|
04/16/2018, 06:14 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Shims leveling tank?
So I have a 150gal that Im finally getting ready to set up.
It will be on the basement, where I already laid some plank vinyl and the room is ready to go. Problem is the spot where the tank will be going is unleveled. I see recommendations of shims to help that, but wanted to check if anyone has better ideas. The floor underneath is concrete. If shims are the way to go, does anyone recommend a certain type/brand? Shims lenght? Are shims safe first of all for a tank? Footprint of the stand is 61”x 24”. It is well built, by a local tank/stand manufacturer(not composite wood). The tank spot leans to the rear and right side of the room. Thanks for all help
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer |
04/16/2018, 06:27 PM | #2 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,655
|
Most everyone uses shims to level tank, not many floors are perfectly level.
Cedar or composite, both work fine.
__________________
There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD |
04/16/2018, 06:35 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Boston strong
Posts: 2,766
|
i used composite shims on our tank
__________________
Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef |
04/16/2018, 06:38 PM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Philly burbs
Posts: 950
|
Plus 1 for composite. I got them at home depot
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk |
04/16/2018, 07:42 PM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Thanks guys, so does their length matter? Composite seems to be the way to go I guess
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer |
04/16/2018, 09:54 PM | #6 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Baton Rouge
Posts: 1,410
|
If u go with composite I would also get a pack of cedar. Most composite shims the small end are still a little thick, around 3/32” so a little less then 1/8”. Cedar shims are made to where they basically go down to nothing on the small end. So u can shim a little 1/16” gap if need be. So use the composite if u want but have a couple cedar just Incase need to shim a small gap.
When u level the stand the first thing to do is figure out whatever corner is the highest to get a starting point. Once u do that go around & get all four corners level. Once it’s level u can come back & place the shims inbetween if they are needed. |
04/17/2018, 04:20 AM | #7 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Quote:
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer |
|
04/17/2018, 09:39 AM | #8 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dallas
Posts: 359
|
I used composite shims. Take your time. Using tap water. I filled my tank 1/3 rechecked. Drain re-level. I did this a couple times till I had it full and level. Was a bit of a pain, but I didnt want to get rocks and saltwater in and have an issue. I have a Python thats makes filling and draining from the tap super easy.
__________________
Thanks, Mako Current Tank Info: Returning Reefer - Red Sea 525XL, Mitras LX7s, Apex, check homepage for vids of tank |
04/17/2018, 01:47 PM | #9 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 451
|
Quote:
The amount of shims you need is very much depends on the construction of the stand, but you need to have 100% shim support under the vertical supports. If you are going to have a sump underneath you should also make sure to shim underneath where-ever the load of that sump is going to be distributed. But otherwise you don't really need any shims anywhere load isn't being distributed, however I'm sure most people put them there anyways. Better safe than sorry. |
|
04/17/2018, 02:03 PM | #10 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 20,050
|
Alternative to shims on concrete floors is to use concrete floor leveler..
That is assuming its the floor and not the stand
__________________
Who me? |
04/17/2018, 03:21 PM | #11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 506
|
You need two shims under each post (except the high corner), or more if the floor is really off. You don't want a wedge under each post, you want something flat, and two shims shoved opposite and on top of each other will give you a flat.
|
04/18/2018, 08:16 PM | #12 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Noticed the floor has really unleveled spots. Single shims wont bring the tank to the proper level on the bad side. Can shims be stacked and remain safe? What if I got a thin wood pannel sort of covering one side of the stand footprint, where the floor is at its worst and then slid shims under that thin wood pannel? I guess it would act like a shim, right?
Im thinking to get this to where its needed, I would have to stack maybe three shims...
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer Last edited by ReefCowboy; 04/18/2018 at 08:22 PM. |
04/19/2018, 03:29 PM | #13 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,655
|
That is fine, stack shims.
I'm a carpenter myself, and I'm kinda fussy, so I have my preferences, so I really like the long shims best, the ones that are red cedar, not clear, and really it's mainly the way they snap clean when scored. The short clear ones usually splinter. I also like that they are not such a wedge compared to shorts, they tend to snug up and stay better IMO Composite has it's pluses, if on carpet you can snap them upwards w/out scoring w/ a razor knife, risking cutting carpet. Both are equally strong and both hold up even around water. I did once do the concrete leveler as Mcgyver mentioned, that was an uneven slate stone floor, shims were not really an option that time. It worked fine, but takes a little more work than usually needed. I laid heavy plastic down on that so I could remove clean in case I moved tank, which I did, worked like a charm. I suggest about every 6" place shims after you've leveled tank, and also agree a check mid fill of tank is a good idea.
__________________
There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD |
04/19/2018, 05:20 PM | #14 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Quote:
Thank you so much for the advice...I'm a complete newbie to the shim world. So I have at Home Depot the choice of cedar/wood or composite. There is also a brand labeled "contractor"s choice which is wood but longer. My floor is vinyl planks. What type should I get? Pros and cons of composite vs wood?
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer |
|
04/19/2018, 05:37 PM | #15 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,655
|
I prefer the long ones in cedar, a lot of people think you need composite around water or that it's better, they all work fine, I just always lean towards natural products over plastics when given choice.
__________________
There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD |
04/19/2018, 07:29 PM | #16 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Thank you davocean!
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer |
04/20/2018, 02:04 PM | #17 |
Moved on
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Coastal Texas
Posts: 16,000
|
I would not shim the tank. You put stress on the tank. I would shim the stand to get it level. Make sure the surface the tank lay on is flat, meaning on the same plane, then your tank will not crack, even if one side is higher than the other side.
__________________
Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip |
04/20/2018, 05:25 PM | #18 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
Quote:
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer |
|
04/21/2018, 05:11 AM | #19 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 1,742
|
So I put the tank and stand finally together. The floor is so unlevel that I must put up a picture so everyone can laugh.
__________________
Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer Last edited by ReefCowboy; 04/21/2018 at 05:25 AM. |
04/21/2018, 07:30 PM | #20 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 14,655
|
Yes I figured discussing concrete floor in very first post made it clear we are shimming at floor under stand, but yes to point out the obvious, we never shim between tank and stand...
Hard to tell exactly how bad that is just in pic, (especially shot at an angle)but for example my last place was a 1/2" out of level in 4', that was bad! Your stand looks nice, after shimming at floor maybe trim out w/ some quater round or shoe moulding to hide the shim area.
__________________
There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD |
Thread Tools | |
|
|