Tile Floor & Aquarium (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

Ok I'm real new to this, haven't even purchased my aquarium yet, but as I understand it, the base needs to be perfectly level! What is the best way to level one, on a tile floor?
I just lost a 55 fresh I had recently moved to the spot I will be putting the new 150 SW.
I suspect the un-level floor may have contributed to coming home to 55 gallons of water on the floor.
Any help would be great!
Thanks

 

[Guest]

You can get a pack of shims from Home Depot for like $1.99. Look by the windows and doors. Use a level (the longer the better - a 4' level works great) and shim up the low sides until everything is level. It's important to check the level from side to side AND front to back.

 

[djreef]

I'm sure the tiles are on cement, right? And they're strong enough to support the weight. I wouldnt trust large thin ceramic tiles to support a tank that weighs nearly 2000 lbs fully operational, unless they are on concrete. Even then maybe not. Depends on the quality of the tile.

DJ
= 8-->{I>

 

[Guest]

put my 75 on kitchen floor on tile with no problems in 2.5 years. never shimmed anything. maybe it was just level.

 

[dfimble]

I am sorry to hear about the flood of your 55 gal. Just curious, but why do you think it was caused by unlevel floor?

Shouldn't the stand create a level surface for the tank to rest on so that an even load is placed on the walls?

Just curious,
David

p.s. My tank leans just a tad to the back. In otherwards, if my overflows were to stop the wall would get wet and nothing else.

 

[incysor]

I am sorry to hear about the flood of your 55 gal. Just curious, but why do you think it was caused by unlevel floor?

Shouldn't the stand create a level surface for the tank to rest on so that an even load is placed on the walls?

Just curious,
David

p.s. My tank leans just a tad to the back. In otherwards, if my overflows were to stop the wall would get wet and nothing else.

The stand can't create a level surface unless the stand itself is on level ground. Basically you need to put the stand in place. Shim it until it's level, then fill the tanks up with fresh water, and check again to see if it's still level, because with the water it may settle some. I was able to use the HD shims to get my 75 level, once I put in water it crushed em and I ended up needing to cut some boards down to make thicker shims.

If a tank leans there's a huge inequality in pressure on the different seals, this is a recipe for disaster. This is more true with glass tanks with silicone seals than with acrylic tanks, but even with acrylic over time the joint with more pressure acting on it can give way.

Brian

 

[KarenB]

One other thing that you can do besides the shims is to place a sheet of foam insulation between the stand and tank so that the insulation will help to level out the most minute differences in the level. It will sink more under the highest water level spots and less in the lower water level spots, and the theory is that it will attain a true level all around. But if your level is off by more than the insulation is thick, and also factoring in additional tank weight and so on, it won't do much good, so start with the shims between tank and floor to get it as level as possible and use the insulation as extra insurance.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the help. I was wondering about the wooden shims getting crushed. I dont think it is all that much out of level, but I know its not.
There was a 1/4" difference from one end to the other in the water level in the 55, but I never thought about it.
I have heard somewhere about metal shims, has anyone else.
I was wondering about the foam I have seem in some of the other projects I have seen pic's of.
That's make perfect sence, as does filling it with fresh water first.