Leveling a 6ft tank

[longhorn_20m]

I previously had a successful 58 gallon reef tank setup for a few years but due to moving and other personal obligations, I have been without a tank for two years. I'm not settled into a house and the itch is back. I picked up an Oceanic 180RR from River City and have started the process of setting up.

To be honest, I didn't think it would take much trouble to level a tank of this size, but I've struggled with it. I've searched the net and get conflicting information and overall want to be sure I do this correct so I don't have 180 gallons of water on the floor.

Do you level the stand and then place the tank on the stand? OR do you level the entire unit (tank on stand)? Do you level off the plastic surround on bottom plate of gl*****

I leveled the entire unit (tank on the stand) with the level on the plastic surround on the tank. Since the back of my tank is the high point, I had to shim around the other three sides to support it. I tried to use as many shims as possible to evenly distribute the weight. I then filled it up halfway to check if anything settled out and drained. Overall it looks good but wanted to get everyone's input to confirm I've done this correctly. Again, I want to make sure I keep 180 gallons in my tank and not on my floor!

[RayAllen]

WOW that took a lot of shims. Yes you did it correctly (tank on stand). I had to do that with a previous large tank I had and did it the same way although I didnt have to go all the way around the tank. When I did it I was able to hammer the shim all the way under the stand though to make it level. Are you going to cut all those shims?

[longhorn_20m]

Yes sir, that is the plan after I'm sure I've leveled it correctly. Did you level with reference to the top surround on the tank or the tank bottom?

This is just the first round to test the load with half the water. I had the front slightly higher (the bubble between the black lines, but closeer to/touching the black line on the front ex. | 0| ) I did this because I thought once I started to fill it up for a test, the shims will give way a bit to be perfectly in the middle. I also throught a slight slope to the overflow boxes would be good to keep water flowing equally over it. Well after filling it halfway, the shims didn't give way at all. Since it is drained now I might lower the front a bit and refill to the top to recheck and do a leak test.

It is coming along, but slowly!

[RayAllen]

I used the top surround when leveling. Its really difficult to get in 100% level but as long as you are really close you will be fine.

[Bill S]

It's surprising how much out of level tanks will "take". Remember, we have folks on the left coast that have tanks that will survive earthquakes! My 55 - knock on wood - has been out of level by 1/2" for years.