Unlevel tank..should I be worried?

Cliving1 · 08/29/2015, 07:34 PM

I have a new 80 gallon deep blue rimless tank, recently posted in the new section about it.

I went ahead and purchased a return pump, sand and made my water at home. However, after filling my tank, it seems to be slightly unlevel. It is on carpet, and when I place a measure on the glass tank, it is even, as well as the wood below. But when I measure with a tape from one end to the other (not front to back, but left to right) it seems be be off by 1/8-1/4(hard to tell with surface moving constantly). I dont know if I should drain the tank, or if there is anything I can do at this point (shim etc). I have read at tanks around 4', that what I am off is not uncommon. Any help??

ericarenee · 08/29/2015, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliving1

I have a new 80 gallon deep blue rimless tank, recently posted in the new section about it.

I went ahead and purchased a return pump, sand and made my water at home. However, after filling my tank, it seems to be slightly unlevel. It is on carpet, and when I place a measure on the glass tank, it is even, as well as the wood below. But when I measure with a tape from one end to the other (not front to back, but left to right) it seems be be off by 1/8-1/4(hard to tell with surface moving constantly). I dont know if I should drain the tank, or if there is anything I can do at this point (shim etc). I have read at tanks around 4', that what I am off is not uncommon. Any help??

As long as its off the same on the front and the back i think you will be ok.. What causes the issue is if they are TWISTED If the tank has a plastic trim Often this trim is off some as well... So that could be part of it.
If you are measuring water to top of the glass
If you are measuring water to top of Plastic trim....
Is what i am talking about Trim my not be perfect...

So if you measure front left and then rear right and are off 1/4 inch. I would be slightly concerned as this is a sign of twisting..

Hope this helps. But in general i think you are fine. my 7 foot long tank is off 1/8 of a inch from one end to the other. This is because i used a 5 foot level instead of my Transit when building the base . knowing my floor was out of level. 88 year old home.......

Levels Just are NOT GOOD Enough unless they are as long as the distance you are spanning the item..

Erica Renee.. MASTER Carpenter

Cliving1 · 08/29/2015, 07:56 PM

Hey Erica,

Thank you for the quick response. The tank is 4',2',16". (I forgot to mention).

I immediately measured from front to back and there is no difference (with tape). Across the length of the tank (4ft) it is off maybe 1/8". There is no trim, it is rimless on the top, and the tank sits inside the stand. The measure is level from BL to FL and BR to FR. I am using a 3ft level and 12" just to be sure. Since this is the largest tank I have had I just wanted to be sure.

If I notice it getting worse..I guess I could use shims but I would hate to do that last minute. I would much rather fix as soon as possible.

I will keep an eye out thank you!

CStrickland · 08/29/2015, 10:38 PM

Shimming is a huge drag once you put water in, been there.

Cliving1 · 09/02/2015, 06:19 PM

So i used some shims to try and level out the one side of my tank..and I saw a drip come out of the pipe that takes water out of the tank. So I immediately removed the shims.

Should I just leave the tank at 1/8 to 1/4" lean on the one end?

davocean · 09/02/2015, 08:07 PM

A 4' level would be ideal, but if you say it is getting worse that would be something to be concerned about, maybe post pics of tank, stand and where it is located.

davocean · 09/02/2015, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericarenee

Levels Just are NOT GOOD Enough unless they are as long as the distance you are spanning the item..

Erica Renee.. MASTER Carpenter

A master now??lol
I would think a master would not stand for an 1/8" out of level in 7'
BTW, a good straight edge will allow checking something longer than your level, any master knows that!

CStrickland · 09/02/2015, 11:44 PM

if you're just shimming the tank itself, that might not be the best way. I think they're supposed to go under the stand.
If you level the whole shebang the pipe might be ok because it will come with the rest, and you will have the weight spread correctly (idk really how tanks are held together, especially rimless, but there's something about being on a flat surface). The pipes shouldn't leak from a 1/8" adjustment tho... I wiggle mine more than that just chasing snails out of my overflow

Rubasu · 09/03/2015, 08:29 AM

Don't shim directly under the tank. Only shim under the base of the stand. You're putting pressure points in that spot if you put shims under the tank itself.

SGT_York · 09/03/2015, 10:46 AM

1/8 of an inch is fine 1/4" I'd put in some shims.

Cliving1 · 09/03/2015, 06:16 PM

See thats what I did, there is a plywood sheet between the tank and the stand (so I did not put any shims there). So I used some shims underneath the stand. After a few hours I noticed the drip, which is still occurring. It takes a few hours to happen but still occurs. So I am going out tomorrow to buy a 4' level. I am just concerned at 80 gallons it being off even at all will put pressure along the bottom edge.

I want to post pictures but cannot get them small enough to upload. Any help and I would be happy to snap some pics and post.

CStrickland · 09/03/2015, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliving1

I want to post pictures but cannot get them small enough to upload. Any help and I would be happy to snap some pics and post.

photobucket has an easy to use resizer. usually i just put pics as an attachment cause its easier on my phone

Cliving1 · 09/08/2015, 11:42 AM

Ok, so I drained the tank since it was only up for a few weeks. I shimmed one side (under the stand)and filled it back up and it looks damn good. I have some pics that I am uploading tonight and will post them.

Thanks everyone for their support, but knowing it was a little off truly had me on edge. I guess I was lucky that it was early on!

Cliving1 · 09/09/2015, 05:10 PM

The pics are so small! haha. First I could not get them small enough now I cant see them

08/29/2015, 07:34 PM	#1
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Unlevel tank..should I be worried? I have a new 80 gallon deep blue rimless tank, recently posted in the new section about it. I went ahead and purchased a return pump, sand and made my water at home. However, after filling my tank, it seems to be slightly unlevel. It is on carpet, and when I place a measure on the glass tank, it is even, as well as the wood below. But when I measure with a tape from one end to the other (not front to back, but left to right) it seems be be off by 1/8-1/4(hard to tell with surface moving constantly). I dont know if I should drain the tank, or if there is anything I can do at this point (shim etc). I have read at tanks around 4', that what I am off is not uncommon. Any help??

08/29/2015, 10:38 PM	#4
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Shimming is a huge drag once you put water in, been there. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

09/02/2015, 08:07 PM	#6
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	A 4' level would be ideal, but if you say it is getting worse that would be something to be concerned about, maybe post pics of tank, stand and where it is located. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

09/02/2015, 11:44 PM	#8
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	if you're just shimming the tank itself, that might not be the best way. I think they're supposed to go under the stand. If you level the whole shebang the pipe might be ok because it will come with the rest, and you will have the weight spread correctly (idk really how tanks are held together, especially rimless, but there's something about being on a flat surface). The pipes shouldn't leak from a 1/8" adjustment tho... I wiggle mine more than that just chasing snails out of my overflow __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

09/03/2015, 08:29 AM	#9
Rubasu Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 230	Don't shim directly under the tank. Only shim under the base of the stand. You're putting pressure points in that spot if you put shims under the tank itself. __________________ 40 Breeder / 20L Sump: Ocellaris Clown - Green Star Polyps, Kenya Tree, Brown Palys, Blue Mushrooms...and the clean up crew.

08/29/2015, 07:56 PM	#3
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Hey Erica, Thank you for the quick response. The tank is 4',2',16". (I forgot to mention). I immediately measured from front to back and there is no difference (with tape). Across the length of the tank (4ft) it is off maybe 1/8". There is no trim, it is rimless on the top, and the tank sits inside the stand. The measure is level from BL to FL and BR to FR. I am using a 3ft level and 12" just to be sure. Since this is the largest tank I have had I just wanted to be sure. If I notice it getting worse..I guess I could use shims but I would hate to do that last minute. I would much rather fix as soon as possible. I will keep an eye out thank you!

09/02/2015, 06:19 PM	#5
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	So i used some shims to try and level out the one side of my tank..and I saw a drip come out of the pipe that takes water out of the tank. So I immediately removed the shims. Should I just leave the tank at 1/8 to 1/4" lean on the one end?

09/03/2015, 10:46 AM	#10
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	1/8 of an inch is fine 1/4" I'd put in some shims.

09/03/2015, 06:16 PM	#11
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	See thats what I did, there is a plywood sheet between the tank and the stand (so I did not put any shims there). So I used some shims underneath the stand. After a few hours I noticed the drip, which is still occurring. It takes a few hours to happen but still occurs. So I am going out tomorrow to buy a 4' level. I am just concerned at 80 gallons it being off even at all will put pressure along the bottom edge. I want to post pictures but cannot get them small enough to upload. Any help and I would be happy to snap some pics and post.

09/08/2015, 11:42 AM	#13
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	Ok, so I drained the tank since it was only up for a few weeks. I shimmed one side (under the stand)and filled it back up and it looks damn good. I have some pics that I am uploading tonight and will post them. Thanks everyone for their support, but knowing it was a little off truly had me on edge. I guess I was lucky that it was early on!