Levelling a 32-gal stand?

~*LuvMyKribs*~

~*LuvMyKribs*~

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Nov 15, 2003
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www.aquaticescapes.ca
Does it matter if my stand isn't level and is off by about 2 mm? I used a leveller, and the bubble is off-center by about 2 or 3 mm. Its off length and width wise. I levelled the stand already the best I could using folded peices of paper under the 'feet' of the stand. Is this a good idea? Could this affect the stability of the aquarium and the strength of the glass?


Suprisingly, the 60 year old POS peice of furniture I am using as a stand for my 20 gal is more level than this brand new aquarium stand! And they are in the same room!
 
I'm not sure if there are Home Depot's where you are, but they sell wooden "shims" that will level it out for you. The way you descibe it, you need to level it out..
 
how about sanding off some of the other side of the stand, is it he stand or the floor? i never measured to see if my stuff was level, idd you measure or just it looked crooked then measured? stuff isnt made like they used to so maybe an actual person made that rather than some machine.
 
For the hassle, you're MUCH better off getting some shims. You could use just about anything if it's the right thickness and won't compress under pressure.
 
Might be the floor

It might be the floor that is off. You old furniture may have shifted to accomodate the floor.

Use something other than paper, wood is best.

also some thing with a bit of give to it under the tank is a good idea. I've used 1/4 inch styrofoam boards ($) and old exercise mats, I think that thin foam wrapping stuff would work if you used two layers.
 
Oh i'm pretty sure its the floor thats unlevel. The stand was wobbly so i levelled it with paper and now its just slightly off... so slight that its impossible to tell just by looking at it. BUT i know glass tanks are finicky. So i will take out the paper.... (it'll probebly compress with the weight of the water, eh?)... and get some wood. And you say i should wrap some thin styrofoam sheets around the wood for some 'give'?

But my questions is... even after you level it with the shims the best you can... what if its still off by a couple of mm? Does that really effect the tank? I know it means the water level will be slightly higher on one side of the tank by those couple of mm. But structurally.... does that effect the strength of the tank?:confused:
 
When I first came to these forums I didn't realize what a difference leveling a tank would make. I had my tank very unlevel and when I looked at the edges the glass was starting to bulge out. The tank still isn't perfectly level now but it is a lot better and I think I caught the problem in time. It is very important that the tank is at least really close to being level.

The way I do it is add some water to the tank, say 1/5 full. That really lets you see what end is higher and which is lower. You can use the tank as a level pretty much.
 
No, no!

Sorry I wasn't clear... I mean to shim the legs with wood, but then add a sheet of styrofoam or rubber mat between the tank and the stand -- that helps to cushion the tank against any small imperfections in the stand. It becomes more important as the tanks get bigger.

When you add just a bit of water, the first cup or two, stop and see which way it rolls.

Then fill to the bottom rim and stop to see which corner is low. You can see 1/4 inch off better then, it'll be above the rim and then below the rim. If you fill much further, even to a few inches above the bottom rim, it is heck to try to be certain of that last 1/4 inch.

After I thought I had it right, I filled the bare tank to the top rim and let it sit overnight, just in case it settled into the carpet. Then I drained it all to add gravel.
 
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