Straightening out a tank

[TheDudeAbides]

I have a 20 gallon high tank that I’ve had for about a year and a half. I just moved and bought a new stand to put it on. Didn’t realize until after filling it and re-homing my fish that it is leaning backwards. I can see from the water line alone that it’s off by at least a 1/4 inch. I know that this will put uneven stress on the back seams and that over time this can cause leaks or cracks. That being said, is there any way I can safely shim up the back of the stand without having to empty this whole tank and stress these fish again by removing them all to do so? It is a handmade, wood stand which seems to be made for a 20 g long tank or maybe even a 30 g tank. It sits on carpet as well.

 

[Aiken Drum]

I wouldn't try and shim the stand with a filled aquarium sat on it. You might try removing 3/4 of the water and seeing if thats easier. I've moved a 3/4 filled 15g aquarium across the room with the fish intact before no problems.

Just a common issue with carpets. Are you sure the stand isnt sat on a carpet gripper rod and moving it an inch or 2 might level it up?

 

[Andy Sager]

I have a 20 gallon high tank that I’ve had for about a year and a half. I just moved and bought a new stand to put it on. Didn’t realize until after filling it and re-homing my fish that it is leaning backwards. I can see from the water line alone that it’s off by at least a 1/4 inch. I know that this will put uneven stress on the back seams and that over time this can cause leaks or cracks. That being said, is there any way I can safely shim up the back of the stand without having to empty this whole tank and stress these fish again by removing them all to do so? It is a handmade, wood stand which seems to be made for a 20 g long tank or maybe even a 30 g tank. It sits on carpet as well.

To add to Aiken's suggestions, there is no stress on the tank if the tank is sitting flat on the stand even if the stand is not sitting flat on the floor. It's when the tank isn't flat on the stand that it stresses the seams.
I will make this suggestion for the carpeting, get yourself a piece of plywood big enough for the stand to sit on the wood and that will usually help level the stand on carpeting. Definitely make sure there is nothing sitting under the carpet because if there is, even wood alone won't solve that.

 

[TheDudeAbides]

Ok. So even though the tank is tilted backwards a bit, it’s not really in any danger of uneven pressure towards one side? I do have the tank sitting on a couple of pieces of thin yoga mat between the top of the stand. Always did. I guess it’s more of an aesthetic thing for me, because I have a bit of OCD and every time I walk by the tank I see that uneven water surface line and it drives me crazy lol… I do have access to some 4”x4” steel shims of a few different thicknesses. I was thinking of one day possibly taking 1/2 to 3/4 of the water out during a water change and trying to shim up the back corners (or wherever it needs it, using a level) and then putting back some of that old water so as not to change too much at once of course. It’s a lot of work though, and if you both think it doesn’t pose a threat to the integrity of the glass, maybe I can learn to just live with it.

 

[Andy Sager]

Yeah, it's a little unsettling to constantly see the tank slanted but as I said, as long as the tank is flat on the stand, that's what's important. I usually use styrofoam for it to absorb any pressures but the yoga mats are serving the same purpose.
There's no real problem with what you described doing. Do it on a water change day so you can remove the " normal" amount of water and discard it then take more water out and save it in your bucket(s) , shim the stand then return the water back into the tank then continue filling with the new water you were going to add anyway.

Funny story, I used to service a tank in a building in downtown Miami and the building was on a floating base. The office was on the 35th floor. It was that way because it allowed the building to sway in strong storms. So sometimes I'd go for the service and the water level would be heavy to the left. Other times heavy to the right. I had to be very careful not to overfill the tank so that it wouldn't spill over. LOL So I get your frustration.