Tank Is Off Level But Only On One Corner (1 Viewer)

[PorpoiseHork]

My 75g has been up for 3 months now and all has been well with it, but I noticed something is amiss the other day when I was feeding. I normally shut the main return and skimmer off when I feed the fish but I noticed that on the right side I could see the waterline just at the bottom edge of the trim panel but not the left. So I grabbed my level and started checking and sure enough it's slightly higher in the right front corner. The stand is the same way, however move to the middle of the tank it is perfectly level from left to right as is front to back and vertically. The same goes for the left hand side of the tank it levels out as well. I then measured the waterline and it is between 1/32 and 1/8 lower to the rim on the right front than to the rest of the tank. The right rear is as best as I can tell only 1/32 lower than the opposing corner.

Now I do have leveling mat installed under the tank and it was working perfectly for three months, but now something has shifted and it has me very concerned. With this difference in level the tank is clearly being twisted and it's this torsional stress that I know will one day have me coming home to disaster. I tried getting some shims under the stand on the left side to attempt to level it out, but either I wasn't getting them under far enough or in the right spot.

So any ideas on what to do? I am dreading having to drain it just to get some shims under it, but I'm thinking this is my only option.

 

[dmccoy]

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[steveb]

Bear with me... I'm dense and a little slow...

Is it the floor that is throwing the stand out of level or is the stand itself not coplanar between all the corners on the top?

Is this a rimless or pvc bottom tank?

 

[Reefahholic]

1. Go to Tractor Supply or Ace Hardware (Call Tractor Supply first).
2. Buy a 100/G Rubbermaid Stock Tank.
3. Drain that tank 90% and Shim it.

Question:
When you built the stand did you square it and put a middle cross brace/ braces on the bottom wrap?

You’re not on a second floor are you?

 

[Reefahholic]

Bear with me... I'm dense and a little slow...

Is it the floor that is throwing the stand out of level or is the stand itself not coplanar between all the corners on the top?

Is this a rimless or pvc bottom tank?

I don't think it’s twisting. My guess is it just needs a shim on that one corner. 1/8 to 1/32 is pretty minimal.

I guess we better ask what floor material we’re dealing with??

 

[PorpoiseHork]

To answer your questions, it is a garden variety rimmed 75g Marineland tank and is on laminate flooring. As for if it's the floor that's the issue, I'd be willing to bet it may be. I don't have a 4' level to test it. I did notice after close inspection that the corner that is higher does have a gap between the floor and the stand thick enough that I can easily slide a couple business cards in it. I thought about shimming that corner but that would raise it even more so I haven't done that yet.

As for the stand, I didn't build, so I am not 100% on the construction of the bottom part. What I can confirm is that the main frame was made from 1X4's and then skinned with 1/4" plywood. There are center braces in the middle of the stand along the front and back. The top originally was open without a center brace, but I added a 1/4" piece of plywood just so there was something to stick the leveling mat to. The top sheet of plywood is not nailed or screwed down. It is just resting on the wood frame.

I do have a pair of 30g rubbermaid tubs that I can use to capture most of the tank water, I'm guessing that I can drain off enough so I should be able to get some shims under it. I'm just at a loss for where it needs to be shimmed at since nearly the entire tank is level except the one corner and it is higher than the rest of the tank.

 

[PorpoiseHork]

Well the tank is in fact level. The trim ring is in fact warped. I found after using a laser level, and a calibrated tape measure I found that there is a 3/64 difference in the distance between the top and bottom trim on the right front compared the the other three corners.

So potential disaster averted.

 

[Reefahholic]

Well the tank is in fact level. The trim ring is in fact warped. I found after using a laser level, and a calibrated tape measure I found that there is a 3/64 difference in the distance between the top and bottom trim on the right front compared the the other three corners.

So potential disaster averted.

Are you saying it’s the Euro bracing or the glass panels that are not plumb?

 

[PorpoiseHork]

Just the top plastic trim is warped in the front right corner. I'm guessing it has been that way since assembly, butt the tank was always freshwater until I bought it, so it likely never was an issue or even noticed.

When I put a laser level on it it aligns perfectly to the bottom of the trim across the front until that corner where it bows upwards 3/64". The back of the tank and both ends are also level as is the stand. The bottom trim is level all the way around as well. For the corner that has the gap between the floor and the stand I ran a shim under it just to prevent any sagging or warping down the road.

 

[Reefahholic]

Just the top plastic trim is warped in the front right corner. I'm guessing it has been that way since assembly, butt the tank was always freshwater until I bought it, so it likely never was an issue or even noticed.

When I put a laser level on it it aligns perfectly to the bottom of the trim across the front until that corner where it bows upwards 3/64". The back of the tank and both ends are also level as is the stand. The bottom trim is level all the way around as well. For the corner that has the gap between the floor and the stand I ran a shim under it just to prevent any sagging or warping down the road.

If it’s just the trim, Don’t worry too much about it. That’s not gonna cause any structural issues.

You’re good to go!