Help with unlevel tank

[fnj]

I finally moved this weekend. After I set up my tank again and filled it with rock, sand and water, I realized that the right of the tank was slightly lower than the left. It is a 6ft tank (125g) and the right side seems to be about 1/8" - 1/4" lower than the left. I don't think that it will cause any problems structurally (I could be wrong about that) but it causes a problem with my overflows.

I have two built in corner overflows and I am running two Iwaki MD-55RLT return pumps from the basement. With one pump running, the right side overflow is running full out and the left one is barely draining anything because of the height of the water. When I turn the second pump on the right overflow becomes submerged by the time the left one's water level is high enough to take up the slack. A little too close for comfort.

I figure that I have two solutions.

1. I can empty the tank again, remove the rock and shim the right side of the tank to level it out. I really don't want to do this after I busted my a$$ setting it back up.

2. Cut the overflow slots on the left overflow down about 1/8" - 1/4" to match the level of the right overflow.

What do you think? Should I just bite the bullet and do it right by shimming the tank, or can I cut the overflow slots lower and get the water flow even?

Thanks in advace.
Frank

 

[kaotica]

#1

sorry, but it's a structural issue as well!

 

[clutchcargo]

My girlfriends tank was sitting unlevel for a while and it eventually sprung a leak. It took about a year though. So you might want to figure out a way to bring it level. I don't think shimming the tank is the answer because you'll have a pressure point. You have to bring the entire stand level.
My .02
C

 

[fnj]

Thanks for your quick replies. I was afraid of that. I do have a sheet of 1/8" thick board. Should I slide this under the right side of the stand then add shims where it's necessary? The tank is sitting on carpet so this makes shimming even harder. Any suggestions?

Thanks again,
Frank

 

[Midland]

You can fix this in 5 seconds

Get yourself a yard stick and a crow bar. Sounds scary eh? Put the crow bar under the sagging end of the tank STAND and lift a mere 1/4" or whatever it takes to place the yardstick under the bottom of the stand. Release and walla! I've done this several times myself and it works like a charm. Just go slowly

Hope that helps.

 

[fnj]

Midland, You've done this? Scary doesn't even start to describe how it sounds

This will raise the side of the stand but do I have to worry about supporting the length of the stand since the right side will be raised about 1/8". I was thinking about using shims on the front and back of the stand leading up to the right side that I am raising. Does this make sense, or am I just babbling?

[ August 28, 2001: Message edited by: fnj ]

 

[kaotica]

fnj- if the yard stick thing does not work, you can always just use the crowbar and vent your frustration on the tank

that way you'll solve the problem, however, you might have a very differnt kind of problem on your hands

 

[fnj]

kaotica, I tell you I felt like that last night after spending 16 hours on sunday moving the tank and about 4 hours last night finishing the plumbing to realize that the tank was not level. To say the least I was not happy.

 

[pathos]

bang several carpenter's shims under the low side with a hammer. then just break off the rest of the shim that is sticking out. If you do this in enough places the weight should get distributed evenly enough to be of no concern. Worked for me. HTH

 

[fnj]

pathos, The problem is the carpet, I'm sure the shims won't slide under too easily. I guess if the crowbar thing actually works without breaking the stand

I can lift it a little then tap the shims in.

 

[fnj]

Midland, you are my savior! The crowbar/yardstick method worked like a charm. Didn't have to empty anything out of the tank and I was able to do it in a few minutes without any help.

The tank is up and running perfectly now. Thanks everyone for your help.

Frank