Tank levelness

Question
QUESTION: Hi Richard,

I asked you some advice about getting a tank a month or so ago, and I ended up getting a 50 gallon tank.  Anyways, I know how important it is to get the tank level, and have my stand properly levelled.  However, when I place the tank on it, I notice a real slight gap between the tank and the stand along the front and rear spans near the middle.  We are talking a very small gap that I can just slide a business card under, but it is still unsupported in that area.  It covers about a foot or so near the middle of the 36" span on both the front and rear.  All four corners and both the left and right side are completely touching the stand.  The tank sits on there even though, no bounce or anything.  Just to make sure that the top of the stand was even, I also placed this tank on a granite countertop because I know that would be even, and I got the same small gaps.  I tried to look aroud the web for info on this, and I found a variety of responses varying from "it needs to touch at all points" and some saying "it just needs to be supported at the four corners".  It makes sense to me that the plastic frame of the tank will support and distribute the weight, but I just want piece of mind first to make sure this is ok.  I have it placed on a real thin piece of foam shelf liner too just because it seemed better than placing it directly on the plywood for some reason.  Please let me know if this is ok.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Hiya Dan

I absolutely remember you. Take a tape measure and measure the tank both from the ends where it sits level to the top of the tank, and from the center where you see the gaps to the top of the tank. If it is exactly the same, there is a problem with the stand and your countertop. And granite countertops are not always level, most of them slant from the back to the front. If it varies even the slightest bit, the tank is unlevel and should be replaced. If this were a 10 or 20 gallon we were talking about, it might be ok. Every inch of a large tank needs to make contact with the stand, or it could break with the weight of the water and gravel. An unlevel tank filled with water, gravel etc can crack and/or develop leaks. And I wouldn't use any fillers in the gaps, they aren't sturdy and will give a little regardless of how tight they seem, not to mention they will make your tank look bad.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Richard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Richard.  I measured like you said, and they are even, but since the gap was only the width of paper, that is going to be impossible to see that small of a distance when I measure!  So I don't really know what to do here.  As far as levelness though, it is level.  I filled it up to see what it would do with the weight, and I figured that the weight would push down on the middle to make it touch, but it didn't.  I am thinking with the water in there, there is actually more pressure pushing out on to the sides of the glass rather than downward.  Maybe I will call Aqueon tomorrow and see what they say.

On another note, I got everything for this except the lighting.  I was thinking of getting a 96 watt fixture from AH supply http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm to mount inside the canopy I make.  Will that be too much light without having CO2 injected?  If so can I just control it by only leaving the light on for limited hours?

Answer
Hi Dan

I must say that is interesting, I've never had that happen before. All of my aquariums have all been level on the stand. I did have one not long ago that the top was a little deformed. The hood wouldn't fit snug on top. I took it back for another one and that was that. All of my tanks are made by All-Glass Aquariums. If you have a glass top table, you might be able to check it there. Make sure the aquarium is empty first, or you might break the table and the aquarium. Let me know what Aqueon says. I can tell you, if there is a gap that was large enough for you to notice, you are eventually going to have a leak and possibly a crack or a break. May not happen the day you set it up, may be a week, a month, 6 months etc but it will eventually happen.

I can't recommend or offer advice on any type of light other than standard aquarium fixtures and lighting. I can tell you that bright lights are extremely stressful on fish. Stressed fish get sick as their immune system is down. Fish need a more subdued, natural light.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Richard