Looking for advice on old tank being unlevel...

[jsker]

The stand has one support on each left and right side that supports the tank front to back. No other contact with the tank frame, and the tank bottom frame does have a middle brace.

This is the stand designed and sold with this tank and I have submitted my warranty for both.

Since you have a level, and I have the feeling that you could build a new stand with a much better quality. Drain the system and build a new stand with all the things that you may require for the future. Myself, I do not like the stands that come with most of the tanks that are sold. Especially the press board stand with the laminated finishes such and melamine and painted finishes.

 

[Phyber]

I suspect the trim does give some support to the glass panels. I have always had rimless tanks so I cannot say for sure. The mitered corners may not give support but why are they separating. Did the tank get racked? Stands are notoriously cheaply made and while they can easily support top down weight they are wimpy when is comes to side motion.

Tank shouldn't have gotten racked, no stress or moving while full. If you look at the bottom of the mitred corner it's still attached correctly... I wonder if it's just warped lumber?

 

[Phyber]

Since you have a level, and I have the feeling that you could build a new stand with a much better quality. Drain the system and build a new stand with all the things that you may require for the future. Myself, I do not like the stands that come with most of the tanks that are sold. Especially the press board stand with the laminated finishes such and melamine and painted finishes.

Idk about that, I've seen some of the projects I've made I thought about building but was leery of my skills and this would look way better than what I could do. I can't figure out the best way to trim it out and put facing on it.

 

[sstanley223]

Thanks Peace!

The crack I'm referring to is on the trim of the tank, not the mitres where the stand trim meets.

My 20 year old AGA 65 gallon stand was doing that from what I believe was the wood drying out and shrinking over the years. It never failed but I had the same concern. It's a shame that the stands cost more than the tanks. I replaced mine.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Evening

I am not an expert or play one on tv, but

A certain amount of gangsta lean usually is ok. I think I read 1/4 inch.
All your levels were within the bubble
Measuring off the floor or wood trim could be deceiving since they can bow or twist.
If you shake the tank it should not wobble or give any
It is sitting flush on the stand, to be sure try to slip paper in between tank and stand
The cracks may have been there for a long time unnoticed. It should not be a sign the seal is failing as much as at some point being carried or place on a solid floor.

I would say ok.

But...there’s always a but
If you are worried, don’t leave it. Fix it now because if you are like me you will always be worried. I built my stand. Big mistake. My 180 is about 1/4 inch off like yours. And it also wiggles ever so slightly. It’s been up over 10 years and I still worry about failure at some point.

 

[Erica-Renee]

A tank sitting out of level one one end to the other is not that big of a deal. What causes issues is if the Surface is Warped or twisted. Meaning is the tank True from front to back on both ends of the tank equally .. Not Twisted or warped.
To check this USING A LONG Straight edge check to see if the tank is level from front left to right back corners. Right front to back left corners. If these two are not perfectly flat level Then yes you should intervene by Draining down the tank and making corrections by properly shimming the stand at its structure locations , then around its perimeter. Being out of level is not a issue . Not being planer is a Disaster waiting to HAPPEN...

HOPE THIS HELPS.

Erica Renee ..

 

[Phyber]

Evening

I am not an expert or play one on tv, but

A certain amount of gangsta lean usually is ok. I think I read 1/4 inch.
All your levels were within the bubble
Measuring off the floor or wood trim could be deceiving since they can bow or twist.
If you shake the tank it should not wobble or give any
It is sitting flush on the stand, to be sure try to slip paper in between tank and stand
The cracks may have been there for a long time unnoticed. It should not be a sign the seal is failing as much as at some point being carried or place on a solid floor.

I would say ok.

But...there’s always a but
If you are worried, don’t leave it. Fix it now because if you are like me you will always be worried. I built my stand. Big mistake. My 180 is about 1/4 inch off like yours. And it also wiggles ever so slightly. It’s been up over 10 years and I still worry about failure at some point.

A tank sitting out of level one one end to the other is not that big of a deal. What causes issues is if the Surface is Warped or twisted. Meaning is the tank True from front to back on both ends of the tank equally .. Not Twisted or warped.
To check this USING A LONG Straight edge check to see if the tank is level from front left to right back corners. Right front to back left corners. If these two are not perfectly flat level Then yes you should intervene by Draining down the tank and making corrections by properly shimming the stand at its structure locations , then around its perimeter. Being out of level is not a issue . Not being planer is a Disaster waiting to HAPPEN...

HOPE THIS HELPS.

Erica Renee ..

I suppose what's getting me is also, the floor doesn't look as off center as the tank/stand do. Granted, not by much, but off. This puts in my mind the idea that there's a part of the stand not level, again not by much, and a liability. I want to remember putting the level on the floor prior to filling the tank and seeing it read the same as the tank does now. There's also a uniform backslope to the floor (the rear of the tank is slightly lower. This is equal on both sides left rear and right rear)

Is my thinking correct? Should I shim the bottom of the tank back level?

 

[NewGoby]

I'll re-itterate what i'd do - 1. build a new stand & 2. build a new trim around it, after you've drained it, preferably with steel or anything heavy duty, on top & bottom just in case