Stock Tank Sump on Uneven Floor

Darth_Tater · 07/29/2016, 09:28 PM

I was planning on using a 75 gallon sump for a new setup I'm putting together, but when I moved the tank into the place I need the sump to go I realized just how uneven the floor is. It's pretty close to the drain in the floor so I expected a little slope, but this floor is flat out bowl shaped! There's probably a full 1" difference in height between opposite corners of the tank (the weird thing is that water barely trickles towards the drain, so I didn't realize the slope was anywhere near that!).

Needless to say, that's not going to work. So here's my question: would a stock tank hold up on flooring that uneven? The dimensions would be different, so the drop in the floor wouldn't be that drastic (stock tank wouldn't be 4 feet long), but still enough I wouldn't trust even a shorter glass tank on it.

Opinions appreciated!

Bruce51 · 07/29/2016, 10:17 PM

build a wood frame covered in plywood for the tank and use wedges to level it

billdogg · 07/30/2016, 04:53 AM

^^^What he said^^^

But I would think that a Rubbermaid stock tank would work fine. When I put mine in place in a similar situation I never even bothered to check.

WiDataTech · 07/30/2016, 07:38 AM

My first thought was building a frame and shim it also. And then I thought about all of the farmers that use them for years. They didn't go out and level everything nicely.. you should be fine.

Darth_Tater · 07/30/2016, 08:31 AM

Heh, I knew a stand would be suggested. I'm pretty terrible at woodworking and don't really have the right tools. I was hoping for a quick solution since if I have to build a stand for it I'll procrastinate till forever.

I was actually thinking this morning that if I put the sump on the opposite side of the room it might be much flatter. Hard to tell though until I actually move it over there. Problem is that then my plumbing gets much more complicated since it isn't directly under the tank anymore (sump is in the basement, tank is on main floor).

Edit: I guess I wouldn't have to build a full stand, like you guys said and it didn't click, I only need a simple frame. Hmm. Things to think about. Thanks for the idea!

HippieSmell · 07/30/2016, 09:20 AM

Stock tanks are usually thrown into field with little care. Having said that, my stock tank cracked, after which I put a pond liner in it. It's held up since then. I would do that right off the bat if I were you. Maybe put a thick layer of pink foam under it as well.

Darth_Tater · 07/30/2016, 04:46 PM

Good ideas, thanks!

neiltus · 07/30/2016, 08:20 PM

I would check to see if the floor is still that bad even under a load. Seen a few wood floors on depression era houses (pair and beam) that will come up from the sub while not under a load.

If slab-then shim.

07/29/2016, 09:28 PM	#1
Darth_Tater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 535	Stock Tank Sump on Uneven Floor I was planning on using a 75 gallon sump for a new setup I'm putting together, but when I moved the tank into the place I need the sump to go I realized just how uneven the floor is. It's pretty close to the drain in the floor so I expected a little slope, but this floor is flat out bowl shaped! There's probably a full 1" difference in height between opposite corners of the tank (the weird thing is that water barely trickles towards the drain, so I didn't realize the slope was anywhere near that!). Needless to say, that's not going to work. So here's my question: would a stock tank hold up on flooring that uneven? The dimensions would be different, so the drop in the floor wouldn't be that drastic (stock tank wouldn't be 4 feet long), but still enough I wouldn't trust even a shorter glass tank on it. Opinions appreciated!

07/30/2016, 04:53 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	^^^What he said^^^ But I would think that a Rubbermaid stock tank would work fine. When I put mine in place in a similar situation I never even bothered to check. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/30/2016, 07:38 AM	#4
WiDataTech Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Wausau, Wi Posts: 136	My first thought was building a frame and shim it also. And then I thought about all of the farmers that use them for years. They didn't go out and level everything nicely.. you should be fine. __________________ Mark I enjoy long walks on the fairway. Current Tank Info: 28 gal cube with 2 O. clowns, 58 gal in the works.

07/30/2016, 09:20 AM	#6
HippieSmell Occupy Reef Central Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Orbiting Posts: 4,141	Stock tanks are usually thrown into field with little care. Having said that, my stock tank cracked, after which I put a pond liner in it. It's held up since then. I would do that right off the bat if I were you. Maybe put a thick layer of pink foam under it as well. __________________ Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas. Current Tank Info: 78"x36"x27" acrylic, 6 Orphek Atlantik V3+ Compacts, MRC Orca Pro II w/washdown, CalcFeeder Pro AC3, Emperor Aquatics 80w UV, 80/20 aluminum stand, Vortech MP60's, Theiling Rollermat, GHL Profilux 3.1T EX, Kessil H380

07/29/2016, 10:17 PM	#2
Bruce51 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: reno, nv Posts: 201	build a wood frame covered in plywood for the tank and use wedges to level it

07/30/2016, 08:31 AM	#5
Darth_Tater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 535	Heh, I knew a stand would be suggested. I'm pretty terrible at woodworking and don't really have the right tools. I was hoping for a quick solution since if I have to build a stand for it I'll procrastinate till forever. I was actually thinking this morning that if I put the sump on the opposite side of the room it might be much flatter. Hard to tell though until I actually move it over there. Problem is that then my plumbing gets much more complicated since it isn't directly under the tank anymore (sump is in the basement, tank is on main floor). Edit: I guess I wouldn't have to build a full stand, like you guys said and it didn't click, I only need a simple frame. Hmm. Things to think about. Thanks for the idea!

07/30/2016, 04:46 PM	#7
Darth_Tater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 535	Good ideas, thanks!

07/30/2016, 08:20 PM	#8
neiltus Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 415	I would check to see if the floor is still that bad even under a load. Seen a few wood floors on depression era houses (pair and beam) that will come up from the sub while not under a load. If slab-then shim.