leveling mat, how long to be effective

[camineet]

Hi all, I just filled for the first leak test and am finding that the self leveling mat that came with my tank doesn't seem to have any effect. Do these take a few hours or over night perhaps to compress?

I looked at my tank with a bubble level before and after filling, and there's no difference.

Here's where it is as of now:

 

[old salt reefer]

I don't know what they level but it ain't the tank.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

The leveling mat isn't so much for the actual leveling of the tank as it is to distribute the wight of the tank evenly over the stand. The stand itself needs to be perfectly leveled before you put the tank on, the leveling mat just keeps the bottom fully supported.

 

[Supa]

It should slowly compress and help out level wise, not enough to see though…. Meaning you would want to get everything level as possible and not rely on the foam mat(this mat will help if your rocks are heavier on one side, aka not enough to really help level.)

 

[camineet]

Yeah alright. Guess I'd better get this water out of the tank. Darn.

 

[Supa]

Yeah alright. Guess I'd better get this water out of the tank. Darn.

You will be glad you took the extra step to get it perfectly level. My tank being a little out of level irks me everyday.

 

[camineet]

Yep, I totally get that.