Un level tank

Bunny13 · 05-29-2008, 03:01 PM

I was filling up my new tank today, which is sooooo much easier now that I have a phython, and I noticed the water level is a little less then a 1/4 inch off from back to front. (leaning forward) Is this enough to worry about? If so, whats the best way to level it out? There is a piece of wood between the tank and the stand and the stand is on carpet. I know its going to permanently dent the carpet but thats ok.

wesleydnunder · 05-29-2008, 03:22 PM

In a small tank it may be ok like that for years. I have a 20 long that was a quarter inch off level for ten years and it still holds water fine. A large tank has more stress on it and may not be able to take that much difference for any length of time. What size is the tank? For a tank 30 gallons or less, I'd just shim the front of the stand up 1/4" in two or three places with the type of wooden window shims that you break off. For a heavier tank, shimming the full length of the front and down the sides may be needed.

Mark

Bunny13 · 05-29-2008, 08:45 PM

Its a 30 gallon. I placed some shims under the front legs of the stand until the level was level. Will this be fine or should I actually shim under the tank?

wesleydnunder · 05-29-2008, 08:48 PM

I think it's better to shim the stand than under the tank itself.

Mark

Trixie · 05-29-2008, 10:01 PM

Me too. You want the tank itself supported evenly all the way around.

Slick Fork · 05-30-2008, 10:39 AM

You don't want to shim under the tank as that will create a pressure point on the glass. Under the stand as you've done is perfectly fine.

The thing I always look at is how much actual extra weight is being put on the seam in question. In your case if the water is 1/4" high at the front of say a 12" deep by 30" long tank that's about 90 cubic inches too much water on the front of the tank which translates into just over a third of a gallon so if you figure it out at 10lbs per U.S. Gallon, we're only talking about 4 Lbs along the entire 30" seam which really isn't a lot in a tank designed to hold at least 300lbs of water and other goodies.

DeputyChiefJR · 05-30-2008, 10:55 AM

Why not just go outside and shave off a quarter inch of the foundation? hehehe

mostlycichlids · 05-30-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeputyChiefJR

Why not just go outside and shave off a quarter inch of the foundation? hehehe

Thats what I was thinking...

Trixie · 05-30-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

In your case if the water is 1/4" high at the front of say a 12" deep by 30" long tank that's about 90 cubic inches too much water on the front of the tank which translates into just over a third of a gallon so if you figure it out at 10lbs per U.S. Gallon, we're only talking about 4 Lbs along the entire 30" seam which really isn't a lot in a tank designed to hold at least 300lbs of water and other goodies.

RTR · 05-30-2008, 08:14 PM

I strongly agree with the "shim the stand, not the tank" folks.

Bunny13 · 05-30-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeputyChiefJR

Why not just go outside and shave off a quarter inch of the foundation? hehehe

If only life were that easy.

lol thanks guys. This has been by far the worst move I have done in 4 years ( how did I accumulate so much junk?) but I did get the tank level so everything seems good. The only problem is that the lid I made for my other 30 gallon is just a tad too small for this 30 gallon. Go figure. Solved one snafu and on to the next!

Slick Fork · 05-30-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trixie

Is my math bad?

Trixie · 05-30-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

Is my math bad?

LOL! No, it just sounded like one of those math problems on the SAT test. I was impressed.

Slick Fork · 05-30-2008, 11:27 PM

Oh good, thanks! I wasn't sure if I figured it right!

joephys · 06-03-2008, 07:18 PM

This problem is something that I have been thinking about for a while. Pressure acts equally in all directions, so what really matters is the vertical depth of the water to the glass. At small angles, like a quarter of an inch difference, its not going to make a difference.

The problem is actually fairly complicated one, beyond what would be on an SAT. To really figure it out, you need calculus, but with such a small amount, the method probably results in an answer that is basically the same. Anyway, sorry to drag that out, this is just sort of my thing.

05-29-2008, 03:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bunny13 Dela-where? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware at the moment Posts: 1,016	Un level tank I was filling up my new tank today, which is sooooo much easier now that I have a phython, and I noticed the water level is a little less then a 1/4 inch off from back to front. (leaning forward) Is this enough to worry about? If so, whats the best way to level it out? There is a piece of wood between the tank and the stand and the stand is on carpet. I know its going to permanently dent the carpet but thats ok. __________________ Rachael Sherman's Lagoon Photo Journal of my 20Gallon Planted Tank "As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction."

05-29-2008, 03:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,346	In a small tank it may be ok like that for years. I have a 20 long that was a quarter inch off level for ten years and it still holds water fine. A large tank has more stress on it and may not be able to take that much difference for any length of time. What size is the tank? For a tank 30 gallons or less, I'd just shim the front of the stand up 1/4" in two or three places with the type of wooden window shims that you break off. For a heavier tank, shimming the full length of the front and down the sides may be needed. Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

05-29-2008, 08:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bunny13 Dela-where? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Delaware at the moment Posts: 1,016	Its a 30 gallon. I placed some shims under the front legs of the stand until the level was level. Will this be fine or should I actually shim under the tank? __________________ Rachael Sherman's Lagoon Photo Journal of my 20Gallon Planted Tank "As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction."

05-29-2008, 08:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
wesleydnunder Resident Cannibal Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Marque, Tx. Posts: 2,346	I think it's better to shim the stand than under the tank itself. Mark __________________ If it can't be fixxed with a hammer, then you've got an electrical problem.

05-29-2008, 10:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Trixie Fauna is my EVIL TWIN. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 1,575	Me too. You want the tank itself supported evenly all the way around. __________________

05-30-2008, 10:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
Slick Fork Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wild Rose Country Posts: 278	You don't want to shim under the tank as that will create a pressure point on the glass. Under the stand as you've done is perfectly fine. The thing I always look at is how much actual extra weight is being put on the seam in question. In your case if the water is 1/4" high at the front of say a 12" deep by 30" long tank that's about 90 cubic inches too much water on the front of the tank which translates into just over a third of a gallon so if you figure it out at 10lbs per U.S. Gallon, we're only talking about 4 Lbs along the entire 30" seam which really isn't a lot in a tank designed to hold at least 300lbs of water and other goodies.

05-30-2008, 10:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
DeputyChiefJR I'm hungry Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Britain, CT Posts: 626	Why not just go outside and shave off a quarter inch of the foundation? hehehe __________________ Jon 75 Gallon Mixed Africans 26 Gallon Community

05-30-2008, 08:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
RTR RTR Join Date: May 2006 Location: Exurban MD, USA Posts: 849	I strongly agree with the "shim the stand, not the tank" folks. __________________ Where's the fish? - Neptune

05-30-2008, 11:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
Slick Fork Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wild Rose Country Posts: 278	Oh good, thanks! I wasn't sure if I figured it right!

06-03-2008, 07:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
joephys Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: auburn, wa Posts: 4,393	This problem is something that I have been thinking about for a while. Pressure acts equally in all directions, so what really matters is the vertical depth of the water to the glass. At small angles, like a quarter of an inch difference, its not going to make a difference. The problem is actually fairly complicated one, beyond what would be on an SAT. To really figure it out, you need calculus, but with such a small amount, the method probably results in an answer that is basically the same. Anyway, sorry to drag that out, this is just sort of my thing.

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