How can we level this monster?

[amonte]

Hi,
We finally managed to get 4 strong men to hoist our 210 gl tank up on the stand and after putting enough water in to top the bottum frame/brace we realize it is not level . my question is- other than the fact that it looks like hell, will this compromise the integrety of the tank and or stand? Any clue?

 

[brettaustin]

the tank is not any weaker being out of level. if you add some pics to your post somone could tell you how to level it.

 

[serpentman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9615002#post9615002 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brettaustin
the tank is not any weaker being out of level.

Are you sure about that? I was always under the impression that if a tank is not level, it puts additional pressure on one panel versus the rest which could result in seam failure. This, of course, is assuming you are talking about a glass tank.

 

[brettaustin]

the tank cant be 3 inches out of level. are you saying a half inch would make it weak? i responded more to help this person with figuring ideas to level it. i build houses for a living and saw an oppurtunity to offer some input with a couple of pictures to help visualize an idea. maybe i'm wrong to say 1/2 inch is fine. i'll just retract that statement if i can to avoid straying from the issue at hand.

 

[serpentman]

Relax guy, I wasn't attacking. However, their post specifically asks if their tank is in jeopardy by being out level. I suspect that if it is bad enough that it "looks like crap" it would be safe bet to have it leveled, especially given the volume/weight in question.

I agree that without pics, it will be difficult to help.

 

[amonte]

I'm working on that pic. I can't seem to figure out how to get it in here. Thanks for the interest and sorry for the delay. I value both of your opinions.

 

[amonte]

Ok, I found the camera, think I got the picture to a place where I can post it (I have got to do this more often!) and will hope it comes thru. I also brave the mud in my slippers, and searched the entire 40 for the 4ft level (found it in the basement ) the bubble is just over the left line and looks like the right side needs to come up about 1/4 in. I can put a piece of 1/4in ply under it and that will probably do it, but I don't know about the gap it will leave between the back of the tank and the floor. There is a board the runs the lenth of the stand in the back along the floor. Not sure if that just holds it together or if it bears wieght. Does anyone have any ideas. Maybe I'm worring too much? I never parked the equivalent of my car in the house before.
Thanks for the input.
Lynn

 

[brettaustin]

sounds like shimming up the stand is the way i'd go but not with any water in it obviously. a 2x4 block and a flat bar or something long will lift it to add shims or ply etc. only a small amount of leverage should be in order. the gap in the back of the tank surely wont be bad enough that your livestock cant distract someone to the gap. if it is split the difference. after all only one person will really notice it. check it with the level before refilling and youll find exactly what youll be happy with. serpentman reply to my post i could use your help too!

 

[nyvp]

I used a commong car jack and a pcs of wood to level my 560/g do it slowly and have spare hands around

 

[gophia]

Did you use form under the tank? If not, you may need to add a layer especially since you don't want to see half inch gap between the floor and stand. The foam will help level the tank.

 

[amonte]

under the front of the stand there are 2 feet that can be screwed down so I'm not concerned about that part, it's the back (which won't show anyway) that I'm wondering about strenth. How and what kind of foam do you use. I'm not experienced with anything bigger than a 75 gal. and I don't know what if anything will cause the stand and tank to bow and possibly break. OK I admit, this scares me a little. My husband doesn't seem to concerned, but he's not the one who hates surprises. A piece of 1/4 ply under the right side front and back legs would probably fix the problem. In the front we can just screw the little foot down some more in the middle, but I don't know if I need to fill the gap in the back.

 

[gophia]

Hi amonte,
RC won't let me do a reach right now, but there are many threads on RC about using foam under the tank and what type of foam to use. I will try to do a search early tomorrow morning...if I can drag my lazy butt out of bed before 08:00!!!

 

[davidryder]

The levelness of the surface the stand sits on does not affect the structural integrity of the tank. The levelness of the surface that the tank immediately sits on affects the structural integrity - meaning the top of the stand where the tank sits. If you shimmy one side of the tank you are ultimately removing structural integrity from the center of the tank. As you increase support from one side to change the levelness the center will sag. You won't see it, but physically, you are removing support from the center.

If you are trying to change the levelness of the tank you need to do it uniformly from the bottom, not just shimmying one side of the tank. Using styrofoam wont change the fact that the floor is not level. I would recommend finding a more level surface or finding a way to offset the levelness in a uniform fashion. If you shimmy one side the center will sag and more pressure will be placed on the outer edges. It will be minor and honestly with a 210 you probably won't have a problem as wood does settle a bit.

 

[mm949]

u must get the tank as level as possible.....use shims and a pry bar to lift tank...
if tank is unlevel u will have a problem regulating the flow to Each overflow and the tank integrity IS in jeapordy.

make sure after leveling that ALL support legs are supported to the floor.

DO NOT USE FOAM....

good luck

 

[MammothReefer]

whats wrong with Foam? I used foam on my 225g. There are several manufacturers that won't honor warranties on tanks if you don't foam them..

Foam evens out the top surface of our home made stand.. the highs compress the lows dont..

 

[davidryder]

There's nothing wrong with foam, but it won't help level the tank.

 

[amonte]

thank you all

thank you all

Thanks for all of your input. We used shims under the stand and are filling it slowly. So far so good. I didn't mention it but we resealed this tank and are going slow in case the worst happens and it leaks. does everyone use foam? I didn't know we were suppose to use it and if so where/how do we use it? I did'nt see anything in the directions for set up on this.
Thanks
Lynn

 

[davidryder]

The foam helps distribute the pressure across the bottom of the tank. If there are slight ridges (not that you can necessarily see) on the stand where the tank rests, it will create pressure points. The foam helps alleviate this.

 

[Hop]

For a tank with a rim around the bottom, you can use foam, but it is not necessary. For flat bottom tanks and acrylic tanks, some manufactures recommend foam. Either way, a flat bottom tank needs to be on a flat surface, free of high spots and the foam helps to ensure this. Looking at your tank and stand, I believe it has a rim around the bottom, so as long as the stand is true, it should be fine.

 

[davidryder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9645266#post9645266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
For a tank with a rim around the bottom, you can use foam, but it is not necessary. For flat bottom tanks and acrylic tanks, some manufactures recommend foam. Either way, a flat bottom tank needs to be on a flat surface, free of high spots and the foam helps to ensure this. Looking at your tank and stand, I believe it has a rim around the bottom, so as long as the stand is true, it should be fine.

Ahhh... good point!