Need advice for leveling aquarium
 

So After I built my stand, it was a little off level, not by much So I figured I would just get some paint stir sticks for shims....

...but I put my tank on the stand and one of the corners is actually lower the the others so the front right corner of the tank is about 1/4 inch from the stand. I have piled and jammed 1/8 fiberboard underneath the corner to make it so the tank no longer titer-totters, and the tank no is perfectly level.

The tank is a 24x24x16, it has black trim on the bottom

What would be a good solution to this? Just run a shim under the tank? Taking the stand apart is not an option sine it is all glued, screwed and painted.

EDIT: Some pics


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...8102011741.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...8102011740.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...8102011738.jpg

I would take the tank off. Put a piece of wood on top of the stand, shim the wood so its level.

I would then get some of that pink insulation foam and place on top of the wood to further dissipate any minor spots that are not level.

if I'm reading this right, can understand the legs needing shims due unevenness of floor, but top of stand so uneven...

I'd put another sheet of plywood on top of the stand and shim that so the bottom of the tank was evenly supported rather that shimming a corner of the tank.

hehe yep, the top is uneven. My cabinetry skills are awesome


I was thinking the exact same thing, Put another piece of plywood on the top, shim the corner and wood-fill and Elmer the crap out of it.

I was hoping my fiberboard shims idea would've been better received however, since it is hell of a lot easier. ;)

unscrew the current topsheet of plywood and shim that then screw it back in. Its gonna look like a $hit if you just keep building up the top. Unless you remove the trim and move it up to cover the extra plywood.

Agreed. This would be the best approach. I posted before I saw the pic of the stand.

I would still put the pink rigid foam underneath as well.

wish i could, that is not coming off. The top is glued to and screwed to the 2x4 frame the molding is half glued to the top piece and to the side and front peace.

I will just add another 3/4 inch piece of ply and get some 3/4 inch molding to add to the top to the molding already there.

what a pain. I was going to seal all the pvc today. Was hoping to get this done before I go to vegas tomorrow. I actually took the rest of this week off specifically to get this complete lol

yeah, I will also get some strips of 1/2 inch polystyrene to stick under the black frame.

The problem will be the stress you create by trying to level it with wood and shims. I would use foam, as you should always put foam under your tank, as it allows compression and if the tank - stand is not great, the foam can compress in areas and then not in other spots lowering any stress points.

So I would try using the foam and if you have to shave off some to create a level service, and if it isn't perfect, then the foam can do its job and you hopefully won't crack the bottom when full of water.

Personally the gap at the bottom is too much for my liking and I would build or buy another stand.

I hope this makes sense.

stand
 

use a 1/4 piece of plywood the same size as the footprint of your tank-shim with a composit shim between the stand and the plywood-caulk your seam and finish'do not use fiberboard,as it will swell with any water

I don't think you need a 3/4" shim. Use a 1/4" to 1/2" sheet as suggested and put a medium-firm foam underneath. That'll keep the flat corners flat and make up for the sloped corner. Big thing is to keep stresses even across the bottom otherwise your tank will end up like Charlie Sheen... full of crack

Maybe this is a good excuse to just upgrade again? Look you tried and it didn't pan out. Time to move up =)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-isGwccHEh2...ioao1_1280.jpg



Sorry to digress from the thread:razz:

But really, a sheet of wood and some foam should do the trick unless you want to build of that corner then sand and paint it to match.