Stand Problems - Self Leveling Expoy?

gwlaws · #1 12/19/2007, 12:29 AM

I have a plywood stand that I built for my 230 gallon tank. Unfortunately, the tank does not lie flat, it teeters 1/4 " over five feet. This probably occured when I assembled it, when I fit the top piece into the dato cut.

I purchased some 1/2 " closed cell foam, which will help.

But I am also thinking of using some Self Leveling Expoy. The stuff I found was MAS expoy. MAS Expoy

The instruction video says it hardens like a hockey puck. Something like 7200 psi using the medium hardner. It seems this would be a very good solution.

Should I go for it or just stick with the foam? Or when it's full of water would it just flaten out the plywood anyway? I am leaning toward doing both to be on the safe side, and to get it level.

hebygb · #2 12/19/2007, 10:06 AM

I would do both, dont count on the weight of a filled tank to level your stand. The last thing you want is any stresses that will cause a leak... or worse. Sounds like this is a new build, considering the potential investment... you may even consider fixing the stand and making it right.

SuperAWE · #3 12/19/2007, 11:41 AM

Fix the stand if it is off. 230g of water on the floor would be bad.

t-bone2 · #4 12/19/2007, 09:07 PM

I would fix the stand

pvtschultz · #5 12/20/2007, 01:17 PM

What he said ^^^

I've never had any luck with self-leveling anything. I hate to say it but being off 1/4" over 5' is pretty poor craftmanship and it should be resolved. Check to see if your floor/carpet is contributing, but it really should be corrected soundly.

shookbrad · #6 12/20/2007, 02:04 PM

Definitely fix the stand. You can add these levelers very easily and they hold a ton of weight. I use them on my setup that weighs about 1000 lbs.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...5&filter=glide
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?sku=1641&cs=1

Fiziksgeek · #7 12/20/2007, 03:16 PM

The question is not if the tank is level. The important thing is flatness.

If the tank isnt level (within reason) the only real problem you will have will be uneven water level messing with the overflows.

If the stand isn't flat, meaning part of the tank makes good contact and part of the tank doesnt, then you have a big problem, which a sheet of foam wont fix.

I haven't seen anyone use the epoxy, but what I have seen is self leveling cement. It can be found in the flooring section of Lowes, Home Depot, etc. However, I see no reason why the epoxy wouldn't work!

shookbrad · #8 12/20/2007, 03:42 PM

So if part of the stand won't touch the floor that means it is not level and if the floor is what is not level(most likely) you can extend the levelers out enough to compensate for the uneven floor. I have used these things in my tank projects and have not had any difficulty making sure I had a good level even surface for the tank.

Chris Witort · #9 12/20/2007, 04:31 PM

Those leveling legs would be okay if the floor was cement and they were the heavy duty ones. But placing over 500 lbs on each of four tiny feet that sit on wood, like plywood or waferboard subfloor would be tempting it to cause the floor to fail. I have tried using epoxy to level a 6' x 6' stand and I made the mistake of using a water based epoxy, it said non shrinking on the box but don't believe it. Use the resin type, and the consistency is like thick honey, not really self leveling. You would have to build a skirt around the edge that is at the height you want and screed the epoxy to level it.

gwlaws · #10 12/20/2007, 05:30 PM

Thank you for the responses.

Fiziksgeek is correct the issue is flatness. The bubble level indicates it's level, and certainly looks level using the eye ball test. All parts of the stand touch the floor.

If I had to do this over again, I would not Dato cut the top piece, just the bottom and side pieces. I did this before with a 55 gallon and it worked great, but with a double plywood wall it's a different beast.

I contacted the epoxy manufacturer to get their thoughts on if this would work, and they thought it would. Would it really self-level? Their video says I can add up to 10% denatured alcohol to make it more wet like water. But when on the phone directly they thought I would not have to add anything, that it would self level on it's own. Kinda like honey as they described it.

So I am going to get some MAS epoxy at the boat store tomorrow and do a sample test next week.