New tank leveling.

I Take Cars · Oct 2, 2016

It is important to level the tank before water is added?

helen ann · Oct 2, 2016

Love Love Love there bare bottom!!!

143MPCo · Oct 2, 2016

I Take Cars said:
It is important to level the tank before water is added?

Yes! Looks like you nailed it, nice work!

120reefkeeper · Oct 2, 2016

Also continue to check level while filling and after it's filled. Sometimes things shift.

saltyhog · Oct 2, 2016

You can't get it any better than that! Agree with rechecking as you fill it. What kind of shims did you use to level it?

I Take Cars · Oct 2, 2016

saltyhog said:
You can't get it any better than that! Agree with rechecking as you fill it. What kind of shims did you use to level it?

Had a small piece of hard plastic... for now until I come up with something better... probable dont need it when its this close..

120reefkeeper · Oct 2, 2016

I've never leveled the tank to the stand. I've always leveled the stand with the tank on it. By leveling it that way your creating an air gap between the tank and stand. That will likely cause the center of the bottom of the tank to bow when weight /water and rock are added.

Place the shims under the corner of the stand that's low so you raise /or lower the tank and stand together . [emoji4]

I Take Cars · Oct 2, 2016

Already done.... thought about it as I took the pics...

saltyhog · Oct 2, 2016

Agree with 120, shimming the tank like that could be disasterous for the reason he mentioned!

120reefkeeper · Oct 2, 2016

[emoji16][emoji28][emoji28][emoji28] had me worried that you were filling it. Whew! [emoji6]

I Take Cars · Oct 2, 2016

Lol.. not till tomorrow....
This is what I used...

Under the front of the stand

cromag27 · Oct 2, 2016

Yikes. yeah, never level the tank. when I build stands, I tell people to level them with composite shims from Lowe's.

I Take Cars · Oct 2, 2016

Im gonna go with... I just did that to test it.... yea..

saltyhog · Oct 2, 2016

I Take Cars said:
Im gonna go with... I just did that to test it.... yea..

LOL, that' one of the reason this site is here! Glad you posted the thread! If I had to own up to all the mistakes I've made it would take a while.

revhtree · Oct 3, 2016

Nice job!

BigJohnny · Oct 3, 2016

Holy moly thank god you didn't fill that. The tank rim must sit on a flat surface. Only level the stand like everyone said. I also use composite shims from lowes, that way if they get wet they don't break down. Also, definitely use shims not something else, they provide the most adjustment and ease of adjustment. They are meant for that purpose and super heavy loads.

I personally shim the stand level, then put the tank on and adjust if necessary, then fill the tank a quarter and adjust carefully, then fill it half way and adjust even more carefully one last time. I do not recommended trying to adjust shims once the tank is more than half full. Also, make sure you fill in all the gaps with shims after leveling.

For example, if you need one on the front left corner, you will need to space a few out on the left side and front left (pushed less and less in as you get further to the back and right). Does that make sense? I like to keep the gap between shims 6-8" max until you can't put another in.

One last thing, don't knock the secondary shims too far in because then you will have to adjust the rest again and end up leveling until your tank is 4 ft off of the ground lol.

Good luck!

Chera · Oct 4, 2016

BigJohnny said:
Holy moly thank god you didn't fill that. The tank rim must sit on a flat surface. Only level the stand like everyone said. I also use composite shims from lowes, that way if they get wet they don't break down. Also, definitely use shims not something else, they provide the most adjustment and ease of adjustment. They are meant for that purpose and super heavy loads.

I personally shim the stand level, then put the tank on and adjust if necessary, then fill the tank a quarter and adjust carefully, then fill it half way and adjust even more carefully one last time. I do not recommended trying to adjust shims once the tank is more than half full. Also, make sure you fill in all the gaps with shims after leveling.

For example, if you need one on the front left corner, you will need to space a few out on the left side and front left (pushed less and less in as you get further to the back and right). Does that make sense? I like to keep the gap between shims 6-8" max until you can't put another in.

One last thing, don't knock the secondary shims too far in because then you will have to adjust the rest again and end up leveling until your tank is 4 ft off of the ground lol.

Good luck!

Thank you for this information, I just finished a 72x26 stand and the information you gave is awesome.

SaltMan · Oct 4, 2016

I have a new Red Sea Reefer 250 that I have recently filled that is unlevel by about 3/16 front to back, leaning forward. I guess I will be draining it to add shims

I will try the composite shims unless someone else recommends something different.

stunreefer · Oct 4, 2016

120reefkeeper said:
By leveling it that way your creating an air gap between the tank and stand. That will likely cause the center of the bottom of the tank to bow when weight /water and rock are added.

FWIW aquariums with a plastic trim like that always have an air gap between the glass and stand. The plastic trim raises the glass off the platform.

There should be no gap between the trim and stand as mentioned, however. Shim below the stand.