Is this the correct way to use shims to level a stand?

[ArashS1347]

Hello Everyone,

I live in an apartment with a badly unleveled carpet floor, which is an inch off from every side to the center. Based on advice from friends in this forum in another post, I bought and placed a 1-inch plywood board under the stand. I had to use 4 shims starting from the right side, continuing till 2 shims on the left side, and 2 on the back right. Now, the tank is leveled and the stand doesn't move at all when pushed. Since this is my first time doing such thing, I have some questions and would appreciate your advice.

1. The stand measures 24x14 inches (tank is 20 gallon same size as the stand), and the plywood is 36x24 inches. As the plywood is larger than the stand and the stand sits in the middle of it, is there a risk that the middle of the plywood could break since it doesn't have support as all the shims are on the corners? (I can't see under the stand as its on the carpet).
2. Based on the images, does this appear to be the correct way to level the tank? I tried to add shims every few inches along the front.

Thank you very much

 

[BeanAnimal]

The plywood is going to sag because it is only supported on the edges. Trim it to the same size as the stand.

Shims on carpet are going to be tough to deal with. Place the shims between the supporting edges of the stand and the plywood or add leveling legs. 20 Gallons is not that large, so light duty levelers from the. If box store will work.

 

[Jeremy_d]

I know you already have the stand and all, but I’ve always found it much more secure on carpet to use a much wider stand/dresser/table/whatever than the tank itself as carpet sags and sinks. From the looks of it that stand has feet, you should be able to remove those and have just the stand itself on the carpet without the need for the plywood.

 

[ArashS1347]

The plywood is going to sag because it is only supported on the edges. Trim it to the same size as the stand.

Shims on carpet are going to be tough to deal with. Place the shims between the supporting edges of the stand and the plywood or add leveling legs. 20 Gallons is not that large, so light duty levelers from the. If box store will work.

Yes, that's what I'm afraid of.

If I put the shims between the stand and plywood, does the plywood need to be cut? I ask because, in this way, the bottom of the plywood will sit on the floor.


Thank you very much

 

[ArashS1347]

I know you already have the stand and all, but I’ve always found it much more secure on carpet to use a much wider stand/dresser/table/whatever than the tank itself as carpet sags and sinks. From the looks of it that stand has feet, you should be able to remove those and have just the stand itself on the carpet without the need for the plywood.

I understood what you just said about using a bigger one once I put the aquarium on it! It's pretty on the pictures but scary in action! You're absolutely right! just I can't send it back anymore

I tried to level the stand directly on the carpet. While I was able to level it, it would move backward with a slight push. I wasn't able to secure it to prevent movement, which is why I decided to add plywood.

Thank you very much.

 

[Jeremy_d]

I understood what you just said about using a bigger one once I put the aquarium on it! It's pretty on the pictures but scary in action! You're absolutely right! just I can't send it back anymore

I tried to level the stand directly on the carpet. While I was able to level it, it would move backward with a slight push. I wasn't able to secure it to prevent movement, which is why I decided to add plywood.

Thank you very much.

Might have to put it on a hard surface and not where you originally intended. Which probably sucks but for the peace of mind for having it level and not shaky, that’s a worthy change.

 

[KrisReef]

I would start over.
The plywood (oversized) is fine but I would kick the edges when I was looking at the tank and it would bother my feet, but it is fine. It might be easier to level the stand with the extra wood sticking out.

SO, pull all those shims,
Fill the tank, at least 1/3 of the way with tap water.
Then, shim between the stand and the wood.

You should have a level sitting on top of the tank to check that the top is level in all directions.

Once you have it level, if you want to check the situation fill the tank completely and see if it goes out of level. A little movement is expected but hopefully it will remain level once it is full.

If it is moving a lot, I would not put the tank in that spot. Something under the carpet is messing with leveling if things are moving, maybe a nail strip or floor joint or?

 

[ArashS1347]

Might have to put it on a hard surface and not where you originally intended. Which probably sucks but for the peace of mind for having it level and not shaky, that’s a worthy change.

That's right, but unfortunately the whole apartment is carpet, the only place with hard floor is the kitchen which is very small.

Thank you very much

 

[ArashS1347]

I would start over.
The plywood (oversized) is fine but I would kick the edges when I was looking at the tank and it would bother my feet, but it is fine. It might be easier to level the stand with the extra wood sticking out.

SO, pull all those shims,
Fill the tank, at least 1/3 of the way with tap water.
Then, shim between the stand and the wood.

You should have a level sitting on top of the tank to check that the top is level in all directions.

Once you have it level, if you want to check the situation fill the tank completely and see if it goes out of level. A little movement is expected but hopefully it will remain level once it is full.

If it is moving a lot, I would not put the tank in that spot. Something under the carpet is messing with leveling if things are moving, maybe a nail strip or floor joint or?

I will change it and use the shims between the stand and plywood.

I didn't find anything unusual under the carpet, the movement came from the floor, it's badly unleveled.

I will try your solution to see how it goes.

Thank you very much

 

[ArashS1347]

I would start over.
The plywood (oversized) is fine but I would kick the edges when I was looking at the tank and it would bother my feet, but it is fine. It might be easier to level the stand with the extra wood sticking out.

SO, pull all those shims,
Fill the tank, at least 1/3 of the way with tap water.
Then, shim between the stand and the wood.

You should have a level sitting on top of the tank to check that the top is level in all directions.

Once you have it level, if you want to check the situation fill the tank completely and see if it goes out of level. A little movement is expected but hopefully it will remain level once it is full.

If it is moving a lot, I would not put the tank in that spot. Something under the carpet is messing with leveling if things are moving, maybe a nail strip or floor joint or?

It worked with just 4 shims!

I used 2 on the front right, 1 on the front left, and a tiny bit of a shim on the back right.

Stand doesn't move at all when I push it. I just have one question: Since the shims are raising the bottom of the stand on the corners, I noticed that the middle section of the stand between the left and right shims is not touching the plywood. This seems normal as the shims are lifting the edges. Does this middle part need additional support with extra shims, or will the edges be sufficient to handle the weight?

Thank you very much

 

[KrisReef]

I wouldn't shim anything except the feet. Keep it simple.

 

[GlassMunky]

Personally I wouldn’t use that big piece of plywood on the floor.
It’s just gonna trap any spilled water between the plywood and the carpet and cause issues

 

[BeanAnimal]

Also when you step on the wood, the tank is going to move. Cut that plywood down to the size of the tank.

 

[Reefering1]

It's only a 20g tank so it likely doesn't matter, except for appearances, but that sure looks like a lot of shims required to make it sit level. I would pull the carpet back and pour a bucket of self leveling concrete where the tank will be and let it flow from there, leveling the floor itself and skip the wood

 

[Reefering1]

Are you sure the stand itself is square?

 

[benbalter]

Hello Everyone,

I live in an apartment with a badly unleveled carpet floor, which is an inch off from every side to the center. Based on advice from friends in this forum in another post, I bought and placed a 1-inch plywood board under the stand. I had to use 4 shims starting from the right side, continuing till 2 shims on the left side, and 2 on the back right. Now, the tank is leveled and the stand doesn't move at all when pushed. Since this is my first time doing such thing, I have some questions and would appreciate your advice.

1. The stand measures 24x14 inches (tank is 20 gallon same size as the stand), and the plywood is 36x24 inches. As the plywood is larger than the stand and the stand sits in the middle of it, is there a risk that the middle of the plywood could break since it doesn't have support as all the shims are on the corners? (I can't see under the stand as its on the carpet).
2. Based on the images, does this appear to be the correct way to level the tank? I tried to add shims every few inches along the front.

Thank you very much

Um no I would shim the cabinet not the plywood. Your first thoungh was right the plywood will bow over time with no support. But hey it looks

 

[Jeremy_d]

Is it viable to eat the cost of the stand, or maybe list it for sale, and get a wider piece of furniture for it to sit on?

Here is my 20 gallon system, Its on carpet on a dresser that houses extra equipment and one of the cabinets I put a little fridge in to hold the cold storage foods and additives. And the other side houses my ATO tank.

I had no issues getting it level and no issues at all with leaning or moving, and it being 20 gallons, I’m still able to move the whole thing if I drop something behind the tank.

Granted I have more room to do that, but like I mentioned before. The peace of mind knowing it’s not moving on its own is very nice.

 

[ArashS1347]

Personally I wouldn’t use that big piece of plywood on the floor.
It’s just gonna trap any spilled water between the plywood and the carpet and cause issues

It is sealed, I also use a big towel on it for water change etc. It really helps to level the stand.

Thank you

 

[ArashS1347]

I wouldn't shim anything except the feet. Keep it simple.

Got it.

Thank you very much

 

[ArashS1347]

It's only a 20g tank so it likely doesn't matter, except for appearances, but that sure looks like a lot of shims required to make it sit level. I would pull the carpet back and pour a bucket of self leveling concrete where the tank will be and let it flow from there, leveling the floor itself and skip the wood

yeah it's not a big tank. I don't own the place, so I have to deal with the carpet as it is.
I changed the shims and put them between the stand and the wood, overall 7 shims this time. Tank is full now and everything looks leveled and fine (Knock on the wood lol)

Thank you very much for the suggestions