Stand wobble on laminate flooring...what's normal

[puffers252]

Hello!
I just got a tank and stand from water box, the stand is their new aluminum framed design and seems very well built. However I can't get my paranoia to calm down about the movement from side to side. Front to back it's solid but some light pressure in the side to side direction on the tank will move the whole tank and stand together. Nothing huge but it does move enough to get the water to slosh a bit.

Normal or not?

It is on one of those floating laminate floors so I know there is some movement perhaps there as well. Just looking for others experience.

Thanks

 

[bradreef]

As long as the top of a stand is flat. Its normal to have to shim the bottom.

 

[puffers252]

Thanks. Didn't have to shim it has adjustable legs in the stand and all is flat, just...wobbles a bit side to side and freaks me out a bit.

 

[Pickle_soup]

You can use neoprene mats to level it out.

 

[Floowid]

I don't think OP is talking about level, but about wobble/sway/wiggle. I had a 37 gallon on one of those impossibly skinny wrought iron stands you don't really see any more. That thing wobbled every time I touched it, but it never failed. Metal, especially soft metal like aluminum tends to wiggle a little bit. Bend but don't break as the saying goes. Up to you in the long run whether you decide to use it or not, but if it is the suggested stand for the tank built by the tank manufacturer, I think you should be good. If it helps you sleep at night you could anchor it to the wall.

 

[thedon986]

I built an aluminum stand about 2-3x as beefy as water box for my 100g and I can still get it to wobble just the slightest. I have all kind of bracing, all corners and horizontal. I wouldn’t worry. 45mm profile at the thinnest. Top framing is 45x90mm

 

[mfinn]

If the stand is moving side to side with minimal pushing effort, I would not let it stay that way. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
First I would go over all the connection points ( screws, bolts, brackets) on the entire stand and make sure they are completely tight. With the weight ( if connections aren't tight) on it I doubt you will be able to bring it tighten them up and bring it back to sturdy.
If everything looks perfect, then I would figure out a way to add as big a piece a plywood across the back as possible.
Maybe multiple spans of aluminum angle bar.
A tank on a stand is usually very top and any movement side to side is just not right.

 

[RedoubtReef]

yeah, I'm with @mfinn on this one. Eliminate any instability. When its level and not moving, then add water.

 

[exnisstech]

Definately make sure all the fasteners are tight. Is the tank full yet? Weight can help stabilize it somewhat. How much wobble we're talking about? All of my tanks are on floating floors and will move when I'm cleaning glass. Even my 180 will move when the dogs run past.

 

[workhz]

Does it wobble because it loses contact with the laminate floor or does it wobble while maintains full contact?

 

[CBonito]

Does it wobble because it loses contact with the laminate floor or does it wobble while maintains full contact?

Right...that was my thought. Like the floor was giving some.

 

[Matt Jackson]

Hello!
I just got a tank and stand from water box, the stand is their new aluminum framed design and seems very well built. However I can't get my paranoia to calm down about the movement from side to side. Front to back it's solid but some light pressure in the side to side direction on the tank will move the whole tank and stand together. Nothing huge but it does move enough to get the water to slosh a bit.

Normal or not?

It is on one of those floating laminate floors so I know there is some movement perhaps there as well. Just looking for others experience.

Thanks

Hi,
How did you make out with the tank wobble? I just got a waterbox to replace my failed redsea and it has side to side movement as well. Everything tight but definitely doesn’t seem right. Notice it every time I wipe the front glass. Thinking of adding something to eliminate it but just wondered if you resolved it? Mine is in on a vinyl plank floor, so similar to laminate.

 

[puffers252]

Hi,
How did you make out with the tank wobble? I just got a waterbox to replace my failed redsea and it has side to side movement as well. Everything tight but definitely doesn’t seem right. Notice it every time I wipe the front glass. Thinking of adding something to eliminate it but just wondered if you resolved it? Mine is in on a vinyl plank floor, so similar to laminate.

Hey! Replied to your pm too but ya reach out to water box about a reinforcement kit. I saw it talked about on their Facebook group and ppl say it works. I don't have mine yet but have high hopes!

 

[etcee]

I just bought a waterbox marine x 90.3 and have this exact issue. Garbage company, garbage product. I called for a reinforcement kit, which the fact they have one and it is not a part of the stand is absurd to me. Took three weeks for them to tell me "they lost" the last reinforcement kit they had with no ETA on when they will get more. F waterbox. I will never purchase another product from them.

 

[W31Olds]

Side to side wobble will happen with stands that are fastened and not welded, especially Aluminum and the Methods used to join the pieces. Front to back can also be a problem. Mfinn is correct, they probably need a rigid back firmly attached to the Aluminum Frame to correct the issue. Could be Plywood or a sheet of CPVC or Aluminium sheet.

 

[CBonito]

The best way to go with a stand is to just build one out of aluminum or order one from Alufab.

I built an aluminum stand about 2-3x as beefy as water box for my 100g and I can still get it to wobble just the slightest. I have all kind of bracing, all corners and horizontal. I wouldn’t worry. 45mm profile at the thinnest. Top framing is 45x90mm

I heard that!

We didn't choose the thug life, the thug life chose us.
On a serious note, this is the ONLY way to do a stand anymore.

I'm willing to bet that most of the tanks that fail have something to do with their "oatmeal board" stand.
Some of the ones I see frighten the heck out of me.

 

[etcee]

The best way to go with a stand is to just build one out of aluminum or order one from Alufab.


I heard that!

We didn't choose the thug life, the thug life chose us.
On a serious note, this is the ONLY way to do a stand anymore.

I'm willing to bet that most of the tanks that fail have something to do with their "oatmeal board" stand.
Some of the ones I see frighten the heck out of me.

Agreed. I was just looking at Alufab and sent them an email for an estimate. Waterbox told me to "just fill the tank up, it will be fine". The amount the stand / tank wobbles by just using my index finger or thumb is absurd.

 

[W31Olds]

Disappointing that you have to spend more money to fix a stand from a premium Tank Manufacturer. Alufab estimate is going to be $$$$.

 

[CBonito]

Agreed. I was just looking at Alufab and sent them an email for an estimate. Waterbox told me to "just fill the tank up, it will be fine". The amount the stand / tank wobbles by just using my index finger or thumb is absurd.

You will not be disappointed with Alufab. It took about 3 weeks and mine showed up spot on correct the first time. The heavy industrial casters are super nice. You can actually move your tank! And when you want it to stay, you just rotate the adjusters and it rests on its own rubber feet so it isolates any noise and it will not go anywhere. It doesnt shake or shimmy and it is perfectly square. Best thing I ever did.

 

[etcee]

Disappointing that you have to spend more money to fix a stand from a premium Tank Manufacturer. Alufab estimate is going to be $$$$.

Agreed. Nothing like spending 3 thousand dollars on a tank you can't put water in and have to spend more money on.