Using shimms on semi full aquarium

DomiD · Jun 9, 2020

Just as the title suggested just curious to see if any one has used shims to level an aquarium with most of the water in it and if so how did you go about doing it?

EmdeReef · Jun 9, 2020

RocketEngineer · Jun 9, 2020

Yup. Replaced my 75 with a 125 and releveled. I use cedar shingles instead if shims because they are much wider. Worked just fine.

DomiD · Jun 10, 2020

RocketEngineer said:
Yup. Replaced my 75 with a 125 and releveled. I use cedar shingles instead if shims because they are much wider. Worked just fine.

Did you put them in when it was empty?

fishguy242 · Jun 10, 2020

hi if talking stand i assume,recommend composite shims ,tapped in ,w levels placed in both directions,don't know how many gal tank is would not do with more than 50-60 gals in

RocketEngineer · Jun 10, 2020

DomiD said:
Did you put them in when it was empty?

The new tank went onto the existing stand (we built it to do exactly that swap) so I was on the clock. I got everything transferred but only the display had water, not the sump, when I realized the longer tank showed it more. I did a combination of swapping out shims for new ones where it was low and just tapping others in to support things properly everywhere else. With the tank full I was still able to take the 1/8” low corner and bring it level.

I

fishguy242 · Jun 10, 2020

is this between tank and stand? glass or acrylic???

ca1ore · Jun 10, 2020

I think generally the advice would be to shim the tank level when empty. Depending upon your floor, it is possible that as you fill said floor will deflect a bit and take the tank out of level. You don't say the size of the tank, so along with the strength of your floor will determine how much or even if the floor deflects. I guess I am assuming it is not a huge tank, otherwise shimming when full/partially full would be unrealistic. I would worry about twisting a semi filled tank … don't think I would do it. But …..years ago, I installed a 180 on a wood joist floor. I shimmed it level first, then filled it and measure deflection. Required about an extra 1/8" along the front edge. I emptied the tank, shimmed up the 1/8" and refilled. Voila, perfectly level!!

RocketEngineer · Jun 10, 2020

fishguy242 said:
is this between tank and stand? glass or acrylic???

This is under the stand, at the floor. I would never shim between tank and stand. In my case, it was a glass tank.

DomiD · Jun 10, 2020

My tank is 350 litres or approx 90ish gallons red sea 350 tank front has sunk due to feet digging in laminate flooring floor around is level and so was tank at start fully set up and looking for easiest way to sort as all rocks glued etc and have wrasses which would mean disturbing sand bed which trying to avoid taking all water out to sort it have had some good advice from previous post and also reached out to red sea to see what they say and advise best way to sort ohh and yes talking about shimming between stand and floor