Leveling tank on a DIY stand

[stillcity]

I have a 75 on a DIY stand that I got from a friend. It is made from a bunch of 2x4s.

I don't think i should put the tank directly on the stand since it isn't 100% level. How do most people level their tanks? A piece of plywood with shims? or styrofoam?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[dwdenny]

you sure it is the stand and not the floor? How far off are we talking here. I know that my DIY stand is not perfectly level but the floor is worse on my duplex. I will be using wood shim under mine between the floor and stand. I might use stryrofoam under the tank but not sure yet. I have one coner on the stand that the tank sets off about 1/16" so not sure yet. hth

Doug

 

[bhbell]

Just my $.02 but I'd start by using a piece of Plywood that I could shim as needed to get a good, level starting bed from. Next would be to cut appropriate openings with a jigsaw / holesaw as needed for plumbing. If I still had some VERY minor bumps or dips in the plywood (almost inevitable) I'd use a sheet of Styro of foamboard between the tank contact surface and the stand. It's not necessary to use the Styro / foam anywhere that is not a supporting surface. Most glass tanks are supported around the periphery and possibly a center brace, so thats where you would need it.

 

[gmatt]

I have a glass tank and I am building my stand. Im going to use foam arround the edge.

 

[stillcity]

There are some sections where pieces of the frame are hanging over the ege of the 2 pieces of styrofoam on it, the sheets i had aren't wide enough and aren't quite long enough to cover the edge of the corners. I'm mostly concerned with any twisting that might happen that could cause a fatal leak.

 

[reverendmaynard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6650739#post6650739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stillcity
There are some sections where pieces of the frame are hanging over the ege of the 2 pieces of styrofoam on it, the sheets i had aren't wide enough and aren't quite long enough to cover the edge of the corners. I'm mostly concerned with any twisting that might happen that could cause a fatal leak.

If it's a glass tank, then the edges and corners are the important parts. DO NOT fill the tank if any part of the edges or corners are unsupported!

You'd be better off cutting up the foam that you do have into strips so that it is only on the edges/corners. Every glass tank I've ever seen is only supported on the edges, not in the middle.

 

[goby1]

Shim the legs of the stand, not the tank itself.

G1

 

[stillcity]

Where can I find styrofoam sheets big enough to be placed under a 75?

 

[bassnman11]

One thing that can level and straighten a stand top is fiber glass resin. Being a liquid, it is self leveling. First you have the stand in place and leveled as good as possible with shims. You need to build a low barrier around the top. If you want to remove the barrier later, wrap the wood, I use 1/2 plywood, with several layers of plastic wrap. It is best to thin the resin slightly so it levels faster. Add catalyst according to directions and mix plenty to do the job in one pour. Pour the resin on the top and tap around the edges and bottom of the stand with a rubber mallet. It cures quickly, but allow to become very hard before removing barrier. Your top should now be flat, level and waterproof. Oh, be sure to put plastic on the floor for any drips and seal any obvious gaps with tape or putty before you start.

 

[gmatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6652573#post6652573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bassnman11
One thing that can level and straighten a stand top is fiber glass resin. Being a liquid, it is self leveling. First you have the stand in place and leveled as good as possible with shims. You need to build a low barrier around the top. If you want to remove the barrier later, wrap the wood, I use 1/2 plywood, with several layers of plastic wrap. It is best to thin the resin slightly so it levels faster. Add catalyst according to directions and mix plenty to do the job in one pour. Pour the resin on the top and tap around the edges and bottom of the stand with a rubber mallet. It cures quickly, but allow to become very hard before removing barrier. Your top should now be flat, level and waterproof. Oh, be sure to put plastic on the floor for any drips and seal any obvious gaps with tape or putty before you start.

That's a great idea! I've never heard that before, but it makes sense.

Thanks

 

[theplatypus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6651620#post6651620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stillcity
Where can I find styrofoam sheets big enough to be placed under a 75?

Home Depot or (b)Lowes sells 1/2" insulation board in 4'x8' sheets.

 

[stillcity]

My Stand is going to be placed int he basement where I have cheap carpeting installed. What do people typically put under their 2x4 stands if it is going on carpet? A piece of plywood, a rubber mat, nothing?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[rivdog]

Still, cut out the cheap carpeting and see what you are dealing with. Level the floor(concrete i would assume) to the best of your abilities, and use Basseseseses plan. You can also level the bare concrete. Build a dam and u can use a porable leveling cement that is used to prep before tiling. maybe called Levelbest. It is very liquid and self levels. Then level your stand on top of that. You could also tile over the levelbest