Uneven Floor, Best Way to Level Stand?

[apache73]

Guys,

What are some of the better techniques for leveling a stand that sits on an uneven floor? I live in an apartment with carpeted floors. I am actually in the process of building the stand. I have heard of some stands having adjustable feet. My current stand has a flat bottom. Any suggestions design-wise?

Thanks!

G

 

[davefan13]

you can use styrofoam on the top of the stand before the tank. I'm not sure if that helps to level it out, but it does help to disperse the pressure. I've also heard of self-leveling concrete. I don't have any experience with it, but ive heard that it works well. Although, i am not sure where you would use that in an apartment.....

 

[MrSpiffy]

You can always add thin strips of wood onto the bottom, almost like shims, if your stand is leaning forward or sideways, etc., to help level it out. Otherwise, you can use shims on corners and such to help level it out. You might need thicker pieces, though, to get it level on carpeting, as some of it might sink in a bit more in the carpet than expected.

 

[apache73]

I have read from numerous sources not to place foam under a bottom braced tank. In other words not putting something directly on the bottom glass.

 

[newreef8584]

On a Nano I would just buy a set of S.S. adjustable legs and install them. They are fast an easy and simple to readjust if you ever move the tank in the future.

 

[gsoaxionsk8]

Apache, im about to set up a new tank and i was going to put styrofoam under it. Why is that a bad thing to do? Ive seen lots of people do it on the Large reef forum and they seem to have no problems.

 

[567a]

(Not so) Amazingly enough the basement slab where I put my tank is not level. So I just built the stand in place and varied the lengths of the legs so the top of the stand was level. You couldn't put/use it anywhere else in the world but it is level, solid, and stable in its' little spot in my basement. No reason why you couldn't do the same in you apartment if you're building the stand.

 

[Icefire]

Use wood shim

 

[samtheman]

If it is a 75 gal or less,I would use adjustable legs. If it is a larger tank, put plywood on you carpet. Put the stand on the plywood and shim between the two until level.

 

[medic29]

When I built my stand, I constructed it so that I could put SS adjustable feet on all 4 corners. When built on a level survace everything was square; when I brough the stand in and placed it in the living room the floor was not! So I had to adjust the levelers. It worked great!! But on the same note, you have to construct the stand so that it is study enough to use the levelers or you could cause your stand to fail.

 

[samtheman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10012934#post10012934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by medic29
When I built my stand, I constructed it so that I could put SS adjustable feet on all 4 corners. When built on a level survace everything was square; when I brough the stand in and placed it in the living room the floor was not! So I had to adjust the levelers. It worked great!! But on the same note, you have to construct the stand so that it is study enough to use the levelers or you could cause your stand to fail.

You will also "point" load your floor. This is ok for smaller tanks.

 

[medic29]

The "point" load should be spread out by the boards the leveler is sitting on or you can put a narrow piece of wood under it to help spread the load, if needed, much like it was sitting on plywood. In my case it doesn't matter as it is sitting on a slab.