Leveling a tank frustratation

[Notsolostfish]

How far “unlevel” is it? Wooden shims can compress if they get wet, and will also likely compress over time even if they stay dry. Probably not enough to matter, but you can avoid it altogether by using plastic composite shims.

Is this how composite shims should be? They are sliding kinda dangerous? Like i know i have no weight? But is that how u stack them under the feet?

 

[Notsolostfish]

The photo was to show you how I used white water proof caulk so you couldn't see where I leveled it with my "shims" aka thin pieces of plastic cutting board. Let me see if I can post a photo. I am on my Kindle and couldn't. Look up thin flexible cutting board. It is easy to cut in strips. But if you level your floor you should not need it.

I wanted it to look great and be functional. This was my first try at caulking.

Shelley

This is really odd. I was able to level the whole tank. But the only part i couldnt level is the center. If i try to lift the left side to get the center straight i lost the other side is that because i dont have the tank on? Im leveling weighlesss aluminum framing not sure

 

[code4]

I had my tank on it. And like others have mentioned the carpet will press down. IMO moving it would be best.

 

[code4]

Those shims are not solid ones. I would not trust them. I like to over build.

 

[code4]

Cut away the carpet. Then use leveling compound. It is self leveling. You will like the results.

 

[code4]

If I remember correctly your tank has the doors that come all the way to the floor on its stand. They would be easier to open if up slightly higher than the carpet.

 

[Notsolostfish]

I had my tank on it. And like others have mentioned the carpet will press down. IMO moving it would be best.

How not even an inch carpet, will press down on concrete? I have my 200G for 2 years with 0 issues.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Cut away the carpet. Then use leveling compound. It is self leveling. You will like the results.

Im not doing a whole project, of cementing my floor for an 80G tank.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Those shims are not solid ones. I would not trust them. I like to over build.

Hes that very very thing carpet would compromise anything?

 

[JayM]

Is this how composite shims should be? They are sliding kinda dangerous? Like i know i have no weight? But is that how u stack them under the feet?

Can’t see the pics all that great on my phone, but when you stack those shims, you want to do it by alternating the big end and little end. Pretty much how they were packaged when you bought them.

 

[code4]

It probably wouldn't. I am an over builder. If you have done it before and had no issues go with heavy duty longer legs rated for slightly over the weight of a filled tank. Maybe fill it partially and recheck plum for any settlement. And adjust if needed. I just helped give you options. I have built a cabin, garage and addition. Always more than one way to consider.

Shelley

 

[code4]

Can’t see the pics all that great on my phone, but when you stack those shims, you want to do it by alternating the big end and little end. Pretty much how they were packaged when you bought them.

This is true.

 

[Notsolostfish]

Can’t see the pics all that great on my phone, but when you stack those shims, you want to do it by alternating the big end and little end. Pretty much how they were packaged when you bought them.

Yeah but why they sliding off the feet?

 

[56longroof]

How much out of level is it? It looks to me that its getting alot of over thinking.

 

[code4]

They should not be sliding. Have you a adjusted them as previously stated by Jay suggested?

 

[code4]

I am OCD. I have to be as level as possible.

 

[code4]

Put the tank on the stand. Maybe you just need some weight to keep them from sliding.

 

[Marco_99]

This is really odd. I was able to level the whole tank. But the only part i couldnt level is the center. If i try to lift the left side to get the center straight i lost the other side is that because i dont have the tank on? Im leveling weighlesss aluminum framing not sure

First off, I would start with putting the empty tank on the stand and leveling the top of the tank. like others have stated your carpet probably has padding under it and your carpet itself has a thickness to it. It is going to compress under weight. The level of the tank might even change again once the tank has water in it.


Second off are you using a 4 foot level to go across the tank or are you using a little 12 inch bullet level? A bullet level is not going to be very accurate depending on where you measure for level if you do not know what you are doing.

The supplied feet I can see being lost in a sea of carpet as they are small. At this stage in the game if it were my aquarium, I would probably buy four of these and put underneath the feet on top of the carpet. Once you do that if you still cannot get enough adjustment in the feet to level it I would look into longer feet of the same diameter bolt. Doing that you might have to modify the bolt lengths by cutting and I don’t know how much room you have for the bolt to go up into the stand itself (it is probably recommended you don’t try this option since you have made it clear you’re not very handy). That is probably the hardest option. But I would 100% put some kind of solid pedestal underneath them feet to compress the carpet so you can see what you’re doing adjusting the feet.

There are all kinds of colors and options of these as long as you get a solid wood like an oak or a walnut they will more than do the job for you. A grand piano can weigh up to 1,200 pounds.

 

[code4]

Those piano casters might just do the trick. Good luck.

Shelley

 

[Notsolostfish]

How much out of level is it? It looks to me that its getting alot of over thinking.

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