[HippetyHop]

Hi folks, hope you're all well!

Got a new fish tank, very excited to get it started but already I've a problem.
The floor under the stand isn't flat, you can see on the pictures the left and right side are touching the floor but there's a gap in the middle. The floor is slightly slanted towards the left.
The base of the stand (dimensions 47x17) is completely flat so I'm not sure if shims would help, I had a yoga mat under the stand originally thinking it might balance it but I read that would have the opposite effect.
I'm worried that once the tank is filled with water the stand will warp and potentially damage the tank, and I'd rather avoid having 65 gallons of water all over the floor 😅
If anyone has any advice it'd be very appreciated!

Also does anyone know why some images are not loading in certain posts? I was checking some journals where everyone is commenting on the tanks but I can't see any picture.

Apologies for any grammatical errors, english is my 2nd language.

 

[Plinkploop]

You could use shims to level off. Just makes sure the weight is evenly distributed.

 

[Ratvan]

I would Shim it as well, i had to do the same with my home reef when i set it up.

 

[minorhero]

+1 for shims. Very effective in both short and long term.

For pictures.. I'd guess you are either looking at older journals where the pictures were posted under a photo hosting service that is no longer available, or there is something odd in the internets between the hosting location and your computer. I'd lean towards the former though.

 

[Plinkploop]

Do you have access to the floor below the tank? If shims aren't a viable option I don't know how you're going to work this one out. I have a very unlevel house and all of my "stands" (usually reinforced tables or 2×4s and concrete blocks) are shimmed to level. Yoga mats and softer items with give haven't worked for me in these situations, just shims. Maybe if you're having any issues with shims you might need a jack to level? Gets complicated, though.

 

[Aquaspain]

Hello. If the floor of your house is made of "floating" wood, not adhered to the original floor, consider that, when it supports the weight of the aquarium, it will sink a little.
On the other hand, I recommend you place wedges only under the vertical elements of the furniture, since the horizontal ones do not support the weight.
Put some weight in the aquarium, substrate, stones, etc ... and then level it and place the wedges. I tell you this because the ground will not firm until it is weight-bearing.

 

[HippetyHop]

Warning - Epic paint skills ahead!

So the floor slants slightly to the left which can be fixed with shims but my concern is that the stand bends in the middle so if I add shims or wedges wouldn't that exaggerate that bend which would then put pressure on the tank and eventually lead to leaking or worse, glass breaking?
Even if I shim it all the way around, wouldn't the middle still dip and if yes, how would that effect the tank?
Sorry for all the questions, just trying to understand how the whole thing works.

There is laminated wood adhered to the original floor if that helps.

 

[Plinkploop]

So maybe a wood or metal support under the length of the stand with shims where it doesn't match up. Might not be pretty but it should work.

 

[Oughtsix]

Hello. If the floor of your house is made of "floating" wood, not adhered to the original floor, consider that, when it supports the weight of the aquarium, it will sink a little.
On the other hand, I recommend you place wedges only under the vertical elements of the furniture, since the horizontal ones do not support the weight.
Put some weight in the aquarium, substrate, stones, etc ... and then level it and place the wedges. I tell you this because the ground will not firm until it is weight-bearing.

Aquaspain is correct, only the walls of the stand support the weight of the tank and they are the parts that need wedges underneith them. The flat bottom adds no support at all to the tank other than the parts directly under the walls of the cabinet.

The stand top only needs to be planer, it does not need to be level. Stand on top of the stand (for weight) then put a straight edge across opposing corners (Front left to rear right and rear left to front right). There should be no gaps under the straight edge. If there are gaps use shims under the stand to remove the gaps.

The middle of the flat bottom drooping would only be a support issue if there were a center vertical support wall dividing the stand into two seperate compartments (Which I do not believe there is but can't say for sure without a picture of the front with the doors open). The drooping bottom might be a visual issue if you are picky but not a structural issue.