Potential Disaster, what can I do...

[labnjab]

Last night, I was sitting on the couch looking at the tanks with the lights off. Then I saw a gap, between my 55 gallon community and the stand (I saw the lights of my SW's fuge shinning through. Its a very small gap. but its a gap, on all 4 sides, that runs 3/4 on the length of the tank. The stand is an angle iron stand and the sides are bowing just slightly (it must be less then 1/64th of an inch), and I have a 10 gallon betta tank and my 20 Long sump under it. It must have been there a while, but I know its not good and can potentially cause the tank to burst. I can't really replace the stand because I can't really move it with the sump already plumbed in. Is there anything I could do to brace it without dismantling anything, or will a piece of foam between the tank and stand take up the difference and make it ok.

I don't really have anywhere else I can put another stand and move the whole tank. The only spot available is reserved for a future 75 or 90 gallon for the goldfish that I want to fishless cycle before adding them.

[gm72]

I think you nailed it. A piece of foam under the tank should take care of it. Not something you want to let go though.

[labnjab]

What thinkness foam should I use? I can drain the tank 90% and hopefully get a few guys to lift it up and slide the foam under. That bites, but its gotta be done

[Lady Hobbs]

That won't work. You need to drain and empty the tank. Trying to move with any water or stuff in it puts added pressure to the seams and makes your job much harder. It takes about 20 minutes to tear one down completely and not worth the added work to leave it set up.

Is this a closed top stand?

[labnjab]

Open topped stand. I will drain it all, better safe then sorry. I just have go buy 5, 5 gallon buckets, and do it when I do my normal 50% wc. Drain 50% like usual with the python, and put the other 25 gallons or so in buckets. It will actually give me a chance to level it again as it has settled slightly since I originally leveled the stand. Then then fun of catching the 16 neons, 11 serpa tetras, 1 female betta and 6 cories will begin. The angel fish shouldn't be too hard to catch cause its fairly big. I knew I shouldn't have used that stand when I started this tank. Oh well, it has to be done. Would 1/2 inch foam work? My boss has some left over from when he poured a concrete floor in his new garage.

[Lady Hobbs]

How will you add styrofoam to an open topped tank? Is your tank acrylic? Those need closed bottoms but glass tanks do not.

Is it one of these?
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Is it sitting on a flat surface or on carpeting?

IF this is like the stand you are referring to, I most likely will not buy it again. I have one and scrubbing algae off the glass or too much messing around with it makes me nervous. Make sure all four legs and seated firmly in all the way, too, so the tank is totally level.

The stand is great for smaller tanks but I just don't feel comfortable with tanks 55 gallon. Some think they are fine, tho.

You need not save your water. Grab one of those 8 inch nets. Makes catching fish a whole lot easier as they swim into it. Borrow some coolers. You'll only need maybe 2. That would work fine.

[labnjab]

Its on carpeting and is like the one in the picture. I have boards under the legs to make leveling easy. On second thought, I'm gonna find a new and better stand for the tank. I never really liked it to begin with, but it was free as well as the tank. Its just too tall, and a little wobbly. We found it in our apartments attic. Its gonna be a few months to several months before I get a new tank for the goldies. I'll put the new stand for the community tank where I was going to put the goldfish's new home. Then I will keep the problem stand where it is, since I really don't want to tear down my sump so I can relocate it, and use the top of it for an auto top off system, and as a place to put my salt mix container. I will think of something for the goldfish when the time comes. Possibly putting them in the new tank with their existing filters keep an eye on parameters. I plan on using a wet/dry filter when I get their bigger tank.

I hope this makes sense and thank you for the help.

[fishlover49]

That scared me for a sec there. I seen the pic of the stand and thought oh ****. That is the kind that I have. Mine are glass tanks, though. :19:

[Ty]

can you posibally wedge a 2x4 board brace in the middle for the time being so that the midle is better supported? It woudl not lok the best, but it would make it a heck of a lot easier to sleep at night, lol

[labnjab]

I don't think I can, but I'm gonna try to get a stand tonight, and if i can't find one, I'll make a cinder block stand with plywood on the top and bottom That will get us by until we can find one

[labnjab]

Well I got lucky, I found a wood stand, just freshly stained, and all he wants for compensation is a couple of frags. I'll post some pictures, hopefully I can get it tonight