Uneven Water Level - Should I be worried?

[Patrick Cox]

My 5'x2'x2' ~150g aquarium has been filled for a couple of months and I am just now noticing that the water level is not the same on the two ends of the tank. It's about 1/4" difference. The right end is 1" and the left end is 3/4". when I put a level on the tank there is a very slight lean to one side but not much. I guess a 5' tank requires more precision as I never noticed this with my last 4' tank. When I put a level on the floor it is the same slope so it is the floor that is causing the issue. There is no foam or anything under the tank. The tank is sitting on the stand. It is a custom build from Planet Aquariums. Do I need to drain the tank and shim the stand?

Thanks.

left 3/4"

right 1"

 

[EricR]

My opinion only -- not bad enough to ever be a real issue but you're already thinking about it so might always be a on your mind.

Looks like no livestock yet so, if that's true, now's the time to drain and deal with it if you think it will just bother you as time goes on.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

What is the Tank’s Stand setting on? Slab Concrete, Suspended Concrete, Wood Floor with Floor Joist, on Carpeting? I would be more worried about what is happening to the Structure. BTW Did you Flip the level over to see if it’s the same on both sides, look at your water levels with all pumps off? I had a Snail Wedge himself in one of my returns, so most of the water was being pushed to the right side.

 

[Mikedawg]

Yeah, you probably will not be able to simply forget about it.

 

[Patrick Cox]

My opinion only -- not bad enough to ever be a real issue but you're already thinking about it so might always be a on your mind.

Looks like no livestock yet so, if that's true, now's the time to drain and deal with it if you think it will just bother you as time goes on.

Re: livestock, I have 5 anthias and 1 goby that have been in the tank for a couple of weeks. It won't bother me unless I should be concerned about leaking down the road. Thanks.

 

[Mikedawg]

Do you get the same measurements when all your pumps are turned off? Looks like they might be running in pics.

 

[Patrick Cox]

What is the Tank’s Stand setting on? Slab Concrete, Suspended Concrete, Wood Floor with Floor Joist, on Carpeting? I would be more worried about what is happening to the Structure. BTW Did you Flip the level over to see if it’s the same on both sides, look at your water levels with all pumps off? I had a Snail Wedge himself in one of my returns, so most of the water was being pushed to the right side.

The house sits on a crawl space. The tank is up against an external wall so I think there is plenty of support. Floor material is hardwood floors over a subfloor. And of course there are floor joists under the floor...

 

[Patrick Cox]

Do you get the same measurements when all your pumps are turned off? Looks like they might be running in pics.

Good question.

When I turn everything off, the difference is still 1/4". 1 1/2" on the right, 1 1/4" on the left.

Thanks.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Any idea how much water I would need to drain to be able to wedge shims under the stand? I don't really want to remove my fish.

 

[EricR]

Re: livestock, I have 5 anthias and 1 goby that have been in the tank for a couple of weeks. It won't bother me unless I should be concerned about leaking down the road. Thanks.

Oh, I see.
Based on your last picture I think you're all good.
Everything looks pretty beefy and your current level is (((very minor out-of-level))), in my opinion, inconsequential.
Flatness of top plane the tank is sitting on seems more important to me and you're already beyond that.

One opinion only there, though.

 

[Patrick Cox]

....I would be more worried about what is happening to the Structure...

Our house is 55 years old so I am not surprised that the floors are not perfectly level.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Oh, I see.
Based on your last picture I think you're all good.
Everything looks pretty beefy and your current level is (((very minor out-of-level))), in my opinion, inconsequential.
Flatness of top plane the tank is sitting on seems more important to me and you're already beyond that.

One opinion only there, though.

Thanks. The top rim of the tank and the floor read the same with the level. So the tank is level to the floor. The floor however has a slight grade. I guess it's a 1/4" over 6 feet.