Help!!! New IM Lagoon 50 is uneven!

Sarah007 · Oct 14, 2016

Long time lurker first time poster. Okay so I just finished setting up my new Innovative Marine Lagoon 50 and I have a terrible lean in the tank! I didn't even think to check things with a level until I'd filled it up and noticed the water uneven at the top. I've attached some pictures below. I have an older home with uneven flooring, which is the cause of the lean. The tank is 30 inches long and the lean is about 3/8ths of an inch from side to side.
Is this degree of leaning dangerous? I'm currently very concern....

120reefkeeper · Oct 14, 2016

IMHO YES you need to drain water out of the tank. At the very least half of it or more . You'll need to shim the bottom of the stand to get it level. Sorry for the bad news but if it's not right now , it will never be right.

Also once you have it level make sure you check it as you fill it back up.

Starwar · Oct 14, 2016

It's really impossible to say weather or not you'll have a problem down the road. I have personally had a tank crack on me when i first got into the hobby. Didnt think it would ever be a problem.

All you need to do is shim the stand. I have a old tile floor and you wouldnt believe how bad the level was. If you want to be safe, shim it. You can see in my picture i shimmed the entire left side...go to home depot and get the plastic shims. They break easier and wont rot...ever

Sarah007 · Oct 14, 2016

I got the stand that goes with the tank. It is above the ground on rubber, maybe plastic, feet. Can I still shim it with these? It has some "feet" on the corners and a few through the middle of the stand. Do you think I could take most of the water out and then shim it to fix the issue? Or would I need to take everything out before I shim it? Do you think it is safe to leave tonight and fix first thing in the morning?

Sarah007 · Oct 14, 2016

ALSO! Thank you for the quick replies!

Coastie Reefer · Oct 14, 2016

Sarah007 said:
I got the stand that goes with the tank. It is above the ground on rubber, maybe plastic, feet. Can I still shim it with these? It has some "feet" on the corners and a few through the middle of the stand. Do you think I could take most of the water out and then shim it to fix the issue? Or would I need to take everything out before I shim it? Do you think it is safe to leave tonight and fix first thing in the morning?

That may even make it easier to shim. You might be able to put something like a drink coaster under the rubber tabs on one side to level it up. The hardest part will be getting the water out so you can lift the stand and tank.

Sarah007 · Oct 14, 2016

This is probably a dumb question, but I had better ask just in case. Would I just need to get a piece of wood or something that has a width of 3/8th of an inch to slide under the feet? Do you think it is safe to wait until the morning?

Coastie Reefer · Oct 14, 2016

I think your safe, even for a few days. But if the water level is 3/8 different then yup a 3/8 wood shim should do fine. You can stack shims too. I've used wooden paint stirrers for shims before.