Uneven aquarium cabinet tops - is this normal?

[Wee Mad Arthur]

So a few weeks ago when trying to level the doors on my aquarium cabinet I realised it wasn’t possible because the top of the cabinet wasn’t level, it was dipping down in the centre a few mm, I assumed bowed. This resulted in me buying a new cabinet of a different brand and moving the tank on to it.

I‘m currently looking at replacing the top on the supposedly bowed cabinet to reuse it with a new tank and was seeing if it could be reinforced. I noticed that the back of the cabinet had a horizontal brace so was a little confused how it could have bowed. I’ve used a metre long steel ruler which I know to be level and found that the rear of the stand is just as bowed as the front. In this case the centre of the top has a gap of 2mm between top and ruler.

Out of interest I’ve just done the same with my new cabinet (different brand remember) and that too isn’t completely level. Thinking maybe the ruler isn’t straight I’ve checked with another straight edge and the gap is the same.

I do use 10mm thick yoga mats under tanks which I’m assuming removes the 2mm discrepancy...?

So, am I incredibly unlucky and have 2 cabinets from different manufacturers that aren’t level as they should be or is this normal? I’ve kept aquariums on and off for years but never until now checked how level a new cabinet or stand was.

I‘m on the verge of ordering a replacement top for this cabinet but now I’m thinking that I’m wasting my time and that I’ll be fine with another 10mm mat under it.

Your input is appreciated!

 

[KorlL]

I think having a mat in between the tank and stand would suffice. I’ve also used the styrofoam insulation pads that you can get at Home Depot, but I would suggest that if your stand has an overlapping trim to hide the styrofoam

 

[Wee Mad Arthur]

I do have some thick sheets of styrofoam but there isn’t any trim on the cabinet to hide it so it looks ugly. The 10mm black mat looks sleeker. I had my reef tank on this cabinet with a mat which I guess was doing the job but I panicked when I realised there was a few mm difference between the supported sides and centre even though the mat made up the difference.

I’ve done some googling and believe that this is fairly normal which is why people put things between the tank and cabinet, the only difference is that people tend to trust their purpose built aquarium cabinet will be dead level but most never check. They stick their foam or mat on, put the tank on and never give it another thought.