Leveling a tank on uneven flooring

[Anonymous]

I had tile installed in my new house, specifically to put the fish tank on. The tile was not done totally flat and the tank stand is slightly wobbly. I am transferring from my old tank into the new one on Saturday and was hoping for suggestions on how to level the tank before I get started.

 

[Len]

I leveled my 120 gallon with a few shims and used styrofoam between the tank and stand to level the tank. I've also seen people level tanks by using a thick sheet of hardwood (or hard metal) beneath the stand and then using some screws/bolts to support the tank off the ground (adjusting screws/bolts in and out for different heights).

 

[christssoldiers]

I used cedar shims under the stand.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd start by smacking the tile guy. Sheesh! (Unless you had some of that really nice terra cotta Mexican tile put in.)

Be sure to allow the styro time to compress if you use that.

 

[Anonymous]

I shimmed mine b/t the tank and the floor. I was told that to shim b/t the tank and the stand would cause uneven pressure on the frame of the tank.
IMHO,
~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

The morons at Home Depot have no idea what shims are. What department should they be in?

 

[McMatt]

Anything can be used as a shim. Just get some small slender cuts of wood and wedge it up under the stand where it's unever.. Ever tried to put cardboard under a wobbly table leg? Same thing.

 

[liquid]

Go to a real hardware store and they'll be able to help you. I've never been impressed with the knowledge or intellect at either Lowes, Home Depot, etc... A shim is nothing more than a thin wedge of wood and it's used to adjust anything from window frames to door frames, etc.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

The morons at Home Depot have no idea what shims are. What department should they be in?

Look around where they sell doors and windows.

 

[Anonymous]

also look in building matereal. They'll be packed as a brick about 2'x'2x8" (~$5 for more than you'll need in a long while.) with a metal band around them. I've usually seen them close to drywall. Ask the people shopping there, not the HD employees. The contractors taht shop there or a regular basis know the store (and the matereal) better than the employees.

You could also try mom&pop hardware stores. My TruValue has 12 6" shims( 1/4" wide at the widest) for the lovely price of $4.99. Not having a place to store the cedar shims from HD, I'll probably end up buying them. They're packed in shrinkwrap.

B

 

[mark78]

My TruValue has 12 6" shims( 1/4" wide at the widest) for the lovely price of $4.99.

I got those packages at my HD for $4 less then that =/

 

[Anonymous]

They are known as Cedar shakes as well. (At least on the East coast. )
~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

Yes go to the window/door area of homedepot/lowes I know here they have two "brands" one is a rather expensive one $5 for a pack of 12, the other is cheaper, 3 packs for $4 (yah don't ask me).

One thing you want to do though is DO NOT LEVEL THE TANK, level the stand, and make sure the tank as a result is level, you want the tank on a flat surface (meaning no shims under the tank).