed up/down like the 03SVT's

 

[uncleof6]

i doubt i can return it, its well past the return date, and its not as bad as that guys. Its slightly unlevel but now bowed up/down like the 03SVT's

If the rim on the tank is not right, or the stand is not right, don't fill it up with water. Like aquanut stated, a 40 gallon tank is not worth the $ in damage all that water will do when it hits the floor. You are playing with fire... quick fixes are usually proffered by those with no vested interest in the tank holding up or failing.

 

[SpankythePyro]

Well the stand is both level with the floor, and straight/level on the top (width, length, and diagonally) now after a little bit of sanding.

Its not like I need or want this tank up tomorrow as I still haven't ordered the new return pump or overflow yet.

 

[SpankythePyro]

So I adjusted the stand, the top by taking it apart and double checking for it being square and level. I've re-leveled the stand as well. One corner is still not even, even with a double checked square top. Any thoughts? I can't return it as I cannot find the receipt (already contacted the co.)

 

[tkeracer619]

Looks minor to me. Is it just the corner or does the gap run a good portion down the sides?

 

[SpankythePyro]

I'd have to go back and check to be 100% sure, but the way I remember it is the other 3 corners we even and there was a small amount of space between the plastic rim and the other corners.

I also found this concerning piece. A chip it looks like on the inside of the glass you can't touchy it but you can see it.