I know I'm probably getting worried over nothing but I do realize that an aquarium is sensitive to levelling. I just noticed that my tank is slightly off from side to side (along the length of the tank... long end) but it is perfectly level from front to back (the depth of the tank... short end). The amount it is off is 3/8" from one end to the other (the distance between ends is 60"). I have the tank on a 1" thick piece of commercial insulation foam and my tank stand was dead near level when I built it. It is also very strong (over designed) and the frame is not damaged, cracked, or shows signs of any kind of stress. My apartment is on the first floor (made of concrete). Should I worry? I would have a tendency to think not because the angle it's at is so small I don't think the glass at the low end will be taking that much more pressure... however I could be wrong. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
Aquarium levelling
- Thread starter sardesign
- Start date
Well, this may not be very comforting, but my 180g is off by a tiny bit from front to back. My husband is an engineer and swears that it should not be enough to cause a blow out or weaken the seams. It doesn't really make me feel any better b/c I thought tanks had to be perfectly level, but he doesn't seem to think it is a problem. I just told him that I had made my concerns known and when the floor is ruined and we are swimming in the living room its his fault!!! :thud:
My recommendation to both of you is to just about empty the water, have a couple strong men or a jack lift the offending side and then use shims get the tank level. I would be concerned about the sub-flooring if its plywood over concrete, actually compressing at a weak spot (the plywood, especially if it got wet) putting the tank out of level.
Sardesign, you know I've been all over the aspects of heavy tanks and flooring
Sardesign, you know I've been all over the aspects of heavy tanks and flooring
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
You are 0.62% off the level. Rest assured it wont hurt as long as differtn pressures apply.
Be careful though about the causes for this. If both stand and tank are equally unlevel, it must be the foam being compressed more on one side than the other. Maybe the foam has not the same strenght in both sides. (Watch the floor too)
If the stand is level and the tank is not, it means the tank is sinking inside the stand, which is very unlikely.
Keep and eye on it, and see if the difference increases. If it stays the way it is, dont be worried.
Be careful though about the causes for this. If both stand and tank are equally unlevel, it must be the foam being compressed more on one side than the other. Maybe the foam has not the same strenght in both sides. (Watch the floor too)
If the stand is level and the tank is not, it means the tank is sinking inside the stand, which is very unlikely.
Keep and eye on it, and see if the difference increases. If it stays the way it is, dont be worried.
If both the tank-n-stand are equally off level then its the floor or stand, the foam is between tank and stand. If its just the tank its either the foam or stand.patoloco said:
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
I thought the foam was on the floor to avoid letting marks on the carpet or something. DUH!!!!! :huh: :huh: :huh:
I didn't understand.
Anyway, if both are equally unlevel, watch for the floor. If unequally, watch for the stand.
Now it's easier to understand.
Thank for the correction. I'll put mor atention next time. :read:
:sad: :sad: :sad:
I didn't understand.
Anyway, if both are equally unlevel, watch for the floor. If unequally, watch for the stand.
Now it's easier to understand.
Thank for the correction. I'll put mor atention next time. :read:
:sad: :sad: :sad:
Thanks everyone... I did the calculations before even posting it and it's very minimal. However, water is water and it's heavy so I figured I would get the most out other people's opinion as I could. I was just trying to avoid draining the tank and then having to try to jack it up. The tank with everything minus water is about 400 pounds 
. It's pretty hard to lift that with even two people and it's not wide enough to get a third in there. I'll try my best to get the thing up this weekend.
P.S. Thanks Chille for the comments There is no plywood under the carpetting over the concrete. There is about 1/4 of padding and that is it.
My conclusion is the floor can't be exactly level no matter how hard the contractor worked... so I'll just try to shim the tank (if that's even possible now).
. It's pretty hard to lift that with even two people and it's not wide enough to get a third in there. I'll try my best to get the thing up this weekend.P.S. Thanks Chille for the comments
There is no plywood under the carpetting over the concrete. There is about 1/4 of padding and that is it.My conclusion is the floor can't be exactly level no matter how hard the contractor worked... so I'll just try to shim the tank (if that's even possible now).
My tank in question is 180g and full of fish, so if my husband trusts it, I guess I'll take his word for it. But I do agree, if it was easily fixable I would go for it. I'm still nervous about mine, but it will be HIS fault now if something goes wrong and not mine
That 180gal would make for a hell'acious mess and cost a pretty penny to replace, and the poor fishHolly9937 said:My tank in question is 180g and full of fish, so if my husband trusts it, I guess I'll take his word for it. But I do agree, if it was easily fixable I would go for it. I'm still nervous about mine, but it will be HIS fault now if something goes wrong and not mine
Make him get it done...
Better safe than sorry.