unlevel rr 240 gallon aquarium

[megklink]

Okay guys, i'm new to MAAST and it's not a good situation i'm starting off on. We just recently purchased a 240 gallon aquarium and now to find out (we've already got the sand and water and sump filled with sand and water below) it's unlevel! grrr. The only thing I can think of, which I don't like, is to empty the whole aquarium, along with the sump to be able to lift it to shim it. The stand and aquarium weigh about 500 lbs each so you can understand why i'm hesitating to do this. If anyone's been in this situation before please let me know the road you took or if anyone has any kind of advice please let me know!! Just in case I didn't explain myself, being unlevel is causing the rr aquarium to drain on one side and not the other. thanks guys!!

[RayAllen]

You are correct, the only thing you can do is drain and shim. Trying to shim while filled is a major disaster in the making. A couple of months ago I filled a 210 and it was unlevel, and it also drianed into one side. I empties and shimmed and it was good to go. Note: I filled with freshwater first to do a leak test not salt. Hopefulle you didnt waste a couple of buckets of salt.

[megklink]

Well we have already filled it with saltwater expecting it to be good to go but I guess the good thing that came out of all of this is the water isn't as good of quality as it should be so I guess we need to redo it.

[Paul28]

My 120 has been unlevel by 1/4 of a inch for almost 3 years now is it that big of a deal wondering ive had no problems should i worry ?

[Paul28]

here is a pic how bad off it is http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/8067/unlezd2.jpg

[RayAllen]

Paul, ive seen threads on reefcentral where tanks that have been running for years one day just bust at the seams from being unlevel. 1/4" may not be much in contruction, but with a aquarium it can be. Your tank is what 48x24x24? The longer tanks are the ones that are usually more prone to craking or seems opening, but your at three years id just keep a eye on it.

[Paul28]

Its 60x18x26 long one :hypnotyized: hope mine never breaks ,knock on wood

[BigKGlen]

Being out of level from one end to the other would more than likely say that you're out of level from front to back...even the slightest.
This causes a torque effect on the weakest point, the seams. But, if you have a flaw or significant scratch in your glass, it could be the panel that fails.
Level cabinets on level floors should not be taken for granted.

[Paul28]

Yeah its my floor thats unlvl shoudl i worry ? after being so long ? Front to back is lvl , long side to side isant

[Paul28]

Here is a pic of the floor lvl since its the floor and not the stand think it might be safe ? hehe im trying to feel safe inside dont want to lose my baby:confused:

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6089/lvlvwj7.jpg

[Paul28]

ok i got to thinking about it just lie to me hahaha

[DBlackman]

I remember that 'Classcages' won't warranty their tanks, if you do not use their stands, to include warranty issues with Oceanic tanks. ADJUST YOUR TANK, NOW !!! smile

[Paul28]

so to fix it i would half to drain it and pull everthing out ?

[RayAllen]

so to fix it i would half to drain it and pull everthing out ?

Unfortunatley yes is the answer. If you shim with water in it you are asking for a seam to burst.

[Paul28]

Think im going to take my chances im yousing the stand that came with the tank so im under the 20 year replacment. The stuff in my tank wont fit in bags would half to be trash bags to get them out and if it bust ill go sps right off the back with the bubble this off Pic :at_wits_end:
Thx tho guys for the info think im going take my chances well i know one thing my wife would let me get a bigger tank if it does break thats how i got this tank i said my 55 was broke. 60x18x26 this is from end to end

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9514/lvl2ng2.jpg

[JimD]

Thats not too bad if its over a 4' span, flip the level to make sure its accurate...

[Paul28]

Yeh i lose 1/4 of a inch over 5' so im not going to worry, if i was going to worry im not tearing all this down here is a side pic it would be way to mutch work to get this stuff all back in place sorry blury pic

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3286/picsidegt6.jpg

[RayAllen]

Dont blame you. Your tank is beautiful, and I'd hate to see you disrupt it.

[Bill S]

Gets me wondering. What do people in earthquake country do?

[RayAllen]

Gets me wondering. What do people in earthquake country do?

Higher a engineer to build a earthquake proof stand with shock absorbers:what_smile:

[LoneStar]

Gets me wondering. What do people in earthquake country do?

Insurance! (you hope)

[Paul28]

Gets me wondering. What do people in earthquake country do?



haha thats true how do thay keep tanks in cali

[MissT]

I never really thought about that... the club out of San Jose has some of the nicest tanks I've seen, and every now and then I skim through their board but have never read anything about earthquakes. Hmmmm...