placing a tank on an uneven floor

[renisel]

I'm not a noob, but this seems like a noob question to me, so I thought I'd put it here. I'm moving to a new place and the spot where I am going to have my 75 gallon reef has a floor that is a bit slanted. It will be pretty level along the length of the tank, but I expect there to be a drop of about 7/16" from the back of the tank to the front (maybe more if the floor deforms under the weight). What would be the best way to go about keeping the tank level? Should I just put some shims under the front of the stand, or would that potentially create a dangerous bending stress along the bottom of the stand? Would a piece of foam on top of the stand, under the tank, be sufficient to counter a 7/16" difference? Exactly what kind of foam do I use for that? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

use the shims under the stand.

only use foam under acrylic tanks, if you use it under glass tanks it can create stress points.

 

[alextheromanian]

same problem...and i leveled mine and i must say after filling it up its slanted BAD.


i have about half inch back to front...then about an inch from right to left...


under the tank i placed a rigid foam...used for insulation in walls...this is strong enough to hold me without sinking but it sinks when sharper points press onto it.


INSIDE of the tank i used an egg crate...loads of sand and its been 8 months...with no problems..


ofcourse im planning to moving it downstairs before winter.

 

[RyanMcLaughlin]

People in the large reef tank section use little metal feet that screw in/out so it can level a tank. If it works for a 300 gallon should work w/ yours. I dont remember what its called but you should look in that section.

 

[khanb31]

+1 to the screw on feet. If you place them accordingly and get the ones for a load according to whatever safety factor you intend, you should be fine. Mcmaster.com has them at a fairly decent price.

go to the large tank forums and ask someone who has them in their build thread. im sure they would be up for telling you where they got them.

 

[renisel]

If I place shims or feet under the front of the stand that lift it up 1/2" or so, won't that create some bending stress on the bottom of the stand? Should I also place shims or some other kind of support under the sides of the stand, or is that not really necessary?

 

[inachu]

Not only using shims but nail the shims as well!

Depending on the floor I would look underneath the floor to make sure there is no rotting wood.

I used to live in this old house in North Carolina and the sides of the house were all rotting away really killing any idea of a fish tank in any corner of the house.