Shimming Question

[JimTurntable]

I've had my tank for nearly a year now but this is something I just thought of.

My stand is perfectly level thanks to shimming the stand. However, I'm beginning to worry that the shims are handling too much of the weight. Does that make sense? I had to shim the front up quite a bit, if I wanted to I could stick my fingers under there (I won't!). Should I stick more shims under there? Not so they increase the amount it's being raised but so the weight is more evenly distributed. I haven't had any problems with the stand buckling or such, I'm just kinda OCD about this stuff!

[goalieman59]

I went and bought the palstic shims they hold like 5x the weight and dont give like the wood does. But to answer your question i would replace them if you can.

[247Plants]

I had to shim the stand on my 180. I can stick my fingers underneath one corner and have done so many times. I havent had a problem.

[joel.uejio]

Subscribed! This is something I've been wrestling with for months -- whether it's better for a tank stand to be fully supported across the base but not level OR better to be level yet be supported at a few isolated points via shims.

How much of a gradient did you have before shimming? (I think mine is .75" across a 4' span :shakehead:)

[BadOleRoss]

I would say it's better to have the stand fully supported or at the very least have shims of various degrees in different locations. But, if it ain't broke and you don't plan on moving the tank, I am not sure I would mess with it unless it's a reasonably sized tank that would make it an easy fix..

[JimTurntable]

I don't know what my gradient was beforehand, it was fairly substantial. I have another tank on a four-legged metal stand. Can't shim that, but the slope in the water is barely noticeable and totally not worth it. I've had that tank for two years. I am definitely NOT moving it. I broke a rib moving my last fish tank, and yes it was empty!

The worry I have with this stand is that it's a DIY cinder block/wood panel stand, sturdy as hell but with my luck the weight of the cinder block will eventually cause a crack in the wood where the shims are supporting too much weight.

I think I am going to go ahead and slide some other shims in there, they won't change the gradient, it'll give me piece of mind and they only cost a few bucks.

[FinFanatic]

How many shims did you initially use? I had to shim my stand, but I used 8-10 across a 4-foot run for exactly the reason you're concerned about.

[fishorama]

I've used shims with metal stands before, why do you think you can't?

[JimTurntable]

It doesn't have a sold bottom, it's just four legs. I don't want to risk trying to shim it and have the thing topple over!

[Tay690]

Always better safe than sorry tbh
I had to do the same thing for my 55g as it was slightly lifted on the left side...now even though I have to look at the shim...I have peace of mind when I look at the tank

I too am OC about those types of things but it's always better to do things properly to prevent future problems

anything more than 40g I'm typically going at from all corners with a level and adding shims whereever needed

Just to be safe :cool: