Gave it a go at DIY stand. Need help.

[LakeSho]

I made a stand out of 2x4's for a 20gal glass rimmed tank. Turned ut to be pretty sturdy. However, the top is not perfectly flat. There are some high spots which prevent the bottom of the aquarium frame to make contact with the stand on all corners.

In the pictures you can see the gaps between the stand and a level tool. The same gaps can be seen when I put the aquarium on top.

I tried using plywood from home depot, but it's not completely straight either and creates the same problem with some corners not touching.

What would be the best solution?

 

[glency]

I think most needs to be squared, but I’m no expert.

 

[HuduVudu]

I made a stand out of 2x4's for a 20gal glass tank. Turned ut to be pretty sturdy. However, the top is not perfectly flat. There are some high spots which prevent the bottom of the aquarium frame to make contact with the stand on all corners.

In the pictures you can see the gaps between the stand and a level tool. The same gaps can be seen when I put the aquarium on top.

I tried using plywood from home depot, but it's not completely straight either and creates the same problem with some corners not touching.

What would be the best solution?

You have two options for dealing with this. Both require tools do deal with.

If you have some DIY in your blood and you are willing to spend some money on tools you can easily fix this problem.

You need either a plane or a sander.

You can get a cheap plane at Home Depot (or the like) and it is fairly inexpensive. You will need to set it up and this will take a bit to do. Fortunately you aren't doing fine wordworking so you don't have to be super accurate about it. Once you have it set up watch a few videos on how to use planes. The most important part is working with the grain of the wood. The videos will explain better than I. This isn't super hard but it does require a bit of understanding. This is the cheaper solution.

You can get a hand sander. What kind is really up to your needs and budget. Once again you aren't doing fine wood working so if it is a bit ugly it shouldnt be a poblem. Use a heavy grit paper to bring down the high spots faster. Then maybe some finer grit papers to get some of the ugly scratches out. Even with a heavy grit paper sanders aren't really designed to remove material but for what you are doing they will easily get the job done.

A note yes you can hand sand this down, but you will hate yourself for choosing this option but if money is really an issue and time and muscles are not a thing then this is by far the cheapest way to go.

Don't forget to use some sort of sealer when you get things were you want them. Two reasons. First and most important is to deal with water intrusion. Second to hold the wood in place so it doesn't warp back into something you don't want. Humidity heavily influences bare wood.

My 2 cents.

 

[Eric R.]

Would something like a yoga mat potentially makeup for the imperfections? And is this a rimmed tank with black plastic trim all around the bottom edges?

 

[LakeSho]

It is a rimmed tank. I've always read that it's not a good idea to use mats/foams under rimmed tanks.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Its only a 20Gallon. I think it should be fine. You could get dimensional lumber to put under it. (think expensive hardwood) or a cheap yogamat. I've used painted 1/2inch Styrofoam insulation before on a 75 gallon and it worked like a charm. the foam was dense enough that it didn't compress and push-up the bottom pane of glass.

 

[Projects with Sam]

It is a rimmed tank. I've always read that it's not a good idea to use mats/foams under rimmed tanks.

Do you know why its not a good idea?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I believe another option would be to shim the plywood top. NOTE, do not shim the tank, but the plywood.

 

[LakeSho]

Do you know why its not a good idea?

From what I've read/seen, at least with foam, it can create high spots under the bottom glass creating uneven pressure causing the bottom to give out.

 

[mehaffydr]

Guys lets be real here this is a 20 gallon not 200 gallon.
Level the plywood as you attach it to the 2x4's or use thin foam either way will work fine on a 20 gallon tank.
I would go with shimming and making the plywood level if it were mine.

 

[mehaffydr]

From what I've read/seen, at least with foam, it can create high spots under the bottom glass creating uneven pressure causing the bottom to give out.

You could cut strips so that No foam is touching the bottom glass

 

[CWoods]

1/2" Styrofoam from HD or lowes. Cut to size. Over thinking a 20g

 

[Projects with Sam]

I had 75 gallon on 1/2 insulation foam for 2 years. there was only 1/16" compression where the tank rim was.

 

[LakeSho]

I had 75 gallon on 1/2 insulation foam for 2 years. there was only 1/16" compression where the tank rim was.

Did you use the pink stuff from home depot? I can't seem to find the right size. the 1/2" sheets come either in 2x2 or 4x8 feet. 2x2 is just a bit too small as my stand is 24.5" wide. And I have no way of transporting the 4x8 feet sheet.

 

[Duncan62]

It is a rimmed tank. I've always read that it's not a good idea to use mats/foams under rimmed tanks.

I use cardboard shims and cut them off after the tank is full. It also allows for differential settlement as the weight increases. Good luck!

 

[3429810]

From what I've read/seen, at least with foam, it can create high spots under the bottom glass creating uneven pressure causing the bottom to give out.

Not sure about yoga mats but the innovative marine mats I think are supposed to do the exact opposite. From what i read if you get a proper mat it will compress to level out the tank and should remove any pressure points. Maybe I understood it wrong but I can’t see how that would be an issue with rimmed tanks.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Did you use the pink stuff from home depot? I can't seem to find the right size. the 1/2" sheets come either in 2x2 or 4x8 feet. 2x2 is just a bit too small as my stand is 24.5" wide. And I have no way of transporting the 4x8 feet sheet.

I did. I got the 4x8 sheet and cut it to fit into the car then finished the cutting at home.
One thing you'll want to do is drill a ~1/4" hole so the airspace under the tank between the glass and the foam can breathe.
I painted the foam black to go with the stand and it looked great and gave me piece of mind that my DIY stand wasnt tweaking my tank.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Not sure about yoga mats but the innovative marine mats I think are supposed to do the exact opposite. From what i read if you get a proper mat it will compress to level out the tank and should remove any pressure points. Maybe I understood it wrong but I can’t see how that would be an issue with rimmed tanks.

The issue, mainly with the white packing foam instead of the high density insulation foam, is that the uncompressed portion not under the rim can push on the glass if the portion under the rim compresses enough.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Did you use the pink stuff from home depot? I can't seem to find the right size. the 1/2" sheets come either in 2x2 or 4x8 feet. 2x2 is just a bit too small as my stand is 24.5" wide. And I have no way of transporting the 4x8 feet sheet.

@LakeSho sorry I missed your post day-of.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Did you check the Tank to see if it’s perfectly flat. I’ve seen plenty of the Mass Produced, Commonly availability tanks that don’t have flat plastic rims. Both the top and bottom of the rim.