I have a leveling issue

[Jc0187]

Hello. As I am about to start setting up my 46 gallon bowfront aquarium, I noticed that my aquarium rocks slightly due to my tile not being leveled. If you look at the tile, some are higher than others. I looked at shimmie methods but I think my issue is beyond that simple fix. Any ideas if it would work?

 

[Maacc]

Get solid plastic shims, stack them until there is no play, they are level and trimmed to the leg dimension.
If it is worse than 1/2" or so consider chipping the tile and pouring leveling grout.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

^+1
And once the stand no longer rocks using the method as stated above, shim as much as you can to fill the gaps and make sure tank is level.

 

[Jc0187]

Get solid plastic shims, stack them until there is no play, they are level and trimmed to the leg dimension.
If it is worse than 1/2" or so consider chipping the tile and pouring leveling grout.

Solid plastic shims? Ok, I'll look into it. What about the back of the aquarium? My tile sucks, it pops up in some spots while in other spots it's lower and makes absolutely zero sense. I can't make alterations to the tile as I am a renter. Thanks for the help!!

 

[jsker]

Get solid plastic shims, stack them until there is no play, they are level and trimmed to the leg dimension.
If it is worse than 1/2" or so consider chipping the tile and pouring leveling grout.

+2

 

[Jc0187]

^+1
And once the stand no longer rocks using the method as stated above, shim as much as you can to fill the gaps and make sure tank is level.

Ok. But what about the back of the tank? Or does the front and sides matter the most?

 

[jsker]

Solid plastic shims? Ok, I'll look into it. What about the back of the aquarium? My tile sucks, it pops up in some spots while in other spots it's lower and makes absolutely zero sense. I can't make alterations to the tile as I am a renter. Thanks for the help!!

Plastic shims are at the big box home improvement stores and the shims will work all the way around

 

[Jc0187]

Plastic shims are at the big box home improvement stores and the shims will work all the way around

Hmm ok. I plan on putting my tank fairly close to the wall though. How much space do you feel I will need behind the tank to get those shims in place?

 

[Kershaw]

Hmm ok. I plan on putting my tank fairly close to the wall though. How much space do you feel I will need behind the tank to get those shims in place?

Trust me you want to have enough room behind a tank. Need to be able to clean salt creep, get critters that decide to commit suicide, plugging things in etc. I have made this mistake more then once. It may not look as good a little further from the wall but it makes life easier

 

[Jc0187]

Trust me you want to have enough room behind a tank. Need to be able to clean salt creep, get critters that decide to commit suicide, plugging things in etc. I have made this mistake more then once. It may not look as good a little further from the wall but it makes life easier

Shoot. I've got a toddler at home. She turns two in a couple weeks so I was trying to keep it as close to the wall as possible to prevent her from going behind my tank.

 

[jsker]

Hmm ok. I plan on putting my tank fairly close to the wall though. How much space do you feel I will need behind the tank to get those shims in place?

I have 4 inches from the wall to the tank. Another suggestion would be to get a piece of 3/4 ply cut to the size of the bottom of the cabinet and place that under the stand. level the stand with the shims and place the tank.

 

[Jc0187]

I have 4 inches from the wall to the tank. Another suggestion would be to get a piece of 3/4 ply cut to the size of the bottom of the cabinet and place that under the stand. level the stand with the shims and place the tank.

Hmm. But what's the difference from the plywood vs the wooden base of the stand? Wouldn't it essentially be the same thing?

 

[jsker]

Hmm. But what's the difference from the plywood vs the wooden base of the stand? Wouldn't it essentially be the same thing?

It a rigid flat surface to start with. Depending on the quality of the stand and how it is built shimming could twist the stand over time and there could be a failure of the DT more with large system the system your size, but it is better to error with caution

 

[Jc0187]

It a rigid flat surface to start with. Depending on the quality of the stand and how it is built shimming could twist the stand over time and there could be a failure of the DT more with large system the system your size, but it is better to error with caution

Oh I see. So that plywood is to basically take the brunt of the weight, so the stand won't twist right?

 

[jsker]

Oh I see. So that plywood is to basically take the brunt of the weight, so the stand won't twist right?

Also with the plywood, things will be much easier to level and you may not need shims

 

[Jc0187]

Also with the plywood, things will be much easier to level and you may not need shims

I'll probably still need them as the aquarium and stand are a bowfront model. If I had a rectangle stand, I could get away with just the plywood.

 

[Kershaw]

this may suck to do but why not ask the landloard if you can fix the floor your self? there are a few things in this hobby that isnt worth taking a risk.
1 electrical fire
2 tank coming appart
3 entire tank die off

 

[Jc0187]

this may suck to do but why not ask the landloard if you can fix the floor your self? there are a few things in this hobby that isnt worth taking a risk.
1 electrical fire
2 tank coming appart
3 entire tank die off

Ha, my landlord would never allow anything like that.

 

[Kershaw]

Ha, my landlord would never allow anything like that.

It would improve the house free of charge for the home owner. The worst he or she could do would say no. Just say it's a safty hazard and your willing to do it your self.

 

[Big G]

Trust me you want to have enough room behind a tank. Need to be able to clean salt creep, get critters that decide to commit suicide, plugging things in etc. I have made this mistake more then once. It may not look as good a little further from the wall but it makes life easier

I always try and leave at least 8-9" behind the tank. I know it seems like a lot, but if you have a problem, even 8-9" won't seem like enough.