Should I be concerned..?

[Be102]

was doing waterchange yesterday and noticed that it seems my tank is slanted.. not sure if this is a problem or it's something to not worry about. 65 gallon tank which has been up for over a year.. doesn't seem too noticeable but still was something that caught my eye.

 

[alyee5]

Anyway you can shim the left side of the stand? I'd be worried, but that's just me

 

[Maritimer]

Is your floor level?

If your tank needs leveling (they sometimes do), never try to shim the _tank_ - always the stand or the floor, making sure the tank is evenly supported with no warping stresses.

That having been said, I've had a slightly-out-of-level goldfish tank (it leans forward) for four years or so, and no problems so far.

~Bruce

 

[Be102]

Anyway you can shim the left side of the stand? I'd be worried, but that's just me

I'll actually be upgrading to a different stand soon. Just can't really see what to shim prior to it being on it.. I'm thinking it's my foundation and not the stand.

 

[Humblefish]

I'd put a level on it to see how far out of whack it is. Take a photo of the level results.

 

[Be102]

I'd put a level on it to see how far out of whack it is. Take a photo of the level results.

Where exactly should I put the level? The stand or the top of the tank?

 

[hybridazn]

Def use a level and go from there. Make sure to shim the stand and not the tank, I would level it even though you have plans to change stands. Sometimes plans fall through

 

[Be102]

I'd put a level on it to see how far out of whack it is. Take a photo of the level results.

First picture is the level across the center brace, whilst the second picture is of the level flush on the base of the stand (along the bottom of the tank itself.
I may be an idiot... but wouldn't the water level be the opposite based on the results? Like wouldn't the lower side be the one with the water level being higher?

 

[jsker]

Where exactly should I put the level? The stand or the top of the tank?

I would start with the floor, and work you way up. If the floor is not level then you know we're your problem lies. If the floor is level and your system was level before the I would be concerned with the integrity of the stand a make the switch asp.

 

[jsker]

First picture is the level across the center brace, whilst the second picture is of the level flush on the base of the stand (along the bottom of the tank itself.
I may be an idiot... but wouldn't the water level be the opposite based on the results? Like wouldn't the lower side be the one with the water level being higher?

Like the level the water skins to the low side.

 

[Be102]

I would start with the floor, and work you way up. If the floor is not level then you know we're your problem lies. If the floor is level and your system was level before the I would be concerned with the integrity of the stand a make the switch asp.

Can I just lay the level at the base of my tank? I am under the belief my floor is not leveled. I had a little overflow a few months back, and the water seeped through my floors onto the ceiling below.. only thing was that it didn't seep under the stand it seemed to flow like 8 feet or something and settled in the middle of the kitchen ceiling.. my floor is above the dining room, they're next to each other but you get the idea.. and ironically a few days ago I just realized that like the flooding didn't make any sense..

 

[Humblefish]

@Be102 Put the level on the rim of the aquarium itself. Check horizontal (front & back) and vertical (left & right side.)

 

[Be102]

@Be102 Put the level on the rim of the aquarium itself. Check horizontal (front & back) and vertical (left & right side.)

Alright... so it seems I've just been lucky so far.. maybe it's a good thing I haven't upgraded to a 120... basically here's the pics in order from floor, to across the center brace, across the left and then the right.. best angles possible

 

[jsker]

Can I just lay the level at the base of my tank? I am under the belief my floor is not leveled. I had a little overflow a few months back, and the water seeped through my floors onto the ceiling below.. only thing was that it didn't seep under the stand it seemed to flow like 8 feet or something and settled in the middle of the kitchen ceiling.. my floor is above the dining room, they're next to each other but you get the idea.. and ironically a few days ago I just realized that like the flooding didn't make any sense..

Ok, let me sum it up, and correct me.
The tank is on the second floor, you had a leek two months ago, and you are starting to notice a lean in the system.

If I have this all straight, I would say that the leak cause damage to the support under the floor besides the kitchen ceiling. If this a new home I would call the builder, and also call the insurance company.
If this is an older home call the insurance company and the adjuster my call some one in to inspect the floor.

 

[Be102]

Ok, let me sum it up, and correct me.
The tank is on the second floor, you had a leek two months ago, and you are starting to notice a lean in the system.

If I have this all straight, I would say that the leak cause damage to the support under the floor besides the kitchen ceiling. If this a new home I would call the builder, and also call the insurance company.
If this is an older home call the insurance company and the adjuster my call some one in to inspect the floor.

Yes and no. The lean in the system could have been here forever.. and plus I'm thinking the weight shouldn't be too much of a problem. We used to have a California king waterbed on the second floor as well. I can bring it up the notice in the leveling difference. When I asked a few days ago why the water settled in the middle of the floor all the way away; the response was "the house settles after it is built " honestly everything you are saying makes sense.. just not sure if it really is correlated

 

[Rick.45cal]

I'm with Jsker, I'd be concerned about the structural integrity of your floor/ceiling! Is this tank running parallel to the floor joists, or perpendicular to them? How old is your home? Have you had termite inspections? Noticed sawdust like looking stuff anywhere on your floors? Any dry rot ANYWHERE that you know of in the home? What is the condition of the ceiling below the tank, were there cracks before? Are there now? Bowing/ sagging areas? Look at ALL angles and look for anything that seems abnormal.

I would be real leary about what you describe, especially since I'm guessing it is a recent occurance. You likely would have noticed this when you changed water before. It's human nature to notice things out of place like that, it's highly unlikely you just now noticed it and it has been that way all along.

I'm a pretty savvy DIY/ traditional woodworker/ artist guy and this would scare me enough to call a structural engineer and get them to come inspect. I WOULD NOT trust this to a home inspector/insurance person. They aren't qualified.

 

[Frop]

My house has wood floors on a raised foundation. It is not level.. well.. let me say that again, it is not consistently flat.. I was all ghetto and ripped up a bunch of small pieces of paper as shims before filling the tank with water. :p

 

[jsker]

Always best to error and think the worst when weight is involved on a second floor.
Let's say the floor structure is fine, then shining the base of the stand it you next option to level the system. Again if you are replacing the stand, then I would level anything till the stand is replaced.
If you are going to upgrade to a large system, I would have someone/pro come in and look to see if the present floor joist can support the weight. A California king water bed weight is distributed over more area the than a saltwater system.

 

[Be102]

I'm with Jsker, I'd be concerned about the structural integrity of your floor/ceiling! Is this tank running parallel to the floor joists, or perpendicular to them? How old is your home? Have you had termite inspections? Noticed sawdust like looking stuff anywhere on your floors? Any dry rot ANYWHERE that you know of in the home? What is the condition of the ceiling below the tank, were there cracks before? Are there now? Bowing/ sagging areas? Look at ALL angles and look for anything that seems abnormal.

I would be real leary about what you describe, especially since I'm guessing it is a recent occurance. You likely would have noticed this when you changed water before. It's human nature to notice things out of place like that, it's highly unlikely you just now noticed it and it has been that way all along.

I'm a pretty savvy DIY/ traditional woodworker/ artist guy and this would scare me enough to call a structural engineer and get them to come inspect. I WOULD NOT trust this to a home inspector/insurance person. They aren't qualified.

I think the first and only time I've ever realized this is because I made a little loop out of zip ties and actually didn't have to hold a hose of water along my tank for 25 mins :p my tank is parallel to the floorboards, and sits on an exterior wall. There is no signs of anything anywhere except like I said some water damage but that is still just some brown spots on the ceiling below, but it's not even really below. If you stood 5 feet to the left of my tank and then another 6 feet back, it would be around there.. it's pretty weird. But like it happened right then and there as if the house is already crooked. Do you think when I put the new stand in place, I can level it off from the floor and be alright from there? I don't know how the structure of a tank's seams work.. but I'm thinking that since it's holding it's alright. I don't have any leaks or anything anywhere. The water problem I had was my own mess up of having the siphon fall in and drain my tank somehow.

 

[Be102]

Always best to error and think the worst when weight is involved on a second floor.
Let's say the floor structure is fine, then shining the base of the stand it you next option to level the system. Again if you are replacing the stand, then I would level anything till the stand is replaced.
If you are going to upgrade to a large system, I would have someone/pro come in and look to see if the present floor joist can support the weight. A California king water bed weight is distributed over more area the than a saltwater system.

True I completely agree about the weight distribution. This just seems to be in such a good and supportive place. Goes across 3 floor joists atleast I am thinking, and is on an exterior wall. I will be upgrading stands in a week or two; just putting my finishing on it now. I really just think this has been here for a while and I'm just noticing it. I don't see how my floors structure would have caused the water damage the place it did based on the floor not being damaged yet.. if that makes any sense. It's sort as if the floor is just unleveled and I never noticed it till now.