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-   -   Tips to get stand level. (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=106988)

Sasq40 05-07-2014 09:47 PM

Tips to get stand level.
 
So I built a stand made out of wood that's wrapped around a steel frame. The tank had a rip around the bottom and isn't sitting flat on my stand. It's On top of 3/8 plywood which is sitting on top of the metal stand. Now I'm assuming the metal is not flat but I figured the wood would allow the tank to sit flat. I was wrong and it rocks a bit. Can I throw a piece of cardboard under the tank to make up for the uneven corner?

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hillegom 05-07-2014 09:56 PM

I'm not quite sure where the problem is exactly, Is the wood not level or the tank is not flat on the bottom. Or is the plywood not sitting on the steel stand.
Regardless, don't use cardboard. It will squash flat and not be of enough help to level. Use something that is solid that won't squash.
How much of a gap are we talking about? If just 1/16. Use a pink styrofoam sheet and it will squish in the right places to level the tank

Sasq40 05-07-2014 10:01 PM

Yeah it's very minor. The tank kinda rocks back and forth. I thought with a tank that isn't flat bottom your not supposed to use Styrofoam?

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hillegom 05-07-2014 10:20 PM

When the tank is rocked all the way to one side, how much of a gap do you have on the other side/

Sasq40 05-07-2014 10:49 PM

The way the stand is built there's no way to really get at the gap

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Coral Hoarder 05-07-2014 11:19 PM

Your ply wood must be warped if its a welded stand I amsume they would have but it correctly

Sasq40 05-07-2014 11:22 PM

My buddy welded it and it wasn't very level. That's why I was hoping the wood would fix that

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Coral Hoarder 05-07-2014 11:23 PM

Then ur better off geting a new stand unless its easy to stack plywood

Sasq40 05-07-2014 11:25 PM

No way I'm replacing the stand it's pretty nice stand I spent a lot of time on the wood work on it

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Coral Hoarder 05-07-2014 11:27 PM

How tilted is it have you measured you can't do any thing to fix with out knowing tthe angle

Sasq40 05-07-2014 11:28 PM

I'll try and measure how much it moves when I get home

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hillegom 05-07-2014 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 895961)
The way the stand is built there's no way to really get at the gap

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Well look at the top of the tank then, estimate how much it moves when you rock it

Coral Hoarder 05-07-2014 11:44 PM

How are we supposed to help you when you can't give use measurement s

reefwars 05-08-2014 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 895952)
So I built a stand made out of wood that's wrapped around a steel frame. The tank had a rip around the bottom and isn't sitting flat on my stand. It's On top of 3/8 plywood which is sitting on top of the metal stand. Now I'm assuming the metal is not flat but I figured the wood would allow the tank to sit flat. I was wrong and it rocks a bit. Can I throw a piece of cardboard under the tank to make up for the uneven corner?

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if the stand is unlevel and its only about 1 /16th or so then yes use foam to make up the difference.

Sasq40 05-08-2014 02:57 AM

Are you sure that's alright with a stand with a rim?

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Sasq40 05-08-2014 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott tang (Post 895971)
How are we supposed to help you when you can't give use measurement s

That's my plan now that I'm home
, just draining the tank now

WarDog 05-08-2014 03:09 AM

I'm kinda confused...

The tank rocks when it sits on the wood on the stand?... or

The stand rocks on the floor?

Sasq40 05-08-2014 03:13 AM

It moves about a 1/16, maybe 3/32

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Sasq40 05-08-2014 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarDog (Post 896000)
I'm kinda confused...

The tank rocks when it sits on the wood on the stand?... or

The stand rocks on the floor?

The tanks moving ontop of the stand.

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WarDog 05-08-2014 03:24 AM

Ahhh, I see.

+1 on the foam then.... carry on.

gregzz4 05-08-2014 03:26 AM

I'll ask the same question that you haven't answered yet ...

Does the tank rock on the stand, or is the stand rocking on the floor ?

If it's the tank rocking on the stand; you'll definately need to use some pink styro between the tank and stand or the tank will fail

If it's between the stand and floor; use some composite shims to level it during filling, check/fix it when it's full, and you're good to go

Sasq40 05-08-2014 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 896002)
The tanks moving ontop of the stand.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gregzz4 (Post 896004)
I'll ask the same question that you haven't answered yet ...

Does the tank rock on the stand, or is the stand rocking on the floor ?

If it's the tank rocking on the stand; you'll definately need to use some pink styro between the tank and stand or the tank will fail

If it's between the stand and floor; use some composite shims to level it during filling, check/fix it when it's full, and you're good to go

Umm I believe that should be the answer but I'll answer again the tank moves ontop of the stand.

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Sasq40 05-08-2014 03:42 AM

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...507_213708.jpg

Here's the stand to give you a idea, and here's the best picture I could get of under.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...507_213726.jpg

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gregzz4 05-08-2014 03:46 AM

I guess the lag time with posting is an issue ... :wink:

Go with the pink styro and you should be good to go !!
Do a freshwater test for a few days just to be safe. Nothing like cleaning up a bunch of saltwater from your floors/carpets :surprise:

Good luck bud

Sasq40 05-08-2014 04:28 AM

Yeah I've already did one and I found one leak on one of the bulkhead, so Sadly I have to cut some pvc to untreated to retape it? I also do seem to have a problem the the tank stand no being sturdy. If I jump by it or push on the stand it also rocks, which is wierd cuz it's 3/4 plywood complete bottom. What's the best way to get this from moving. ( it was fine in the garage just having problems on the carpet)

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mark 05-08-2014 04:52 AM

foam on the top, screw in levelling feet for the bottom corners of the stand. Done.

Sasq40 05-08-2014 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark (Post 896028)
foam on the top, screw in levelling feet for the bottom corners of the stand. Done.

Well I don't really want feet on it because I want the weight distributed evenly across the whole surface since I'm running parallel to my floor joist and hit 2-3 joist

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monza 05-08-2014 06:15 AM

Yes he's sure. Should be good to go with foam.
Curious on your center pipes drains and returns, looks interesting, what do you have going on there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 895996)
Are you sure that's alright with a stand with a rim?

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monza 05-08-2014 06:19 AM

Is the rectangular thing in the middle of the tank the over flow box?

Maverick00 05-08-2014 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 896024)
Yeah I've already did one and I found one leak on one of the bulkhead, so Sadly I have to cut some pvc to untreated to retape it? I also do seem to have a problem the the tank stand no being sturdy. If I jump by it or push on the stand it also rocks, which is wierd cuz it's 3/4 plywood complete bottom. What's the best way to get this from moving. ( it was fine in the garage just having problems on the carpet)

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This happens when the tank is full of water? Mine was unstable on the carpet until it was full and it settled nicely. I had to keep an eye on where i located it though, some parts of the floor have a minor concrete hump underneath that was causing a wobble. As far as shims, I would try to use plastic playing cards for the corners causing the issue. They will not compress and are used to shim the slate on pool tables.

mark 05-08-2014 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 896033)
Well I don't really want feet on it because I want the weight distributed evenly across the whole surface since I'm running parallel to my floor joist and hit 2-3 joist

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not that big of a tank, sheeting on the floor will spread load over joists

Sasq40 05-08-2014 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monza (Post 896041)
Yes he's sure. Should be good to go with foam.
Curious on your center pipes drains and returns, looks interesting, what do you have going on there?


Yeah the box is my overflow. Basically right now I have a Herbie system going, but the box was originally made for a Durso so that's why it's large. So I have one dry emergency drain and the other two are returns. I'm going to drill out some macro rock I have and slide it over the lines to cover them





Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick00 (Post 896044)
This happens when the tank is full of water? Mine was unstable on the carpet until it was full and it settled nicely. I had to keep an eye on where i located it though, some parts of the floor have a minor concrete hump underneath that was causing a wobble. As far as shims, I would try to use plastic playing cards for the corners causing the issue. They will not compress and are used to shim the slate on pool tables.

It did the first time. But then the tank wasn't level. So going to try levelling the tank, then filling and see if the weight makes it stable


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Sasq40 05-09-2014 01:27 PM

Well the Styrofoam helped quite a bit! No where near as much movement before but there's still more then I want. At first I thought maybe it was shaky from the weight on my floor, but if I go up to the tank I can shake it. Would shims be the best way to get this baby to stop moving. I did try some shims the other night before bed and couldn't seem to make it much better, was debating leg boating the tank to the floor if my wife let's me lol

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mark 05-09-2014 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasq40 (Post 896227)
Well the Styrofoam helped quite a bit! No where near as much movement before but there's still more then I want. At first I thought maybe it was shaky from the weight on my floor, but if I go up to the tank I can shake it.

was this with water in the tank?

Sasq40 05-09-2014 09:37 PM

Yeah water in it, I'm hoping after a day with water it settled on the carpet to make it stable, but I'm doubtful lol

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hillegom 05-10-2014 04:13 AM

Be careful
A tank with water in it that is able to rock, will break after a while. The glass will separate from the other panes or break.

Sasq40 05-10-2014 04:15 AM

Yeah that's why I'm trying to get ride of the Wobble, working on it as we speak :-) or err type Lol

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Sasq40 05-10-2014 05:25 AM

Would the fact that I can shake the tank with my hands prove that it's not the floor that's the actual floor moving, right?

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mark 05-10-2014 05:44 AM

might be time to rethink the stand

Sasq40 05-10-2014 05:47 AM

After almost two months of working on it in my limited space time and two trip to the Er I'm going to make this stand work

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