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stephan 
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 Topic: Leveling a tank
Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:19pm |
Has anyone ever used leveling casters on a tank stand? You know the ones you can unscrew and compensate for unevenness in the floor.
On my current aquarium I had to use shims to level the stand because the floor is not perfectly level. I thought these levelers would work well, I was just worried about concentrating all the weight on the 4 corners.
Would you put 6 casters instead of 4? I'm thinking about a 65 gallon tank, but what about other sizes also.
Any thoughts, or experience with this?
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Stephan Lovstedt
Camarillo, CA
65 Gallon Glass
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Gahlenfr
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:28pm |
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The 4 corners carry the bulk of the weight anyways so that should not be an issue. I used regular non adjustable heavy duty castors on my thirty without any problems. You just need to choose a caster rated greater than the total weight of the system. For example a standard 65G tank weighs approx 540 pounds plus rocks plus sand. Lets say this is 750 lbs. 750/4 = 187.5 + 100(stand) = 287.5. I would choose a caster rated at 300lbs. It is probably overkill but you don't want caster failure. Hope this helps......
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:42pm |
Putting any caster on a tank that is on a wood floor is asking for trouble. (anything but concrete). How do you know what is a wood floor.Its anything but concrete. Caster rating aside. If its adjustable then you have an issue of having the weight compact the threaded portion into the stand causing an unstable situation. What is the weight of a 65g tank? Somewhere around 1000lbs. (total, rock,water sand, stand, hood etc) Spreading it over 4 casters would be 250lbs per caster. If it is on a linoleum floor or even carpet for that mater, will require a floor that will support about 125lbs per square inch. Ive seen a piece of furniture compress the standard osb flooring. I went to see a 210 that had adjustable feet. It had punched a hole through the flooring causing it to tilt and blow out the front panel. "ooops"
JUST MY OPINION. A 25/29g would be OK. 55 and up I wouldn't risk it. Another thing to consider. If the stand is a typical particle board construction. It will not stay together with casters on it. Too much weight bearing on the area that the caster is placed.
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stephan
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:43pm |
Okay, so if the floor isn't level and I use shims or something aren't I still concentrating the weight on that point where I shimmed it? I definitely don't want to dent the floor or have the stand fall apart from the bending stress. I just wanted to have an easy and stable way to level it if I need to.
Edited by stephan - October 18 2007 at 4:47pm
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Stephan Lovstedt
Camarillo, CA
65 Gallon Glass
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:45pm |
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Your hard wood floor wont be damaged with a good quality caster. But depending on the quality of your stand it might not survive.
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Gahlenfr
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:48pm |
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Great response Dion!
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stephan
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 4:53pm |
Yeah, this is great. So, any other leveling options or ideas?
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Stephan Lovstedt
Camarillo, CA
65 Gallon Glass
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Dion Richins
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 5:02pm |
I reread my own response  125lbs per square if on 2" round level feet. 250lbs per square if on casters.  .
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Gahlenfr
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 6:10pm |
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I did not mention that on my 30g stand I put in hard wood to attach the casters to and then mounted those to the bottom of the stand because it was just like Dion stated a particle board stand and I needed to strengthen it.
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fj40fax
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 8:32pm |
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I measured the slope of my floor and then built that slope into the
stand. It was really tricky, but I'm glad I did because it still
leans a little forward. If I hadn't it would have been unstable.
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Fax 318-3632
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Pleasant Grove, UT Across State Street from the Purple Turtle
Adjustments and Massages for Frags!
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Corey Price
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Posted: October 18 2007 at 9:31pm |
I agree with Dion- not a great idea to put heavy tank loads on four point-like supports on common residential wood subfloor.
I would say that if you were able to place the heavy point supports over floor joists, then you could possibly make it work, depending upon the joist and span, etc. Casters complicate the situation. A 29 to 50 gallon system seems like no sweat for casters you can buy at a hardware store, as long as you do it right and custom build or strengthen the stand for that purpose.
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LordMaximo
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Posted: November 29 2007 at 3:59pm |
I would reccommend building some sort of wide long shim to level that tank. I usually don't plan to move tanks once they are in place......only for drastic reasons would I move my tank...cause it is really a hated time consumer to do it. Hope you do get the warp drive fixed and your tank balanced out. Nothing like an old building.
Maximo
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Trigger Master
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soundsurfer
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Posted: February 26 2008 at 7:27pm |
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Any Recomendations on putting, a 210 gallon on linoleum on the bottom floor of an apartment complex??? The stand has held the tank before, but When i look at the wood, i probably wouldve made it stronger...Im a little worried.
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