Just noticed tank has become unlevel...

[dtd87]

WELL I just looked at the tank and I guess after sitting since august it has become unlevel. When I initially reset it up it was off level towards the front so I shimmed it and it was level. Well I guess the carpet compressed and it is new.. off level towards the back.. should I just empty out most of the water and remove the shim and see what happens or is anyone out there an expert shimmer and can tell me what to do exactly? Thanks

its off by more than 1/8th but less than 1/4 inch

 

[trido]

How big is the tank? If its under a 90 and isnt causing problems with the overflows and your not worried about it literally tipping over I wouldnt worry about it. I kept tanks for over 15 years before I ever leveled one. My old 90 ciclid tank was over 1/2" out of level from right to left for several years.

 

[dnjan]

When you say off-level towards the front or towards the back, what exactly do you mean? Does off-level towards the front mean that the water level is higher towards the front or towards the back?

 

[jrgilles]

Yea, what size is it?

I had to level my tank once it was full. I took a bunch of water out into garbage cans, and had 4 people there. three to lift and one to shim. Worked alright.

rob

 

[returnofsid]

A glass tank, that is not level, will experience different amounts of pressure on the silicone joints. These differences in pressure can create more stress than the silicone is able to tolerate, possibly resulting in a leaky tank. I'd suggest leveling the tank, if at all possible.

 

[dnjan]

If the stand is solid, you would really need to be out-of-level a lot to cause pressure differences on the silicone. Pressure difference is less than 0.05 psi for an inch difference in water elevation. A good wavemaker would cause greater pressure differences than a typical out-of-level tank.
A stand that does not supply good support is another issue ...

 

[dtd87]

Its a 50 gallon breeder with a 20gl refugium. I mean there is more water towards the back of the tank and less to the front.

with basic black pine stand marineland/aqueon sells.

 

[eww]

IMO I would not worry about it Devin. Just keep and eye on it and make sure it doesn't get worse over time. If it does then something else is going on and it will need to be looked into.

 

[dtd87]

alright it seems fine, I guess it just bothers me a little bit, thanks eric. all the off level horror stories pop into my head

 

[dnjan]

Yes, I would worry more if the water level in the front was higher.
Since the carpet close to the wall doesn't really get compressed much from walking, it isn't a surprise that now that it has some weight on it there would be some gradual compression.
If the front was sagging (higher water level in front), I would wonder if the floor was sagging. Shouldn't, but could ...

 

[dtd87]

I'm on the floor level of the basement so my floor is rug ontop of concrete

 

[dnjan]

No worries then!

 

[dtd87]

I ment bottom floor of the apartment I live in ;3, still concrete.