cabinet leveling feet

newfly · Oct 12, 2020

I'm in the planning stage for my next build. I have a location for the aquarium in mind. However, the spot is near the transition btw the kitchen ceramic tiles and hardwood floor in the dining room. The tank will be on the hardwood floor in the dining room but that space is only 34 inch. I would like to get a 36 long tank. This means 2 inches will be on top of the tiles.

The problem is the tiles is 1/2 inch higher than the wood floor. Is it possible or even recommended to rely on the cabinet leveling feet (can they compensate 1/2 inch?) for uneven floor? If this don't work, then i have to figure out another location or get a 24" tank.

Johnny

newfly · Oct 12, 2020

or i could use a 1/2 plywood on the hardwood floor to raise it to match the tiles.

DaddyFish · Oct 12, 2020

I would be most concerned about weight distribution across the tile(s). I assume we're talking roughly 65-gallon tank? That's approximately 800 lbs. plus sump, plus stand etc. So you could conceivably be placing 200-300 lbs on each cabinet foot. That's a lot of weight in small circle that could be resting on a tile joint.
I'd recommend using a piece of 1/4" aluminum flat bar (painted black or white or...) or something similar under the cabinet feet on the tile end of things. Then perhaps something similar on the hardwood floor that's 3/4" thick (sealed hardwood strip) to match the height and keep the adjusters screwed in nearly flush for maximum stability.

newfly · Oct 13, 2020

Great suggestion. I didn't think of the weigh of the aquarium on corner of the ceramic tile. Yes, it going be to a 65g tank + sump. I may have to rethink this. The specific location is next to an exterior wall, but parallel to the floor joist. The house is 60+ years old with pier and beam crawspace . Where I am, some settling in very common. I have a drop of like 1/2 inch every 10ft. Consulted structural engineer and jacking up the foundation to level the entire house going to easily cost over 6 figure, but he didn't really advise me to do anything as its not a safety issue with this level of settling. The cost of everything is easily 2x more than average. its getting crazy here.

800lb sounds like a lot of weight. Ideally, on the exterior wall and supported by multiple joist would be best. Back to drawing board. Maybe i should just with with 24 wide tank ~40G and called it a day.

DaddyFish · Oct 13, 2020

newfly said:
Great suggestion. I didn't think of the weigh of the aquarium on corner of the ceramic tile. Yes, it going be to a 65g tank + sump. I may have to rethink this. The specific location is next to an exterior wall, but parallel to the floor joist. The house is 60+ years old with pier and beam crawspace . Where I am, some settling in very common. I have a drop of like 1/2 inch every 10ft. Consulted structural engineer and jacking up the foundation to level the entire house going to easily cost over 6 figure, but he didn't really advise me to do anything as its not a safety issue with this level of settling. The cost of everything is easily 2x more than average. its getting crazy here.

800lb sounds like a lot of weight. Ideally, on the exterior wall and supported by multiple joist would be best. Back to drawing board. Maybe i should just with with 24 wide tank ~40G and called it a day.

I think your situation is manageable. You just have to focus on distributing the load evenly over a large area, as opposed to concentrated spots.