Tank stand skewed

[mmn]

I bought a 125g tank and custom metal stand from a fellow reefer who had never actually set it up. While setting it up I've found a problem that I'm not sure how to deal with.

It's welded 2" square steel tubing that's been painted with what looks like undercoating. The problem is the back left leg is about 1/8" longer than the other legs which causes that corner of the tank to sit high. The two edges of the top frame that join at that corner slope from the other corners, i. e. it's not just high at the corner.

I've been noodling on this for a couple of days and the only thing I can come up with is grind that corner down to the correct height and then grind the two rails to take out the slopes.

Not excited about that approach so I'm looking for other ideas.

Regards
Michael

 

[laga77]

Shim the bottom with composite shims. An 1/8 inch is not a lot to deal with.

 

[mmn]

Shim the bottom with composite shims. An 1/8 inch is not a lot to deal with.

To get the tank to not wobble on the stand takes a few shims. Then there's a sloping gap about half the length of the tank and the tank is no longer level. So now I have to shim the stand and that creates gaps.It don't really mind gaps between the floor and stand as long as it doesn't wobble, but gaps between the tank and stand do bother me. I really want that tank supported all the way around with no gaps.

Regards
Michael

 

[DivingTheWorld]

To get the tank to not wobble on the stand takes a few shims. Then there's a sloping gap about half the length of the tank and the tank is no longer level. So now I have to shim the stand and that creates gaps.It don't really mind gaps between the floor and stand as long as it doesn't wobble, but gaps between the tank and stand do bother me. I really want that tank supported all the way around with no gaps.

Regards
Michael

Not having a flat "top" of the stand reads DANGER to me. I'd grind it or whatever is needed to get it flat. I wouldn't count on shims for the top.

 

[mcgyvr]

can you rack it back "flat" on top with a sledgehammer then just shim the floor?

 

[mmn]

Not having a flat "top" of the stand reads DANGER to me. I'd grind it or whatever is needed to get it flat. I wouldn't count on shims for the top.

Agreed. It's gonna be such a pita to grind that thing. Wish I could find out who made it and get him to fix it.

Regards
Michael

 

[RocketEngineer]

It would probably be easier to make a new one, wood or metal. May be cheaper in the long run as well.

 

[Gorgok]

Is it for a rimmed tank or rimless? If rimmed is the bottom flat? If the bottom is flat cant you just flip it upside down and put leveling feet/shims under it to make it level? Level and flat...

If rimless, disregard...

 

[uncleof6]

I am going to go with RE on this one. Easier and most likely cheaper to build a new one. Steel stands need to be jigged up solid, and even then, the heat can tweak them. Grinding will just make the steel thinner in places, which is not really a good thing. Welding these things is an art, as well as a science. You don't need steel for a 125. You can use a plywood box, and have less problems getting it square, plumb, flush, and co-planer.

 

[Chetna]

It's gonna drive you nuts every time you look at the stand on the tank. Easy fix, any welder can cut, tig and or replace. The thickness of the tubing is really thin, should be like a half hour job minus the coating or paint.

 

[97dezertranger]

Have you actually verified that the one leg is actually longer, and that the stand itself is square? Its very possible that the entire stand itself isnt square and that is where it is making that one side higher then the others. If the answer is the stand itself is not "square" I would be either looking to build a new one or switch to a wood cabinet. If it were me Id measure the stand entirely to see if it is in fact square every where else. If it is infact square except for the one leg and the leg itself is longer I would fix it. Otherwise if the stand itself is unsquare your gonna be chasing that thing to the bitter end to make it level

 

[CuzzA]

Just get a 3/4" sheet of plywood for the top and start sanding the one corner to make it sit flat and level. What's that saying about wood??? "Sometimes you gotta make it wrong to make it right."

 

[mmn]

Just get a 3/4" sheet of plywood for the top and start sanding the one corner to make it sit flat and level. What's that saying about wood??? "Sometimes you gotta make it wrong to make it right."

That seems worth a shot. I hate to just junk the thing without trying something.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions.

Regards
Michael

 

[sleepydoc]

Just get a 3/4" sheet of plywood for the top and start sanding the one corner to make it sit flat and level. What's that saying about wood??? "Sometimes you gotta make it wrong to make it right."

If one leg is longer than the other, or if the entire stand is skewed, it's going to be very difficult to do that and get it truly level and coplanar

 

[CuzzA]

If one leg is longer than the other, or if the entire stand is skewed, it's going to be very difficult to do that and get it truly level and coplanar

Not necessarily. My steel stand has a 1/16" hump from the center cross bar. I planed out a 1/16" from the bottom of the plywood and sanded the front and back 2 feet to match the taper of the stand and it worked flawlessly. I placed all my gym weights (300lbs) evenly on top of the plywood and checked for level and flatness with my 6 foot level and the board was dead flat. Dead center on the bubble and not a hair of rocking or give on the straight edge.

The key is to go slow with the sanding. You can't put back what you take out... Well I guess you could with some epoxy.

 

[mmn]

It's only high in the corner. I was able to offset the tank enough to avoid that corner and it's dead nuts level all around and stable.

I think I can do this! Just waiting for some help to get the tank off the stand.

Regards
Michael