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HELP! Is my 220 level enough?!?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by erayk1, Jan 23, 2011.

  1. Jan 23, 2011 #1
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    So I have 5 other reef tanks and I just finished filling my 220 g with freshwater to find that one side is lower than the other.  I have measured from the floor to the top of the tank on all four corners and it is all the same measurement.  The only thing I can think of is that the floor is a touch bit lower on the front left corner?  I have about a 1/4 inch water level difference from left to right ( left side being the higher of the two).  Is this a big problem? Do I need to drain it, I'm kind of freaking out...
    I have pictures of a level on both top rails of that corner to show the level they are pictured below.  Any help or advice would be appreciated so don't drain the tank and I didn't need to or vice versa...  [​IMG]" src="%3Ca%20href=%22http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/?action=view&current=Lookingfromthefrontlefttobackleftfullview.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/Lookingfromthefrontlefttobackleftfullview.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E">
    View from the front left of the tank (close up of level )
    [​IMG]" src="%3Ca%20href=%22http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/?action=view&current=Lookingfromthefrontlefttobackleft.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/Lookingfromthefrontlefttobackleft.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E">
    View from the left side of the tank ( full shot )
    [​IMG]" src="%3Ca%20href=%22http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/?action=view&current=lookingfromleftsideoftanktotherightfullview.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/lookingfromleftsideoftanktotherightfullview.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E">
    View from the left side of the tank (close up of level )
    [​IMG]" src="%3Ca%20href=%22http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/?action=view&current=lookingfromleftsideoftanktotheright.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/lookingfromleftsideoftanktotheright.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E">
    Please help!    /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/doze.gif
    ~ Elliot
     
  2. Jan 23, 2011 #2
    FishBrain New London

    FishBrain Expert Reefkeeper

    3,963
    New London
    Ratings:
    +399 / 6 / -0
    If it were me I would let it ride. But I'm crazy so you might want to get a different opinion lol.
     
  3. Jan 23, 2011 #3
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    Great...thanks bill... lol but seriously! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/wink.gif
     
  4. Jan 23, 2011 #4
    FishBrain New London

    FishBrain Expert Reefkeeper

    3,963
    New London
    Ratings:
    +399 / 6 / -0
    Well at least it's leaning towards the wall and not the other way around. I had a 125 that was much worse set up for about 2 years with no problem. Is that RO water or just tap? If it's tap I would say drain it for sure and fix the problem so it dosen't drive you nuts knowing it's like that.
     
  5. Jan 23, 2011 #5
    saltwaternewbee

    saltwaternewbee Inactive User

    1,167
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    I had the same problem...a couple members told me to put styrofoam under the tank..fill it and it should take care of the difference.
     
  6. Jan 23, 2011 #6
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    so drain it? And put the styrofoam under the tank or stand?
     
  7. Jan 23, 2011 #7
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    I just noticed something else on that same corner... it didn't notice it
    before water in the tank ( not sure if I would have ), but there looks
    to be stress marks on the seal.  See pic.  Or am I making things up?
    [​IMG]" src="%3Ca%20href=%22http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/?action=view&current=IMAG0334.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/IMAG0334.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E">
    [​IMG]" src="%3Ca%20href=%22http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/?action=view&current=IMAG0337.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t312/erayk1/IMAG0337.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E">
    Is this a stress induced thing?
     
  8. Jan 23, 2011 #8
    Big D Center Point

    Big D Well-Known ReefKeeper

    889
    Center Point
    Ratings:
    +3 / 0 / -0
    put styrofoam under the tank..fill it and it should take care of the difference , i due that with all my tanks but mine in back of a wall /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/sad.gif....
     
  9. Jan 24, 2011 #9
    Big John

    Big John Inactive User

    966
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    If you can drain it, I would---Then try and level out your stand, after doing that, I would add styrofoam under your tank between the tank and the stand, it may also be beneficial to "OVER" level the stand, if you know what I mean, on the area's where it is low, raise it a little past level, then after adding the 1800+ pounds of water hopefully it will level its self out.

    Good luck, hope this works!
    John
     
  10. Jan 24, 2011 #10
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    Should I put an entire sheet of foam under the tank or just strips? Also how thick of foam? Thanks for the help guys. By the way, perfecto said they have never had a seam fail because of those marks...apparently it happens more often than not.
     
  11. Jan 24, 2011 #11
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    Alright, now some are saying Styrofoam is only for rimless tanks, would I run into a problem since it has a rim? Anyone? /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
     
  12. Jan 24, 2011 #12
    Foo

    Foo Well-Known ReefKeeper

    524
    Ratings:
    +4 / 0 / -0
    I just use some of this on top of my stand. Found at Menards ect
     http://www.wjdennis-rcr.com/Products/Weatherstripping/FoamTapes.aspx
     
  13. Jan 24, 2011 #13
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    Which one of those on there did you use Foo?
     
  14. Jan 24, 2011 #14
    glaspie69

    glaspie69 Experienced Reefkeeper

    1,792
    Ratings:
    +41 / 2 / -0
    if it were me....id be trying to level a 6' tank with something larger than a 6 inch square....please dont take that as a smartass comment but more of a better means of accuracy, if your off an 8th of a bubble in 6 inches you could be looking at upwards of a half an inch by the time you get to the other end
     
  15. Jan 24, 2011 #15
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    So a longer level? I'm a novice when it comes to building stands and this large of a setup so I will take any advice I can get, I want to make sure it is done right...
     
  16. Jan 25, 2011 #16
    stew Ankeny, IA

    stew Well-Known ReefKeeper GIRS Member

    520
    Ankeny, IA
    Ratings:
    +72 / 0 / -0
    +1.  An easy way to check is to take out enough water so you can see the waterline.  Then just measure from the top of the tank down on both corners and find out how far out of level it is.  Plus that type of level assumes the rim is square.
     
  17. Jan 25, 2011 #17
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    So I got a new level ( 4 ft ), 1 inch foam sheet, and some shims. I measured everything. My stand is square, the tank is square, but the floor is not level. I can see where it is higher next to the wall and where there are floor supports. Now where to start...
     

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