im jumpin in on this. sorry to hijack Dean. Im getting ready to build for my new used 36 x36 x25 (bought a sump last night). I KNOW my floors are not even close to level or plumb.....in some areas the house looks like peewee's playhouse, not really, but it bugs me. Over a 3 ft length, i have almost a half inch decrease in level from wall to planned front of stand (granted, i have not cut the carpet out yet, so this may change, but i doubt it will change very much). In any case, i was going to build on a sheet of plywood in an effort to disperse weight the most, and then i intended on just leveling the top layer of the stand as it went on, cutting and properly seating, as well as the sump after i laid out the main frame prior to the top structure.
would i be better to build a perfect cube stand (plans are 40 x 40 x 40 before trim) and shim it or do it the way i planned. House was built in the late 70's and it has true 6x12 beams as framing, one of which i am centering the new tank on. I removed one of the shorter run beams this past summer and replaced it with new lams, eliminating a post and structural spiral staircase, opened the main floor up unbelievably.
Thanks in advance, i have been going back and forth over this for a couple weeks as i believe the stand to be a stout enough dimension i shouldnt have to worry either way, especially if skinned with 3\4 in Birch and was planning on 2x4 construction....2x6 should be a bit too overkill i think, but may still use 2x6 for main legs and top joists of stand; but it's only a 3 ft. 4 in span....
.
