Leveling a stand

[Reefer525XL]

Question for the experts. If I needed to level my stand I obviously can't get to the back so the shims would only be on the front and sides. Will the back be fine without any shims?

 

[FugeTown]

How many gallons, and I take it the tank is full?

 

[Reefer525XL]

How many gallons, and I take it the tank is full?

Tank is not even here :) Im just trying to find the answer to a possible problem. It will be a Reefer 525XL so roughly 140g.

 

[FugeTown]

 

[FugeTown]

This guy has the best videos for diy

 

[Reefer525XL]

Thanks for the video. I know how to level a tank, Im just wondering if I can't get to the back if the tank/stand will be fine.

 

[FugeTown]

Thanks for the video. I know how to level a tank, Im just wondering if I can't get to the back if the tank/stand will be fine.

Are you planning building it into a wall or something like that?

 

[KJAG]

Can you explain why you can't currently access the back of the stand if the tank hasn't arrived yet? What material is the stand constructed of?

 

[Reefer525XL]

Are you planning building it into a wall or something like that?

Can you explain why you can't currently access the back of the stand if the tank hasn't arrived yet? What material is the stand constructed of?

I will be using the Red Sea stand. Im not sure if my floor is leveled. Im obviously placing the stand in front of a wall, not in the center of a room. Once the tank is placed in front of the wall I need to check if its leveled or not. If its not, how would I add shims to the back of the stand if I need any? I need to leave the stand in place and add shims to level it out, I can't slide it forward, add shims then push it back.

 

[Reefer525XL]

Not my picture or my tank but it will be similar to this.

 

[andrew james]

I keep my tank around 8 inches off the wall, itjust makes everything easier.

 

[blkhwkz]

I have the XL425 and I only shimmed it in the front and it has been fine for 5 months now. I used the composite shims from Lowes. Got it all level when empty, filled with tap water, let it settle for 48 hours, made sure it was all still level. Then I drained it and cleaned it, and filled with rock, sand, saltwater. I have mine about 4 inches off the wall so it was away from the tack strip on the carpet and to be able to get to the back if needed. Because of how they sit on the stand, the reefers seem to tend to lean forward a bit, so chances are you will only need to shim the front, if anything.

 

[FugeTown]

I would get a cheap 4 ft level and check your floor first , you might get lucky with a level floor.

 

[Reefer525XL]

I would get a cheap 4 ft level and check your floor first , you might get lucky with a level floor.

Got a level just haven't had a chance to check. Im just planning for worse case scenario lol

 

[saltyhog]

I've never had the floor near the wall be lower than the rest of the floor in joist floor. With concrete floor it's a roll of the dice. My current tank is on a concrete floor and the only shims needed were on the rear. You only need about 4-5 " from the wall to be able to shim the back. If it's low in the back you would be wise to move it far enough away to shim.

 

[KJAG]

Little bit of speculation/conjecture in here with limited knowledge of what your working with. For example even if it's a second story and the joists are all true, is your subfloor on top of the joists staggered so as to prevent lifting at the seams? Mine wasn't,for example. Further, depending on what floor covering you have on your floor, simply holding a level to your floor is usually counterproductive and totally obsolete. Variations in tile, high grout points, hand scraped wood, concrete variation if it's slab level etc etc etc.. As some have mentioned, get your stand in place and then level it out with a few inches of clearance in the back if possible,
and then check the level again after it's filled with tap water. If that's not an option and it has to be against the wall, then you might be okay just shimming the front and sides. Or not. Placing a piece of high density foam under the tank on top of the stand will also absorb any indiscrepancies. I prefer the pink panther brand 1" sheets for this purpose.

 

[Vincent100]

I have the XL425 and I only shimmed it in the front and it has been fine for 5 months now. I used the composite shims from Lowes. Got it all level when empty, filled with tap water, let it settle for 48 hours, made sure it was all still level. Then I drained it and cleaned it, and filled with rock, sand, saltwater. I have mine about 4 inches off the wall so it was away from the tack strip on the carpet and to be able to get to the back if needed. Because of how they sit on the stand, the reefers seem to tend to lean forward a bit, so chances are you will only need to shim the front, if anything.

My reefer 350 leans forward , thought it was my floor but from what your saying it could be my stand , thing has been playing on my mind for awhile now
Gonna take a pic in abit and post it
Maybe someone can tell me if it's worth shimming

 

[Reefer525XL]

I should have given more details. Im on a concrete slab with tiles. In another section of my home I had an 8 foot tank and the floor was unleveled. I had room in the back of the stand because of the plumbing but since the reefer series has the plumbing coming out the bottom I would much rather keep the tank as close to the wall as possible.

 

[Jakewatt]

Hi - to come back to this discussion, i'm gonna have the same problem with a reefer 350 - i need to shim just a little.... but the reefer stand has little plastic feet, 3 on each side and 4 on the front & back. I'm not sure what to do, is it ok to shim these feet ? I dont want to take these little feet off because i quite like the fact that there's space under the stand - in case of spilled water ;)

How have you done ? any advice & ideas ?

 

[vertigo01]

Unless the area closer to the wall is higher than the most fwd area of the stand, then you more than likely will have to level out the back.
Not sure putting shims under the rear most corners of the stand will offer much benefit in the long run. JMHO