Senior El Roboto
Community Member
dont fill with water and use that as reference. use an actual level. much more precise.
My floor isn't flat... what should I do?
- Thread starter NeveSSL
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dont fill with water and use that as reference. use an actual level. much more precise.
Sacohen
Valuable Member
A level is just a bubble of air trapped in water or another liquid. It's not any more precise as putting some water in the tank.
It is much easier though. water tends to get heavy really fast 10 gallons is over 80lbs and if you have a large tank trying to raise the tank with an additional 80 or more pounds is going to be hard, not to mention dangerous.
It is much easier though. water tends to get heavy really fast 10 gallons is over 80lbs and if you have a large tank trying to raise the tank with an additional 80 or more pounds is going to be hard, not to mention dangerous.
Actually it is better with some water in the tank, not filled, but a couple inches to take any wracking out of the stand and make the tank sit flush against the base. When it is empty it may not sit flush all around the perimeter. This is something leared from 35 years in the aquarium hobby and a son that loves to buy and sell used systems. You can get it more level with a couple inches of water and a tape measure or 4 foot level than you can with the level alone guaranteed.
Tradewinds
Active Member
If you buy wooden shims, I've heard cedar shims hold up better.
You don't lift the tank. The shims are tapered and you drive them in with a mallet or hammer while checking for level.
inurocker
Active Member
If things are bad enough to worry about the wooden shims wouldn't the wood stand be just as at risk? If your really worried paint some epoxy on the shims and let it dry before you install them. +1 on what AZDesertRat said and a tape measure and a inch or two of water are more accurate than a level I speak from 50 years in construction.
Years ago my Son rented a mobile home and had a 180 gallon acrylic tank at the time he wanted to take with him. We set the tank and stand up and it appeared a little off level but nothing drastic. We shimmed it a bit and started filling and man it was way off. What we discovered was sitting on the carpet and padding we could move it around where the knap on the carpet laid down and it appeared level but with some weight on it it was a totally different story. I ended up getting a 2x4 and ripping it down on a table saw so I had two pieces that started out at over 3/4" and over 6 feet tapered down to nothing. The tank would have ruptured if we had gone with the level alone and not paid attendtion to the changes as we filled it. There wasn't enough weight empty to really make it settle in. Add a couple inches of water and level it from there, you might be surprised at what you find.
Sacohen
Valuable Member
I can understand that on a carpeted floor and especially in a trailer that doesn't have a solid foundation.
All of my tanks have been set up on tile on the first floor of a concrete slab constructed house. There is going to be very little if any change between and empty and full tank in that situation.
Yes there may be a little because the tank will settle into the stand or the stand will settle into the floor with some weight in it, but it's not going to be as drastic as what you just described.
All of my tanks have been set up on tile on the first floor of a concrete slab constructed house. There is going to be very little if any change between and empty and full tank in that situation.
Yes there may be a little because the tank will settle into the stand or the stand will settle into the floor with some weight in it, but it's not going to be as drastic as what you just described.
Not as drastic but it will settle and it is worth doing right the first time. All it takes is a little effort and maybe 30 minutes, you gotta fill it anyway so just stop with a couple inches and check things out. Beats finding out its not level once it is full and having to drain most of it to do what could have been done during the initial fill. been there done that. My current 100G on a tile floor on a concrete slab floor is a perfect example. The floors sloped away from the wall slightly so the front and one side had to be shimmed a little, it was easy to accomplish with two inches of water in the tank.
Mike J.
2500 Club Member
Agree with this post. The most accurate type of level is a water level. Fill it a couple inches and check the level all around.
mrbee2828
Active Member
I use these when I install tanks Shop TimberWolf 12-Count 2-in x 8-in Composite Shims at Lowes.com They can take a lot more weight and as noted they won't get damaged with water.
