Bowfront pressure crack / failure

[itz216]

I just completed a tank upgrade 55 to 72 bowfront. Because I'm on the second floor of an old house I engineered and over-built a DIY stand to send the weight down the wall to the basement.

My question is: the tank is out of level by a little under 1/4 inch front to back ( tipped forward). I didn't think it was a big deal until I read a story about a pressure crack/failure on a bowfront that was tipping forward!

Anybody have advise or experience?

http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49789&stc=1&d=1250088720

 

[MikeG]

Shim the stand?

 

[B.rian]

Shim the stand?

i agree. just go to home depot and get a pack of shims, and that should set everything straight. i like to use the composite shims more than the wood shims (if they are available). the composite shims have a plastic/waxy feel to them and won't absorb water like the wood ones.

 

[Greg Hiller]

I find it hard to believe that 1/4" is going to make any difference.

 

[B.rian]

i don't 1/4" is a big deal either, unless you have a huge tank, but $1.50 for peace of mind is well worth it.

 

[IPWitan]

no comment, other than the tank looks nice. I like how you have that big bass (or whatever it is) overhead to scare the jumpers into staying put.

 

[Jim Tansey]

I like the Niger it's a very cool fish, I had one in a full reef and never a problem.

Jim

 

[CaptainHook210]

Looks like from your pic that the tank is setting on a piece of foam

If it is a 1/4 inch out of level , it will have more weight on the low side & crush the foam more So it will get more out of level

You should shim the level to keep this from happening

 

[itz216]

shim

Peace of mind is priceless. I've decided to drain the tank of water and rock and life ...and level it. You'd have to see the construction to understand what a PITA it is going to be. Think ...marine grade construction adhesive on EVERYTHING!!!

"I like how you have that big bass (or whatever it is) overhead to scare the jumpers into staying put. "
BARRACUDA : )

Niger Trigger was a "stray adoption". He's got 1 eye - so he's a bit less aggressive ( unless you're an expensive shrimp).

Yes, 1/4" foam is showing signs of increasing the "tip" : (

Thx for all the responses.

 

[B.rian]

you don't need to drain it to shim it. just tap in the shim with a hammer until it's level. i have done that several times.

 

[JayM]

^ I leveled my 92 the exact same way....worked like a charm....

 

[snowmaker]

I just leveled my frag farm stand 1/4" from front - used a scrap strip of 1/4" plywood and shimmed entire front.

 

[MikeG]

I've never drained a tank to shim it either. I find it easier with the weight in the tank to know it is actually level.

 

[emabie]

I had a 72 bow that had a bit more than 1/4 lean towards the front. I never bothered to fix it and it was up for several years with no issues.

 

[deynon09]

Nice construction on the stand though. It looks really solid!

 

[itz216]

shimming

I wish it were as simple as just shimming the front of the tank : (

The design sends a pair of 2x8 "horns" through the wall that attach to a second 2x4 wall behind the livingroom wall. Because the house is old ( 225 yrs) and sooo out of level ( read 2.5" over 10') I chose to over-build the stand and completely avoid weight on the floor. 90% of the weight actually transfers back to the wall and down 2 floors to the foundation.

I think I'm going to remove the water, fish and rock and level it with the tank in position and weight of the sand.

Overflow/sump/refugium set up was developed using BRS members input. A pair of 1.5" drains and a 3/4" return. Thx to all who contributed. Because I'm on the 2nd Flr, I have made every attempt to minimize the chance of water escaping.

Thx for everybody's thoughts ...

 

[RiverReefer]

my 46 bow is unlevel toward the front about 3/14 of an inch...been that way for a year...had avalanches of rocks hit the front glass...i cut out my center brace and replaced it with coated cable, never had any problem with the glass..i wouldnt worry about it too much in the future...just don't go tapping on the front with a diamond.

 

[Jennifer]

The biggest thing is to make sure that both sides lean the same amount.
If one side leans forward 1/4 and the other leans forward either 1/2 , 3/4 or non at all, thats where you can run into trouble down the road.
It would cause the tank to be racked to one side, causing uneven pressure on one of
the seams. This is the main cause of failure/ blowout.
Having the foam sheet under the edges of the tank helps to balance and distribute the uneven load.

 

[itz216]

Level and Planar

Thx to all for thoughts/opinions/responses.

6 hours later ...tank is now absolutely level and planar.

Now I can sleep at night

 

[willray]

"Now I can sleep at night" And
look at for yrs,1000's of times without saying "I should have leveled it when I had the chance."