Need help preventing another disaster!!!

SPSjunky · Feb 17, 2013

Well roughly a month ago my 150 gallon reef had a problem.After doing a water change and restarting the system I sat down to observe the tank.After about 2 minutes of everything looking fine I hear a LOUD cracking sound. The center brace on top of the tank cracked off where it met the front portion of the brace and the front glass bowed out.Needless to say it scared the crap out of me.I was able to quick grain the tank into a stock tank i had laying in the basement.I was able to save most of the water and ALL of my livestock.

I believe the problem was the floor the tank was sitting on.I have the floor re-inforced in the basement with 4x4 posts and it is rock solid.The floor is uneven about a 1/4 inch or so from the back of the tank to the front of the tank.I used wood shims from the home depot to shim the front of the tank till it was level.I used about 10 of them on the 6 foot tank.I believe because I didn't shim it properly somehow it created more pressure on the front glass and brace and created the extra pressure for it to break.At least that is my theory.

Fast forward to this saturday. I am purchasing a 120 gallon reef ready tank and stand from a fellow reefer than is in good shape.I dont want the same thing to happen to me again.I have to put the new tank in the same exact spot as the last tank. That's orders from the boss...

So I ask, how should I do this knowing the floor is uneven and I don't want the same issue as last time.My 150 was a 6 foot tank with one brace.The 120 is a 4 foot tank with one brace.I just don't know how i should do this?I can't rip the floor up or change it in anyway. Im afraid to shim it again and have the same thing happen.So what should i do???Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Zack · Feb 17, 2013

That would def. Be a scary thing to hear when your watching your tank! Good to hear you saved everything.

SPSjunky · Feb 18, 2013

Yeah, it's one of those sounds that will give you nightmares for weeks

dastowers · Mar 7, 2013

Instead of shimming it - which allow pressure points. Lay full 4 foot pieces in the front and shorter pieces under the sides of the stand. Get thin wood that can be doubled in the front and single on the sides. Like a shim on steroids. Use hard wood- maple, ash etc it doesn't compress under the weight.

revhtree · Mar 7, 2013

What is under the floor? Basement, crawlspace?

Chameleon · Mar 7, 2013

Another thought is to shim a board that is 4'x2' and placee rubber mat on top of board and stand on top of that. I think that would give very good even dispersion of weight and help prevent another disaster

Swordfish215 · Mar 7, 2013

I wanted to add pouring a mortar bed over plastic underlayment then submerging your framing into it, may be a good solution. That way you cant definitively get the framing level....same principle as setting a jacuzzi.

Mike J. · Mar 7, 2013

dastowers said:
Instead of shimming it - which allow pressure points. Lay full 4 foot pieces in the front and shorter pieces under the sides of the stand. Get thin wood that can be doubled in the front and single on the sides. Like a shim on steroids. Use hard wood- maple, ash etc it doesn't compress under the weight.

Agree with this. If it's 1/4" off level use a 1/4" - 4' long shim, then use 1/4" to nothing shims on the sides. Put a level on it and take a photo of it. Then you can have a reference to see if it's moving over time.