How level is your tank?

After getting a new 3ft tank and filling it up I noticed the water level was not level.:notrust:
Initially I thought my eyes were just playing tricks.
So I eventually measured (x4) the water level to the top of the tank on either sides (Length and width) and found a 1cm difference on both L and B.
Measured all my tanks and also found the a difference of between 1cm and 1.5cm.

This got me thinking,:idea: what would the difference be before a tank will crack?
How much strain will a tank and stand take before it buckles, and cracks?
I thought the styrofoam would level this abnormality.
Given all floor surfaces are not 100% even/level.

What are your tanks differences?

 

Mine is also about a cm. I hide it by keeping the waterlevel higher than my lid's bottom. Also help to concentrate the light into the tank?

 

I had a tank crack on my... water level was 1cm out... spoke to a tank builder, and he confirmed my suspicion. Out of level tank = strain. He explained to me which corner should have cracked from the extra strain, and lo-and-behold, this was the corner that cracked.

 

Some of the fancy tanks comes with adjustable legs. was this the case zoom?
Did you place the second tank in the same place?

 

Oh my goodness! Does that mean, empty tank again, level and refill? I suppose you level the stand/table?

 

Any engineers out there?

 

A bigger problem is frame / stand surface creep. Foam helps - but I get the feeling it has a limited amount of give before it might actually exacerbate the problem if it was to big to start with.


Later Ferdie

 

Please explain?

 

Yes, new tank in same place, but I've levelled it off with spacers under the legs. (Not adjustable)

 

So we start with a level tank on a floor that seems to be level - we add water and all is good - over time (months / years) the stand / frame could creep ... see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creep_(deformation)

The deformation typically sagging in the middle means that the tank is now under more stress in the middle since it has bent support against a straight glass floor. This is typical when the frame is much larger than the tank base and if frame / stand surface does not have adequate support.

(BTW also keep an eye on buckling - corner to corner - your tank might look like it is level - but the glass base could be at risk.)

Hope it makes sense.

Later Ferdie

 

Ferdie, this from the link you gave. What does this translate to? I would say it has nothing to do with the inconsistant stress we talking about here, but maybe it has.

 

In additional to the metal creep
we have seismic activity esp in the west rand.
This will surely move our floor - concrete cracks ...
High humidity.
Constant water splashes - rust.

I wonder what is the average lifespan of a stand.

 

what i can take out of this is
1. All glass is not made equal
2. Glass does not creep unless exposed to very high temp

But i have seen glass bend when not braced correctly

 

And that is what we are concerned about. So I will rather level mine at the first opportunity.

On the other hand, if the thickness is sufficient, it should not matter?

 

I would assume thickness is sufficient on the premise of a level base.

 

True. On the other hand, my new 90lt came with a sticker with guarantee and instructions and terms. Nothing was said of 'making sure it is 100% level'. Suppose it is common sense. A reminder would have been nice though.

 

This is their loophole on their guarantee. It should be common sense.... like we all know a tank is for water and not petrol... this is what the suppliers will claim.

 

I have had my tank now for about 3 years now and it's never been level and it's never cracked. My tank is also a 1cm difference.
When I first started keeping fish though I had a 100L tank crack on me (my own noobish fault with a big rock and nothing to protect the bottom) but the tank was in my room... I got home from school and my domestic worker who couldn't speak english very well told me that my wall in my bedroom was falling over. I got to my room... turns out 100L is a lot when it's all on your floor. :\ Fortunately no fish were lost during this. There was like 5cm of water in the bottom when I got there and I managed to save them.