Leveling tank

[DanLF]

I have a 250 gal. Reef tank fully set up that is 1/2 " out of level from back to front been like that since set up 4 months . Should I worry about it breaking ?

 

[billdogg]

I would if it was mine. Although it will be a PIA to fix, it will be a MUCH BIGGER PIA when it blows a seam.

Drain as much as possible and shim under the stand to make it right.

 

[Martini5788]

After having a seam blow on mine, I would definitely worry about it. I would correct it as soon as you can.

 

[davocean]

1/2" out in a 2' or so distance is pretty significant, it's not carrying the load as designed, hopefully it's low in the front and you can just drain and shim it.

 

[gone fishin]

I agree with the others, shim it up as soon as possible.

 

[DanLF]

Has anyone had to shim stand like that ? I am worried the stand will buckle if I shim the front up 1/2"

 

[Martini5788]

Is it your floor or the stand itself?

 

[reef tank 2.0]

+1 to what billdogg said. He helped me level mine this same way. Shims are your friend. Mine was off by 1/4" and sitting on carpet as well......It took a while to level it out but we are all good now.

 

[Dundermifflin]

I have shims on mine. 120g- So far so good after 12 years. Mine is a glass tank with a frame so bottom gloss never really touches the base. However if yours is acrylic or glass with no frame where the bottom is directly on the base I would not shim the tank. I would shim the base.

 

[DanLF]

It's the hardwood floor that's out of level lFS that set it up said not to worry

 

[billdogg]

Your LFS wants to sell you another tank when that one fails. Shim under the stand before that happens.

 

[davocean]

I've built quite a few stands for people and have shimmed that much a number of times, it will be fine as long as your stand is sound, just place shims every 6" or so at front and sides of stand.
Tank needs to be drained first, brutes are great for this, then shim it, pump water back in.

 

[davocean]

Your LFS wants to sell you another tank when that one fails. Shim under the stand before that happens.

Agree, or setup guys wanted to get in and out as fast as possible, on to the next

 

[biecacka]

+1 on the shims. Don't risk it, as it's not worth the damage that could be caused to the items surrounding the tank

Corey

 

[E46er]

Fix it.
I'd be really worried if it was my tank

 

[jimbow]

I'd be worried about what the whole thing is setting on. 1/2" on a hardwood floor in 2 feet is a ton. I don't even know how you could lay hardwood on that without the tongue and groove breaking. Your sub-floor might be FUBAR.

 

[DanLF]

It's actually 3/8 " in 3' if that makes a difference

 

[skp]

It's actually 3/8 " in 3' if that makes a difference

I am wondering what amount is safe also. I have the same problem on a 65 gallon. Mine is 2/16th of an inch lower over 20 inches. I used these composite shims called The Mighty Wedge and they seemed to have squished a little over 6 months. Some have told me 2/16th of an inch is nothing but my tank is rimless so I don't know if I should tear down to fix this.

 

[billdogg]

IMHO, the closer you are to dead-on level the better it is for your tank.

In any case, my OCD would keep bugging me until I fixed it. I'm still a bit peeved that a pair of executive office desks that I built for my wife and I are off by 1/32. My wife, on the other hand, just gives me "one of those looks"

 

[jimbow]

3/8" in 3 feet is still a lot in my mind. MUCH MUCH better than 1/2" in 2 feet. I'd still fix it because it would drive me nuts to be that far off level. But Like others have said I might be a little OCD about things like this. I have a 150 that is 4 x 2 the floor was out by a little under 1/16" over the 4 feet. I was building the stand so I made up the 1/16" in the stand so I didn't need to shim under it.