tank is sloping forward...

Quinn · #1 05-05-2003, 09:05 PM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=184618

well now we're having fun... setting up yesterday, we noticed that the full tank leans forward about 1/4". as you can see from the thread above, most people are suggested that i should shim it up. has any here ever done this? any advice? how many of you have tanks that are slightly off-balance? the tank itself is on 1" thick styrofoam so it's not flexing, but i don't like the idea of the weight being unequally distributed.

Aquattro · #2 05-05-2003, 09:12 PM

I'd shim it. A 1/4" on a tank that large can be bad. Do you have water-proof carpet?

Aquattro · #3 05-05-2003, 09:14 PM

And no, it isn't the cause of your noisey stand pipe.

Quinn · #4 05-05-2003, 09:15 PM

yup, but i probably won't soon enough.

i am going to check to see if the floor itself is the problem or if the carpet is the problem (settling unevenly). one person on RC chat told me that it isn't worth it if the problem is the carpet, because after i shim it it will lean the other way too far. but i think i have to give it a shot.

smokinreefer · #5 05-05-2003, 09:24 PM

especially on a larger tank, you'll wanna shim it.

MitchM · #6 05-05-2003, 09:48 PM

If you've got the stand right against the wall, teevee, it's probably sitting on the tack strip that is used to hold the carpet tight. I think that the carpet layers use 3/8" plywood for the strip, and if you subtract the compressed thickness of the underlay under the carpet at the front of the tank, there's your 1/4".
You should shim it, or you could also just move the tank and stand out from the wall a few inches. You'll have to temporarily drain most of the water first, but it's still an option.

Mitch

Quinn · #7 05-05-2003, 10:19 PM

i think shimming is the better option. shouldn't have to drain to do that should i. would a piece of lathe be fine (that thin 1x0.25" wood)? if i lacquer it i figure it will slide quite well.

MitchM · #8 05-05-2003, 10:26 PM

Because the bearing point will be small (it'll be the shim itself) the carpet and underlay will compress even more, so you'll probably need more than 1 shim.
I wouldn't bother with the laquer, but I would still drain the tank as much as possible.

Mitch

StirCrazy · #9 05-06-2003, 01:09 AM

what kinda foam did you use? 1" seams kinda big. but I agree, drain the tank as far as you can (after you know the cause of the tilt) and shim acordingly.. if the front of the tank has to go up 1/4" then place a 1/4" strip under the entire front of the stand so you maintain equal pressur at all points.

Steve

sumpfinfishe · #10 05-06-2003, 01:25 AM

Just recentley shimmed up a tank for a buddy of mine. It was out 1/4 all the way across the front. We used wooden shims from home depot, they worked great. The stand was not on the tack strip, but because the strip bulked up the carpet at the last foot near the wall we had no choice unless they wanted a new tank for there coffee table-not. I used four shims placed evenly apart and it leveled out the tank perfectly.

If the carpet is really thick, then it could mean that in areas the underlay is doubled over. Use the shims, and then let the full tank settle for a few days to see if it needs more adjustments.

cheers, Rich