tank is uneven.....I hate this...

[aquarist=broke]

Hey all,

my tank is uneven. On one side the water is a quarter of an inch lower than the other. I was hoping that this isn't too much of a problem. I still don't think that draining it and lifting up one side is more work than picking up broken shards of glass from a 55 gallon waterfall in upstairs apartment.

I just hate it because everytime I drain my tank all the things on the glass die off and it seems to want to cycle all over again. The tank is borderline cycled after moving my 29 gal. into a 55 gal.

 

[flameangel1]

Hi,,
If your tank is sitting on carpet (with pad),
yes-a quarter inch off can settle down to dangerously off !!
If it is on concrete or a good HARD floor-you should be ok, though.

Best way I have found to get a tank level to begin with-
add two inches of water to tank and measure it all the way around with a tape measure.
"Levels"- (like a carpenter uses )never seem to work out right.

 

[Carpentersreef]

"Levels"- (like a carpenter uses )never seem to work out right.

8O

Mitch

 

[SPC]

"Levels"- (like a carpenter uses )never seem to work out right.

8O 8O
Steve

 

[Marcosreef]

"Levels"- (like a carpenter uses )never seem to work out right.

8O 8O 8O
Marco

 

[aquarist=broke]

carpenters level=unlevel tank 8O 8O 8O 8O

 

[Anonymous]

:arrow: 8O LOL!

 

[flameangel1]

Hi,,
Evidently you all think my answer was funny !!

But, even with an 8 foot carpenters level- tanks never seem to be actually level after being filled with water.
They ALWAYS are level when filled, if one uses the" 2 inches of water tip "!!!

 

[speck]

Hi
A few small (1/8") wooden shims under the feet of the low side of my stand worked for me. No need to drain the tank, drive them in with a block of wood (so you don't break the shim) and a hammer.

 

[Carpentersreef]

Flame angel, it's not the level that's the problem,(unless it's a bad one or in need of adjustment), it's the aquarium stand or the floor and material that the stand is placed on that's the problem...with the added weight of water taken into consideration....... :wink:

If we can build a 50,000 lb house (which is what a typical bungalow weighs) using "carpenters levels", and it stays level, an aquarium is small potatoes.

Mitch

 

[ChrisRD]

Flameangel:

I've seen quite a few glass tanks, especially the smaller/cheaper ones where the plastic trim on top wasn't really flush with the glass. If you put a level across the top of the trim you wouldn't get a true indication of the tank position. Is that what you're referring to?

As you mentioned, putting water in the tank is a pretty bullet proof method - gravity always seems to work .

 

[SPC]

Judy, Mitch and I are both carpenters so we were just ragging you a bit :lol: . I do however feel that a level if used properly is an adequate way to level a tank.
Wolfman, I always place the level on both the top of the tank as well as across the top of the stand.
Steve

 

[flameangel1]

Wolfman,,
Yes, that is exactly what I was referring to !!!
Plus the "settling", if one is setting up the tank on carpeted floors etc.

Carpentersreef,
yes, you are right but I did not write out the whole reason before, as to "why" the carpenters level across the top of the tank, does not actually work well.
Also know that there is NO house in the world that has actually square walls and plumb after being built completely!!!

SPC,,
Yes, I do know how to read a "level",tape measure and many more of your "guy" things. (do all my own plumbing-electrical-carpentry for my house and shop )

 

[Carpentersreef]

Also know that there is NO house in the world that has actually square walls and plumb after being built completely!!!

Mine do!

Mitch

:wink:

 

[rBeOeBf]

I agree with the tape measure trick. If the trim isn't flush, then you're actually going to need to set the tank up so it's not perfectly level, in order to make it "look" level when compared to the trim. Like Flameangel said, just put a little water in and adjust the tank 'til the measurement between the water surface and the trim is the same all around.

-Bob

 

[SPC]

Posted by SPC:

Wolfman, I always place the level on both the top of the tank as well as across the top of the stand.

-As you can see by my response here, it dosen't matter if the trim is not flush with the glass. It also dosen't matter if the whole house is on a 45 degree angle. If you check both the tank and stand with a level, then take appropriate steps to get them to level, then your tank can't be anything but level.

Posted by Judy:

Yes, I do know how to read a "level",tape measure and many more of your "guy" things. (do all my own plumbing-electrical-carpentry for my house and shop )

-I sure didn't mean to insinuate that you didn't know how to read a level or tape measure. If you know how to measure 2" up from from the bottom of the tank or stand then I presumed you knew how to use a tape measure :wink: . BTW, what happens if you measure 2" up from the bottom trim of the tank, and that trim is not flush with the bottom of the glass?
Steve

 

[flameangel1]

SPC,

BTW, what happens if you measure 2" up from the bottom trim of the tank, and that trim is not flush with the bottom of the glass?

If the metal thingy on my Stanley tape is under the trim of the tank-it does not matter if the trim is not level at the bottom !!
The tank is sitting the way it will STAY sitting !! :lol:

Carpentersreef,
You wish !!
Try wall papering after a month-guaranteed adjustments WILL have to be made.

 

[Carpentersreef]

SPC,

Carpentersreef,
You wish !!
Try wall papering after a month-guaranteed adjustments WILL have to be made.

LOL.... :wink:

Hey, if the wallpaper doesn't work out, it's the drywallers' fault!

Seriously, I've taken apart Allglass aquariums, and all that's holding the plastic trim on is silicone. It could have been put on crooked as heck. The only aquariums that I buy now are custom made with no trim at all.

Mitch

 

[Anonymous]

If the metal thingy on my Stanley tape is under the trim of the tank-it does not matter if the trim is not level at the bottom !!

:evil: So you don't do the inch thing? Are you sure its 2 inches and not 2 1/8 inches? (Just beeing a little devil here)

 

[flameangel1]

JDM,

So you don't do the inch thing? Are you sure its 2 inches and not 2 1/8 inches? (Just beeing a little devil here)

Hey, I am a female here- :lol: ,
I know I am accurate for all the measurements, because,
I put a MARK on the tape.
(hard to see those tiny marks that are on it anyway)
Could just about use my trusty broom handle to measure the same way- [/quote]