LEVELING MY TANK

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by JOER0178, Jan 27, 2004.

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  1. JOER0178

    JOER0178 Peppermint Shrimp

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2003
    Messages:
    438
    Location:
    STATEN ISLAND, NY,New_York
    HELLO I WAS LEVELING MY TANK TODAY AND TRY AS I MIGHT I COULDN'T GET IT PERFECT.  THE BUBBLE IN THE LEVEL IS BETWEEN THE TO LINES BUT ITS ALMOST TOUCHING ONE OF THEM.  YOU KNOW JUST A LITTLE OFF PERFECT. I PUT SOME WATER IN THE TANK AND I DONT SEE ANY DIFFERENCE.  DOES ANYONE THINK THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A PROBLEM  
    THANKS
    P.S. i KNOW I PROBABLY SOUND CRAZY BUT IVE ALWAYS HAD SMALL TANKS 20-30GAL THIS IS A LARGER TANK 75GAL AND I WAS JUST WORRIED ABOUT CAUSING A LEAK W/ A LARGER TANK
     
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  3. Malachi

    Malachi Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2003
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    507
    Location:
    Erie, PA,Pennsylvania
    If the tank is two heavy, use a crow bar, place it on a 2”x4” and lift the tank. Slid some wedges under it and see if that will get it perfect. Knock on wood but I have never had a100% level tank and no leaks, my house is old and nothing is level.
     
  4. Craig Manoukian

    Craig Manoukian Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2002
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    3,330
    Location:
    Marina del Rey, California
    My tank is not level and so far no problem. I've thought about shiming it, but obviously not to hard, eh?
     
  5. Matt Rogers

    Matt Rogers Kingfish

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    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    @Malachi - You are talking about when the tank is empty right? Not crowbaring with a full tank? Just want to clarify. ;) :) ;D
     
  6. Phil5613

    Phil5613 Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2003
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    Location:
    Wheaton, Illinois
    Is the tank on wood carpet or tile? The best solution I have is a thin sheet of Styrofoam between either tank and stand or better yet stand and floor as you fill the tank the foam will crush and it helps to level the tank. With that said if you are almost center bubble I wouldn't sweat it too much.
     
  7. Scuba

    Scuba Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2003
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    302
    Location:
    Mid-west, Illinois
    My tank is not quite level, I had to put a 2x4 under one end just to get it close. My home last add-on was put on in 1989, I found some news papers in the wall when I replaced the walls in the room.
     
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  9. Malachi

    Malachi Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2003
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    507
    Location:
    Erie, PA,Pennsylvania
    My tank was 75 percent full when it tilted,the center floor board was an approx 1/8" higher then the other to. So I layed a 4x4 flat and rest the crow bar on the wood is used for mechanical assistance. Just lift high enough to put the shims under it. You would be amazed how easly you lift one end of an aquarium doing it this way. Clarify one thing is you put the crow bar under the Wood Cabnit, this would not work very well with a cast iron one.
     
  10. Land_Fish

    Land_Fish Guest

    Wood shims work well. And there is no such thing as perfectly level just do your best. This is why wood shims work because of the wedge shape
     
  11. JOER0178

    JOER0178 Peppermint Shrimp

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2003
    Messages:
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    Location:
    STATEN ISLAND, NY,New_York
    Thanks everyone. I used shims and the tank is almost perfect but it seems from what everyone is saying that thats ok and even normal so I feel much better now thank you again.
     
  12. CG

    CG Bristle Worm

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2003
    Messages:
    132
    Location:
    Austin, TX,Texas
    I put the tank it when we first moved into this house, and 5 months later as the house settles the tank became unlevel....s'pose it won't cause any problems though