Need some idea to level my aquarium

[tikkle]

Does anyone have any idea how to level a aquarium? My aquarium is a 46g bowfront and it is EMPTY. The front of the aquarium is about 1/2 inch lower than the back.
It would be a big help!
Thanks!

[CACAdmin]

With that much discrepancy from front to back, you need to leveling the stand to ensure even support all round for the tank. What type of stand is it on? is it rectangular or bow shaped like the tank?

[Soggybottom]

Yeah what Jay said, level the stand. It would be very hard to level the tank without creating stress points. Bowfronts are supposedly more prone to cracking than regular tanks as well, due to the angles of the glass cuts at the front, so best to be careful.
The best thing would be to grab some shims or shingles (wooden wedges) from a hardware store, that way you can tap them in with a hammer until the level is perfect. Most are made so that you can score them with a knife and snap off the excess. Might not work very well on carpet though...

[PPulcher]

If the tank is in a carpeted room against the wall, be aware that most carpet installations use a 'tack strip' around the walls that will definitely skew the level of the tank. It will tilt the tank away from the wall. If you move it away from the tack strip, part of the problem will disappear, but you'll still need to check the level.

[tikkle]

First of all, thank you all for the ideas. I have a bow front stand and it is setting on a laminate floor. I talk to J&L, one of the guy told me to use insulation board, which is the pink board for insulating basement. He told me to put the stand on it, and the tank will level itself out when it is full. Did anybody use that? or any thought?

Thanks!

[Soggybottom]

That is good stuff for spreading out the stress points but it won't level the tank if the underlying surface is not level.

[CACAdmin]

I agree with Mr. SB, I can't see that the insulation board will level the stand (& thus the tank). If you use wedges to level the stand, make sure they are hardwood (softwood will compress under the weight over time). Use lots of wedges to disburse the weight as they will be the points totally supporting the weight at the front of the stand.

[BC_Kron]

First of all, thank you all for the ideas. I have a bow front stand and it is setting on a laminate floor. I talk to J&L, one of the guy told me to use insulation board, which is the pink board for insulating basement. He told me to put the stand on it, and the tank will level itself out when it is full. Did anybody use that? or any thought?

Thanks!

I would agree if the tank was bigger. The crush value of 1 inch polystyrene is approx.2000lb (force or weight needed for compression greater than 51% ie failure point.). The polystyrene will not compress the 50% you need to level the tank with 72gallons of water. The tank is just not heavy enough.

solution; Cut a piece of 3/4 plywood to fit the top of your stand.(3/4 plywood will not deflect or bend under the static weight of tank.
Shim the front side up so that it is level from front to back, and side to side. (use lots of shim points to distribute the weight.)
Put the polystyrene on top of the plywood as an insulator, and then put tank on top.
The front of the plywood can easily be hidden from view with a piece of cover moulding sold at home depo for about $3.00.
Paint the same color as your stand and you'll never notice it there.

cheers; Bill

[tikkle]

Thanks Bill, I might give that a try.

[Slipstream]

U know what worked for me, is if its an owned home, and you dont hafta worry about your floors that much, is screw, or nail, or glue a half inch strip (or whatever ya need) of plywood on the floor along the front side of the stand. It has worked for me before. Plus, it will be stable, and it wont move since it will be fastened to the floor. :smile:

[tikkle]

I do own my house, and that would work. But if I decide to get a bigger tank later on in the basement. There will be a mess. And my wife is going to kill me. haha...:realmad:

[Slipstream]

lol, well, itd only be two little screw holes.. LOL.. Easy enough to repair.