Is my tank leveled enough?

[Karen B.]

I have a new aquarium - 30 gallons (36’’ x 12’’ x 16’’)

I can’t for the life of me get it perfectly leveled.

Here is the setup. The stand is an industrial one, each shelf can support 2000+ lbs. the top shelf was a tiny bit too short so I bought a pine plank, cut it and placed it on top of the other. I wrapped them both in water protective plastic/leather drawer film.

 

Problem # 1 : the stupid shape of the leg. In a L shape, rather narrow. I feel it would go through most soft padding I use. And putting it straight on the hardwood floor would damage it.

Here is the solution my landlord said to use. But I am a bit skeptical as the legs already started denting a bit of the caoutchouc.

Here are the two products 

The stand legs are all firmly sitting on the floor. The stand do not move from left to right but does wiggle front to back (the legs aren’t moving, I think it’s because of the hight of the stand that it wobble if I shake it. But not to the point of tipping over.

I have been trying to level it, hoping it would someone self level with the caoutchouc padding but… not really.

Here are the closest I have been able to get : Front/back

And the sides :

 

Overall there is a gap of less then 5 millimeters from one side to the other

 

Should I keep trying to get better result and hit perfectly at the center?

Should I use something else for the leg? A piece of wood maybe? Or metal covered so it doesn’t rust?

or is this fine snd I am over stressing/analyzing and being parano?

Thank you everyone! Hoping to hear your opinion and advice and sorta hoping @Cory answers too! 

[BuzzDaddy21]

This might sound dumb but are the legs the same length, also is the floor level. If I was going to use something like that, I would take it apart and have someone weld some plates on the bottom legs maybe 4–5-inch square, that might help distribute the weight better. 

I got some metal stands from Petco, and they had adjustable feet, still was a pain to level, I also used foam under the tank because the top of the stand was not level, a wood stand might have been easier. I got my stands as level as possible and I`m not sure if the level was a little off would that hurt anything. 😕 

[Tanked]

A perfectly level aquarium is great if you can do it, but not necessary.  For now, I would leave well enough alone.  The water is always level.  My only concern is that over time the L shaped legs will cut into the 3" caoutchouc pads .  Depending on quality, that could take years.  A thin piece of metal between the leg and the pad could solve that. 

 

[Andy's Fish Den]

On 4/25/2022 at 9:02 AM, BuzzDaddy21 said:

This might sound dumb but are the legs the same length, also is the floor level. If I was going to use something like that, I would take it apart and have someone weld some plates on the bottom legs maybe 4–5-inch square, that might help distribute the weight better. 

 

Even if you don't know anybody that can weld a plate on the bottom of the legs, you can buy a pice of 1/8" steel at Home Depot and cut some squares to set the legs on. I am afraid that with the weight of the water it will go through those pad things you have. 

As for being level enough, I have set up tanks that are not perfectly level and not had issues. If you have a 4 foot level use that instead of the small torpedo level, the longer one will give you how level it is across the whole tank. Also, check your floor when the tank is going to sit. There is a good chance that the floor is slightly off and that will translate through the stand and tank then. Whatever you do, don't level the tank, level the stand and make sure that the tank is sitting good in all four corners on the stand. If you still are feeling not 100% about it, go to Wal-Mart and buy a cheap yoga mat that will fit under the tank and put it down on the stand then set the tank on top of the yoga mat. The mat will help even it out.

[Wrencher_Scott]

YES!   THIS  above ^^^^^

 

[nabokovfan87]

I know there is a video where it was fully discussed on one of the vlogs, Corvus and Cory were talking about a stand or answering a question from a viewer about setting up a tank stand.  I'll keep an eye out and try to find it. That being said..... this is the story a lot of us know, for those who don't it's worth watching the entire video.  I started it at the point that's relevant.
 

 

[Widgets]

On 4/25/2022 at 4:12 AM, Karen B. said:

Here is the solution my landlord said to use. But I am a bit skeptical as the legs already started denting a bit of the caoutchouc.

I picked up four free laminate floor color samples. You can pick ones that match your floor. The ones I have are 4" square with a rubber backing attached. I set them backing down on top of the wood floor, then set the legs of the stand on the laminate samples. It has been up for a year with no noticeable change to the laminate samples, but my stand has round feet on the legs.

[nabokovfan87]

You can use something like this on the end of the stand legs. It will give it some grip and stop some of the flex. They make them longer (more of the leg is covered in plastic).  Fixing that would help to limit some of the flex. You can also potentially add a cross bar from one leg to the other using the existing holes and stop the legs from flexing apart. Having what amounts to the shelving arms as close to the floor is best case scenario as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Prescott-Plastics-10-Pack-Plastic/dp/B07L4XVBM5/ref=asc_df_B07L4XVBM5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385196843500&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7406686734533246277&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031416&hvtargid=pla-825310189133&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=82240530601&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385196843500&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7406686734533246277&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031416&hvtargid=pla-825310189133#

Edited April 26, 2022 by nabokovfan87