Leveling stand voids warrenty??

Billdogg · Mar 10, 2020

There is just no way I wouldn't shim it to level. That has got to be some of the worst advice about tank setup that I've ever heard. Use lots of shims - I pretty much put them in so that they are touching each other to give the most support.

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

They said that I definitely should not adjust with shims and it's fine to leave it as is

NeonRabbit221B · Mar 11, 2020

Did you get that in an email/in writing? That is nuts...

jlts21 · Mar 11, 2020

I'd almost give it back and ask for a refund. Regardless of if you have it in writing, all the money that some of us have in fish and coral is not worth trusting a company to say leave it unlevel and risk blowing a seam out

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

NeonRabbit221B said:
Did you get that in an email/in writing? That is nuts...

Yes

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

jlts21 said:
I'd almost give it back and ask for a refund. Regardless of if you have it in writing, all the money that some of us have in fish and coral is not worth trusting a company to say leave it unlevel and risk blowing a seam out

I dont think it being unlevel will blow out a seam unless its unlevel both ways...

jlts21 · Mar 11, 2020

shoelaceike said:
I dont think it being unlevel will blow out a seam unless its unlevel both ways...

then don't level it, let us know how it works. People don't level their tanks for no reason. unlevel one way puts more pressure on that panel than the rest of the panels

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

jlts21 said:
then don't level it, let us know how it works. People don't level their tanks for no reason. unlevel one way puts more pressure on that panel than the rest of the panels

I usually like to level it but the 1/4 inch more of water on one side will not be a significant force. Because of gravity all the weight of the water goes to the bottom.

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

The main issue of being out of level is if there is a twist...

NanoDJS · Mar 11, 2020

3 points make a plane the fourth one breaks it if it's not the same level shimming any stand for anything will shift the stress points, floors gotta be level or use a self leveling mat

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

This is what the manufacturer says. I've read elsewhere that Marineland advises against shimming....they make millions of tanks so maybe they know something we don't

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

I moved the tank to another location and now its 1/16 side to side and 1/16 front to back. I imagine there are no perfect tank and every tank has to be fractions off...anyone think this is ok?

dbowman5 · Mar 11, 2020

The reason for marineland to state this,i believe, is that Marineland stands are built to be level with the weight of the water on the stand.
How about this? Mark the dimensions of the tank on the floor where you want to place it. Check the level of the floor. If off, correct the floor with shims; if a whole side is low, use a strip of material length-wise along that side.

jlts21 · Mar 11, 2020

shoelaceike said:
I moved the tank to another location and now its 1/16 side to side and 1/16 front to back. I imagine there are no perfect tank and every tank has to be fractions off...anyone think this is ok?

that's where you're going to get the twist you referred to earlier. IE; front higher than the back and left higher than the right. Front left corner will be higher than the other 3

Shorething · Mar 11, 2020

My marineland 220 gallon on my marineland Monterey stand is 1/4" off from left to right and has been set up for two years with no issues

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

This is the current spot with no shims

Oldreefer44 · Mar 11, 2020

Mine has been off 3/8 inch end to end for 14 years.

tehmadreefer · Mar 11, 2020

I bet they are saying that shimming is altering their product and that your floor being unlevel is your problem. They are protecting themselves.

tehmadreefer · Mar 11, 2020

Unless it’s like a half inch or more off don’t even worry...

shoelaceike · Mar 11, 2020

My only worry now is that both are a tiny off but I would imagine most tanks are like that even with shimming....if u take a flat object, u can move it forward and sideways so as far as I see, the only way there could be a twist is if the stand is twisted. If the stand is flat and the floor is unlevel even both directions, I dont really see a problem. I do understand what Marineland is saying because using shims can create pressure points that can push up through the stand.