Attn: Large Tank Owners

Actually, it sounds like the pressure will be applied to a few points and two sides. And as long as the top of the tank is level, the tank is supported evenly. From the sounds of it, the back of your stand will be fully on the floor as well as the left side. If you're worried (I know, I'm like that too!)cut your own shims. Figure the slope and cut the shims to run most of the length of the front and side of the stand. That way the whole stand is supported. I placed shims along one side and most of the front of my 90g. I used half a dozen or so. Kind of a pita, but once its set you're o.k.. Oh, and the carpet will settle, so I would fill it with water and let it sit for a day or two, then re-check level b4 adding anything else.
Good luck!
 
Interesting...

The slope is quite substantial, I would guess at least half an inch (1/2") from left to right and 1/4" front to back.

Any way of making long shims out of a 2x4? My dad's friend has a ton of tools so I could probably do it there. Also how would I figure the slope of the ground?
 
How about this? Put the stand in place and let the carpet settle for a couple days. Put a sheet of plywood or something on top of the stand that is about the same size as the base. Insert and adjust shimmies as needed to get the plywood level. Carefully measure and record how far each corner was raised from the stand to get it level. Add something like two inches to each of the four measurements.

Cut your 2x4s to length (allow for corner joints) and mark off the proper slope using the measurements you took. Put the 2x4 on a table saw and use the same shimmies to get the slope right in relation to the guide on the table. You can check by measuring the distance between the mark you made and the guide at several points. They should all be the same distance. Once you have the pieces cut, screw them together. You will probably have to use a rasp or file or something to get the slopes to match on the corners. Add braces across the middle to keep everything inplace. You might also want some steel angle-braces in each of the corners.

Any thoughts? Did that all make sense?
 
I think all that made sense. Sort of anyway...

I also forgot to mention that the area is not carpeted right now, bare concrete. It will have carpet when I set up the tank. Also it's a bowfront so the front edge is curved.

Theoretically the carpet will make no difference on the slope of the ground right?
 
yeah, the carpet shouldn't matter at all. sounds like you have a little more slope than I did but not much. My 65 was almost 1/2" low along the front but level side to side. what kind of stand do you have? I like what cgrabe said to an extent but he kind of lost me there. I believe what he was saying was instead of adding and removing shims to the bottom of the stand, you're just theoretically moving the floor to the top of the stand and using a piece of plywood in place of the stand and making shims to get the plywood level, then use the shims under the stand instead of the plywood or something along those lines. It really depends on your stand too. Is it a solid based wood stand? pressed fiber board or solid wood? Is it rectangular or bowed like the tank? the bowed tank might make it slightly more difficult to get everything set but not too bad. Another possibility, if you have a good sturdy stand, is to add some adjusters like you would find on a washing machine, fridge, etc. and place them as feet under the stand. I wouldn't use just one on the corner but a couple along the stretch to support the span as well. This of course depends greatly on the strength and design of the stand as well. Just another option I thought I'd throw out. Kyle
 
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