help shimming an aquarium, almost done just need to check before finalizing

[JingoFresh]

Hello all,
I am shimming an aquarium, which makes me very nervous as if I do something wrong, 56 gallons of water will probably gush out into my living room!

I have my tank dismantled at the moment and would like to get it up ASAP, so hoping someone can give me some input.

This is my current stand and shim job at the moment:
http://imgur.com/a/t1pXm

I have some questions:

Does the middle need to be supported in any particular way?

Are gaps OK between shims? Should I put in as many shims as I can to eliminate gaps?

I pushed the shims in until I met resistance. Is this where I should cut them and leave them permanently under the stand?

Last time I tried this I pushed some shims in to far and cracked a previous stand...how can I tell if I have pushed a shim in too much?

Are there any obvious problems with what I have done in the photos?

How can I watch out for problem signs? What should I look for?

Thank you!

[TatorTaco]

I've never need to shim an aquarium stand, so I unfortunately won't have a lot of experience to rely on to assist. However, that does seem like an absurd amount of shims.

Here's a video link, and I think you can get all the info you need to do this via google searching "how to properly shim an aquarium stand".

Good luck!

[JingoFresh]

Originally Posted by TatorTaco

I've never need to shim an aquarium stand, so I unfortunately won't have a lot of experience to rely on to assist. However, that does seem like an absurd amount of shims.

Here's a video link, and I think you can get all the info you need to do this via google searching "how to properly shim an aquarium stand".

Good luck!

Hey, thanks!

Googling returns a bunch of different results, so I prefer to ask and get feedback, since that's a possibility

I was putting shims along the edge, as I would rather not have unsupported gaps..does that not make sense?

The video you linked to says 24 shims were used.

[MondoBongo]

i ran my shims lengthwise across the front, so that it supported the entire front edge.

[billdogg]

The fewer gaps the better. What you have however, should be more than enough, at least IMO

[heathlindner25]

Everything looks good to me , but I think you placedown the shims upside down.... does look like you're supposed to pull them up word to snap them

[homer1475]

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

Everything looks good to me , but I think you placedown the shims upside down.... does look like you're supposed to pull them up word to snap them

This is exactly correct. I just used the same shims under my sump, and the cutout side is supposed to be down so they snap when you pry up on them.

If it were me, I would place the tank and half fill it. My stand was level until I placed the tank and started to fill it.

[JingoFresh]

Originally Posted by billdogg

The fewer gaps the better. What you have however, should be more than enough, at least IMO

Ahh, thanks!

I've also been told if I have gaps in shims the MDF stand will crack around them, so to put a sheet of plywood under the stand and shim that.

I was thinking, could I just use more shims instead, or is that really something to worry about?

At least this nightmare is finally over though. Thanks for your help and reassurance

Originally Posted by homer1475

This is exactly correct. I just used the same shims under my sump, and the cutout side is supposed to be down so they snap when you pry up on them.

If it were me, I would place the tank and half fill it. My stand was level until I placed the tank and started to fill it.

That makes so much more sense, I can't believe I was using them the wrong way!