Panic in new set up...

pbft_90 · 02/08/2015, 07:39 PM

Ok I have kept tamks for a long time but never had this particular problem. I just helped my brother set up a 93g corner unit in his house. His house is an old farm house and turns out the floors aren't perfectly level. The tank is also on carpet to add a little more instability. We didn't realize this until you guessed it... All the damn water was in the tank. I noticed it because some water was coming up on the tanks lip where the glass would sit. Is this safe? Do I need to tear down? I've always had my tanks on level wood floor so I just don't want it to come crashing down if the dog goes a little wacky of if kids are running around. Please help.

gone fishin · 02/08/2015, 07:43 PM

sounds like it is off level quite a bit. I would certainly pull the water. If possible I would remove the carpet where the tank will be so you can shim and be more stable. Just my 2 cents.

sunil6784 · 02/08/2015, 07:44 PM

Filling a tank with water that is not level places unnecessary stress on the seams. Depending on how off-level the tank is, and how strongly the tank was made, this will decrease the life of the tank.

Being a new setup, I would empty the tank and fix the problem now. Much more difficult when the tank is full with inhabitants.

Marchillo · 02/08/2015, 07:54 PM

How off is the leveling? Does it sink in the corner? You should pull up the carpet and pour some leveling compound. Assuming the floor is well supported. I'm assuming it is since there's 90 gallons of water on top of it.

He can still keep the carpet if he wants. Maybe cut out the fish tank/ stand footprint and frame it out with some sort of flooring transitions.

I definitely wouldn't leave it that way.

pbft_90 · 02/08/2015, 07:58 PM

Ya it's off a fair bit obviously I don't know how much he will be into rolling the carpet out even if to just lay it down again. So I may be taking that tank off his hands. Damnit I was really hoping this wouldn't be a big deal but that info seems like just what I was worrying you'd all say to be honest... Thanks everyone you're the best. Better now than later like you said.

kottok.motors · 02/08/2015, 10:51 PM

Is it one of those old farmhouses with a creepy cellar/basement? If this isn't directly on the ground, I would at least get some additional support on the floor joists from underneath, that's a lot of weight for an old floor. I would definitely spend the time now to make it level.

Cabo2008 · 02/09/2015, 10:34 AM

If it's off that much, then I would definitely drain it and level it out (or move it somewhere more level). Depending on the stand, there's a couple of ways to take care of it without messing with the floor, from casters to shims.

pbft_90 · 02/09/2015, 11:15 AM

It is indeed with the creepy basement. It's the factory made aqueon stand.

Sk8r · 02/09/2015, 11:27 AM

Get several Rubbermaid Brute trash cans, hose out: they each hold 32 gallons. You can pull the water and put it back safely.

02/08/2015, 07:39 PM	#1
pbft_90 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 174	Panic in new set up... Ok I have kept tamks for a long time but never had this particular problem. I just helped my brother set up a 93g corner unit in his house. His house is an old farm house and turns out the floors aren't perfectly level. The tank is also on carpet to add a little more instability. We didn't realize this until you guessed it... All the damn water was in the tank. I noticed it because some water was coming up on the tanks lip where the glass would sit. Is this safe? Do I need to tear down? I've always had my tanks on level wood floor so I just don't want it to come crashing down if the dog goes a little wacky of if kids are running around. Please help.

02/08/2015, 07:43 PM	#2
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	sounds like it is off level quite a bit. I would certainly pull the water. If possible I would remove the carpet where the tank will be so you can shim and be more stable. Just my 2 cents. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

02/09/2015, 11:27 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Get several Rubbermaid Brute trash cans, hose out: they each hold 32 gallons. You can pull the water and put it back safely. __________________ 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%.

02/08/2015, 07:44 PM	#3
sunil6784 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 280	Filling a tank with water that is not level places unnecessary stress on the seams. Depending on how off-level the tank is, and how strongly the tank was made, this will decrease the life of the tank. Being a new setup, I would empty the tank and fix the problem now. Much more difficult when the tank is full with inhabitants.

02/08/2015, 07:54 PM	#4
Marchillo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 1,178	How off is the leveling? Does it sink in the corner? You should pull up the carpet and pour some leveling compound. Assuming the floor is well supported. I'm assuming it is since there's 90 gallons of water on top of it. He can still keep the carpet if he wants. Maybe cut out the fish tank/ stand footprint and frame it out with some sort of flooring transitions. I definitely wouldn't leave it that way.

02/08/2015, 07:58 PM	#5
pbft_90 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 174	Ya it's off a fair bit obviously I don't know how much he will be into rolling the carpet out even if to just lay it down again. So I may be taking that tank off his hands. Damnit I was really hoping this wouldn't be a big deal but that info seems like just what I was worrying you'd all say to be honest... Thanks everyone you're the best. Better now than later like you said.

02/08/2015, 10:51 PM	#6
kottok.motors Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 66	Is it one of those old farmhouses with a creepy cellar/basement? If this isn't directly on the ground, I would at least get some additional support on the floor joists from underneath, that's a lot of weight for an old floor. I would definitely spend the time now to make it level.

02/09/2015, 10:34 AM	#7
Cabo2008 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 248	If it's off that much, then I would definitely drain it and level it out (or move it somewhere more level). Depending on the stand, there's a couple of ways to take care of it without messing with the floor, from casters to shims.

02/09/2015, 11:15 AM	#8
pbft_90 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 174	It is indeed with the creepy basement. It's the factory made aqueon stand.