Need Answer Please!HELP

[KathyC]

Sorry for the delay A...got hung up staring at the pretty stuff in Grisha's tank...

The floor of the stand rests directly on Awildas living room floor..don't know if the stand originally came like that, but it is how it is now, and we didn't do that when we switched over the tank.

When the switch over was done, I recall the guys doing a bunch of consulting and the decision was make to NOT try and shim the stand to level it because the gap way ran 1/4 to 1/2 inch and that was too much to shim. Perhaps one of the guys who was involved might chime in, but I almost recall that the stand was level to the floor since the stand had done some sagging itself.
The floor has a personality all it's own. And as Awilda pointed out the tank is perpendicular to the joists in the floor and the back of the tank is sitting along a main beam. I personally don't think the the floor will gain anymore personailty than it already has and I think the tank is fairly secure where it is without being drained & shimmed. I know that Chris (lois mustdie) is going over soon and I'm sure he'll take a look.

We also figured out where her microbubbles are coming from and the fix isn't difficult (small leak in the line where the bulkhead is between the sump & the valve for her return pump and there is a crimp in one of the return hoses that isn't helping the flow either). She doesn't have any micro-bubbles in the sump.

As far as her leak, it is definitely due to the filter sock being a tad too full and the water escaping the top rather than through the sides, and overflowing the top as it was leaning against the edge of the sump.
I just recently had the same issue myself..easy enough if you change the sock more often. We also discussed a way to keep the sock from leaning toward the edge of the sump, so it won't happen again.

I think the dear lady can sleep well tonight

and A..the tank looks stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!:lol_large

 

[fritz]

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps/ps_Vi...pplies_Filters_Sumps_Accessories~vendor~.html
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=16746&N=2004+2035

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks K, you can explain things so much better then I can. Perhaps now peeps understand. Between your explanation, and the pics I think things are pretty clear now.

Thank you for the links fritz. I had seen these, and discussed it with a friend as to whether it was worth it. My dear friend is making me one especially for my sump at half the price. I just have to wait a little.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I honestly don't know what to do (or what I am looking either I am carpentery stupid) but I hope you can correct it quickly and safely.

 

[Awibrandy]

It would be nice if one of the carpentars on the site would chime in.
I would be willing to pay them to come out, and take a look at the darn thing. At least to give advice as to what if anything to do next.

 

[jhale]

I am a "carpenter" I build furniture, cabinets, and do contracting work.

Like Fred said the stand should have been shimmed. There is never a gap that's too big to fill. I was not there at the set up so I'm not going to critizize what anybody did.

the photos help but don't show what can happen in the future. I agree with Kathy that the tank is not in imminent danger. If there is a fix needed it may be simple so don't stress too much over it till someone looks at it.
If Chris is coming over I'm sure he'll be able to figure out what, if anything, needs to be done.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you J.
Here is a little more info., not sure that it will help. My house is nearly 100 years old. No one is sure as to what may have caused it, Including the Inspector. We were told by the engineer that the house had a great deal of settling, could be done since it is about 100. Cause, well could be the fact that it's 2 blocks from the beach (sandy soil), or poor construction. But he never told us the one of the main support beams was cracked, and a joist had split. These issues were addressed by sistering them, and a lolly column placed under the main support beam.
In any case the house was sagging towards the center. It was raised slightly by a 1/4" with the lolly column but that's it. So my floors are no way near level, but at least they are no longer a down hill slope.LOL
I have no idea if I made any sense. Just rambling at this point. So much went wrong in 1 day.:sad2:
Really makes me want to throw in the towel. But to much invested.

 

[autoponicz]

no towel throwing ....hang in there....im sure there is help on the way and all your questions will be answered....

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks guys!:grouphug: I'll be waiting on my knight in shining armour.:cheekkiss

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

As for the filter sock issue, can you show me a pic of where the filter sock and water hose is, relatively to the water level in the sump.


I probably can make you a filter plate which will overflow to your sump if the micron pad is too clogged up. It will cost you a fish or so, OK? J/K only. Is your sump, acrylics or glass?

I am not at my client's place or else I can show you how the devise work. Hm, let see if I can clip a portion of my schmatics to show you.

 

[Awibrandy]

Wingo, I'm working on the pic. Should be coming up momentarily.:flower:

 

[kimoyo]

The support beam is wet, I imagine so are the joist. The ceiling under the stand has sheet rock, which is soaked and falling, so is the sheet rock on the wall in the basement. My hardwood floor under the tank is bowing, and you can see the salt creeping out of it.

It could just be me, but I would forget the tank and worry about the floor first. I know J said the joist would be fine but this would be worrying me until someone looked at it.

Like others said, if the frame is fully on the floor then I wouldn't worry too much about the stand floor coming apart because the tank is supported by the frame. But make sure the tank is fully supported by the stand still and there aren't any gaps under there. If there are gaps between the tank and the stand frame I'd be taking that water out with the quickness.

When I had my 120, I put 3/4 plywood down first then the stand. I had a metal stand with 6 legs so I used the plywood to disperse the weight on the floor and then I shimmed the legs. But if I didn't have the legs and the stand rested on the floor like yours I would have shimmed the plywood (my tank was 2' deep so I only would shim the perimeter of the plywood) and then shimmed the stand if it wasn't level also.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you for your response Kimoyo. The main support beam the back of the tank is resting on I'm pretty sure is going no where. That thing is at the very least 12" W & 2" thick. I am worried about the joists, and I'd like very much to put a nice thick 1/2" piece of plywood along with three lolly columns under the tank in the basement. Trust me if I had the tools to cut & jack up lolly columns I would have done it by now.
But not having those accomadations, and not hearing from my friend that has always done these things for me has left me no option but to worry until I figuere away.
But now

 

[Awibrandy]

Here are the pics you asked for Wingo. As you can see, I took some wire and strapped it to the underside of the tank, now I can keep the sock away from the sides of the sump. Thank you Kathy for the idea:wink1:.

 

[fritz]

Offtopic tip!
You can daisy chain those two phosban reactors so that they are run off of one pump. Place the out of reactor on the right into the in of the reactor on the left. You want the phosban to be the last reactor (assuming the other has carbon) because phosban needs less flow.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thanks fritz, it's a thought but I like them as they are. Their pumps are tiny.

 

[michaelm2431]

Well for future reference and the benefit of those reading, you always want your tank on a level surface. Most floors unfortunately are not, so what you have to do is create a level surface on that uneven surface. This is done by placing shims often halfway around the bottom of the stand. For example if the back right corner is half an inch low, you would shim the entire right side and most likely half of the back of the stand. The corner obviously would get half an inch, slowly decreasing to nothing as you move away from the low spot.

Well said, take it from a 30 year in business home builder and reef keeper. Parquet flooring will show water damage more than reg. hardwood flooring will. The damage looks more aesthetic then the actual damage is.
When you take the sheetrock down in the basement, I would check where the subfloor (plywood) sits on the floor joists and see if that buckled.
For now, I would shim whatever you can on the stand to keep it from getting worse. Wish I was closer, I would have ran over right away to ease your mind a little. Hang in there.

 

[PalmTree]

The pic actually doesn't look too bad awilda. I've spilled plenty of water on my wood floors and I have to say they're pretty tough!

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you Allan! I think I have the water spillage under better control now.