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Northernblades
10-31-2005, 07:43 AM
I am new to the forum, and have quite a story behind this project, and my long string of bad luck.

So here we go.
I had decided I wanted to have an aquarium in the new house, I had one when living with my parents (48 gallon) and planned on going a little bigger. Once I got settled into the new house I started looking at aquariums, and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Well short story long, I found a used one nearly perfect 77 gallons, drilled, prebuilt overflow, stand, and sump, at what to me was a great price. IT LEAKS, the overflow is too high, the water level stays to high, and it leaks under the black trim. Time to learn from my mistakes, I went to the pet store (big al's and bought a perfecto, with the back drilled, with overflow. Yet again, I got greedy, and decided to build a DIY stand.

The stand is now finished, looks good (I will have to figure out how to post pictures later, and low and behold, somehow, it is wopsided. (The center of the stand is nearly 1/8th inch low.
Yes LOW, the stand is bowed, I used 1/4's on edge, around the inside perimeter, all maple, and it is bowed. (I was nearly in tears, but thankfully I checked everything before putting water in it.

I was wondering, how do I go about filling this gap? I realize a small gap can be filled with foam (as I have done on all previous tanks, but 1/8th inch seems to be asking a lot. I had screw ball Ideas, of placing sand under the foam, as it self flattens (too much time landscaping). But just thought I would come looking for help.

This project is now 2 months in the works, the old tank sump and stand is still set up, still drippings away onto a towel, (about 1 cup/day. And the new tank and stand are finally in the house, and I can't use it. Please help.

I was just pondering, and could I use paper shims under the tank itself? then used the foam to tel with mionor indescresions?

This was the fastest easiest simplest way I could find to post pictures

http://mee2.tripod.com/fish/
One picture of the setup, and a few of the new screwed up one

OwassoFish
10-31-2005, 10:20 AM
1st thing that comes to my mind is shims. Can you shim it across the middle where it's sagging? And what is the length of the tank? Did you say you used 1 by 4's? I'm not sure that's sturdy enough for anything bigger than a 29! I used doubled up 2 by 4's for my 55g stand at 48" length.

You could also insert a center post in the middle where it's sagging. Just cut it long enough to push up and eliminate the sag.

Here's the link to my DIY stand if you're interested.
OwassoFish DIY 55/29 stand (http://members.cox.net/k5ttt/aquaria/stand.htm)

A level can come in handy when you're building something like this. You can ensure it's level from side to side and no sags in the middle.

Good Luck!

Northernblades
10-31-2005, 10:45 AM
Yeh I saw a few DIY's that had used 4x4, or multiple 2x4's but nothing in the pet shop is like that, nothing for sale is like that, nothing I have ever seen is like that, non of the perfecto, AGA, or oceanic is built that heavy. Sometimes safer is better than sorry, but I figure each side wall is ¾ inch, and the corners are 1.5 inch thick. I would hope that is enough, with a solid back on it, and a support that will be going in the front center. after the sump is in


http://mee2.tripod.com/fish/

OwassoFish
10-31-2005, 11:13 AM
Nice job! Looks great. Yep, a center support in the front should resolve your problem. Shimming it alone would only make it bow further. Are you going to add doors to the open bottom area?

Northernblades
10-31-2005, 11:18 AM
Thank you.

The center support will not make a lot of difference right now, other than structure, I honestly believe that the stand isn’t going anywhere, the bow in the stand right now is with no weight on it (just from the gluing and clamping. and mistakes I guess. the center support is just paranoia, and I think it should be there, I will just bolt/glue it in, after the sump is in.

I also have high hopes in regards to having the rear drilled, every tank I have ever had, has had the bottom drilled, bio ball tower, and sump. It was recommended to drill the back, (so the overflow could be made smaller, and... More fancy, I just hope it isn’t too noisy. (Again something I have not even had the chance to check yet.

and doors are in the works, one piece at a time :P

http://mee2.tripod.com/fish

Ray
02-04-2006, 12:41 PM
in the stands I have built I have always had to plane the boards I bought due to crowning or bowing due to warp. planing puts the edges straight. so that when you build it keeps the lines straight. could that be something to correct it? using a planer to level the difference?

Northernblades
02-04-2006, 04:00 PM
the problem was actualy the tank itself
when placed on any flor the bow coudl be seen.

regardless, it is up and filled and pink foam under it, no problems