Stand on ueven stone suface

Ryagon · 10/20/2016, 03:26 PM

In the planning stages of my 125 build. I just bought a new to me house that had a rear porch that was enclosed. Being a brick and stone room with nice view of the back yard would make a great aquarium and dog room. Unfortunately the floor is pretty uneven stone. I was considering putting some foam or a thick rubber mat of some sort under the stand (Aqueon 125 gallon 6' stand) but my parents think this will cause the foam to eventually stick to the sealed stone and stain it. What are people putting under these to make it even or would shimming it be an acceptable enough option?

I did try searching the forums but I must not be using the right word combo because I can't find anything except putting foam between the stand and tank.

Dkuhlmann · 10/20/2016, 03:42 PM

How about a thick sheet of plywood?

Ryagon · 10/20/2016, 03:51 PM

You know it's the simplest solutions that elude us some times.

Sk8r · 10/20/2016, 04:28 PM

ALso possible some of those refrigerator leveler screw feet....

IdahoCindy · 10/20/2016, 04:33 PM

We shimmed our 125. No trouble for years.

homerclease · 10/20/2016, 05:44 PM

You could put the foam down like you planned..just put a piece of plastic down before the foam...the will protect the floor

pisanoal · 10/20/2016, 05:47 PM

One concern for the foam/rubber would be uneven settling which could cause the tank to be out of level. You might consider plastic/rubber/plywood/stand. Plywood would help distribute the weight evenly along the matt.

neiltus · 10/20/2016, 05:48 PM

Greetings from west on 20

Depending on the stand, I would just shim it and be done. Those composite shims can take a pretty decent load.

NOW...

Having said that, under that rock work is there slab? How much? Or did they rock over a concrete pad?

Ryagon · 10/20/2016, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neiltus

Greetings from west on 20

Depending on the stand, I would just shim it and be done. Those composite shims can take a pretty decent load.

NOW...

Having said that, under that rock work is there slab? How much? Or did they rock over a concrete pad?

It was the concrete foundation poured with the main house. This house was built like a tank, even the walls are concrete.

neiltus · 10/20/2016, 08:23 PM

There are some composite shims available at home depot/lowes. Don't use cedar for this application. Get a level that is at least 4' to check the tank, don't use one of those silly plumber levels.

Walla2GSP · 10/20/2016, 09:28 PM

I would have to research it out, but they make a steel bracket with 1/2" and 5/8" threaded feet that you could mount in each corner of a 2x4 frame then screw a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" ply on top of to set the tank stand on. This is what i would do in that situation.

billdogg · 10/21/2016, 06:58 AM

Shims are your friend. I wouldn't use anything else at all. IMHO, anything else is just asking for trouble

neiltus · 10/21/2016, 07:02 PM

and if shims don't work, some light chisel work will float out a section.

Ryagon · 10/21/2016, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the tips guys, some great advice here. As far as composite shims vs cedar. It that due to compression over time or to do with being potentially wet?

neiltus · 10/21/2016, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryagon

Thanks for the tips guys, some great advice here. As far as composite shims vs cedar. It that due to compression over time or to do with being potentially wet?

Either or.

I used cedar shims when I re-did my current house on all the windows and doors. Why, because they snap off easier than the composite vs cutting them off. Cedar is prone to splitting with use and I would moreso trust the composite ones in a humid environment under x number of pounds (I don't use cedar for other than temporary load bearing).

If you REALLY wanted to overdo it. you could get a belt sander and float the stone where you wanted to set the tank. Laticrete also makes some interesting and bomb proof self leveling floor products-I have used them in the past-don't remember their names.

You mentioned that the rear porch was enclosed...is it a 'sun room' or a room where you get a ton of natural light? That might be a factor in tank placement because we all know algae loves sunlight.

I would settle on a tank, put the stand in place and see what the level tells me before I started doing any of the above.

Ryagon · 10/21/2016, 08:51 PM

It is a sun room but where the tank is located there is never direct sunlight on it at anytime throughout the day. If for some reason it is an issue it would just be one end and I will paint it black. Sanding the stone is a bit extreme for me or the wife :P especially if I ever move it. I will start with shimming and see how well that works.

10/20/2016, 03:42 PM	#2
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	How about a thick sheet of plywood? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

10/20/2016, 04:28 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	ALso possible some of those refrigerator leveler screw feet.... __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/20/2016, 05:48 PM	#8
neiltus Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 415	Greetings from west on 20 Depending on the stand, I would just shim it and be done. Those composite shims can take a pretty decent load. NOW... Having said that, under that rock work is there slab? How much? Or did they rock over a concrete pad? __________________ Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2592260

10/20/2016, 08:23 PM	#10
neiltus Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 415	There are some composite shims available at home depot/lowes. Don't use cedar for this application. Get a level that is at least 4' to check the tank, don't use one of those silly plumber levels. __________________ Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2592260

10/21/2016, 06:58 AM	#12
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Shims are your friend. I wouldn't use anything else at all. IMHO, anything else is just asking for trouble __________________ 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

10/20/2016, 03:51 PM	#3
Ryagon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tyler, Tx Posts: 54	You know it's the simplest solutions that elude us some times.

10/20/2016, 04:33 PM	#5
IdahoCindy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sun Valley Idaho Posts: 329	We shimmed our 125. No trouble for years.

10/20/2016, 05:44 PM	#6
homerclease Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 53	You could put the foam down like you planned..just put a piece of plastic down before the foam...the will protect the floor

10/20/2016, 05:47 PM	#7
pisanoal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 705	One concern for the foam/rubber would be uneven settling which could cause the tank to be out of level. You might consider plastic/rubber/plywood/stand. Plywood would help distribute the weight evenly along the matt.

10/20/2016, 09:28 PM	#11
Walla2GSP Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Out here Posts: 201	I would have to research it out, but they make a steel bracket with 1/2" and 5/8" threaded feet that you could mount in each corner of a 2x4 frame then screw a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" ply on top of to set the tank stand on. This is what i would do in that situation.

10/21/2016, 07:02 PM	#13
neiltus Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 415	and if shims don't work, some light chisel work will float out a section. __________________ Build Thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2592260

10/21/2016, 07:29 PM	#14
Ryagon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tyler, Tx Posts: 54	Thanks for the tips guys, some great advice here. As far as composite shims vs cedar. It that due to compression over time or to do with being potentially wet?

10/21/2016, 08:51 PM	#16
Ryagon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Tyler, Tx Posts: 54	It is a sun room but where the tank is located there is never direct sunlight on it at anytime throughout the day. If for some reason it is an issue it would just be one end and I will paint it black. Sanding the stone is a bit extreme for me or the wife :P especially if I ever move it. I will start with shimming and see how well that works.