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melev

Unexpected issue with my frag tank

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The frag tank holds roughly 10g of saltwater, and the corals in there are growing bigger fighting for space. I've considered building a new one to replace this one once the 400g gets here. I don't know the date unfortunately.

Yesterday as I was looking at the tank, I noticed that one end was floating - which it never does. The first thing I did was put some shims under the end to support the corners of the tank.

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This board is 1" thick and was sealed with Polyurethane on all sides, including the edges.

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What must have happened is when I turned up the flow going into the tank a little too high lately, a small amount was going over the front and got under the frag display. That moisture must have gotten into the wood and caused it to warp.

The new frag tank will go in a different location in the fishroom, but I don't want to set that up until the 400g comes in to avoid further objects impeding working space when everyone is helping get it into position. It's my hope that this will hold it over for a few more weeks.

UPDATE 7/1/13:

The tank has leveled out once I stopped allowing any water to land on the wood.

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What I did when I noticed that the wood was beginning to flatten out again was remove the shims slightly every other day. The gap was narrowing, and yet the shims supported the tank during the transition. I watched to make sure I didn't open the return valve too much, so no water would spill over the front of the tank and gravity took care of everything. A few days ago, I took out the shims completely, and here you can see it is close to back to normal as of today. There is still a slight gap now, one two stacked business cards could fit into but I think it will be fine.

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Updated 07-01-2013 at 05:18 PM by melev

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Tank Entry

Comments

  1. cyano's Avatar
    get you a 2x4 or a 4x4 and column it under that corner until you relocated that tank to keep it from dropping anymore.
  2. melev's Avatar
    The wooden surface is on the steel stand, but the middle has risen. The only thing I could do is affix angle iron underneath to pull the center down again, but I don't think I can do that with the tank installed.
  3. dahenley's Avatar
    Go to HD/Lowes. They sell oak hard wood strips.
    Get a 3/4 x 1 or something like that piece.

    Drill through the 3/4" side with a 1/4" bit and counter sink it as well. Then clamp it to the bottom of the butcher block surface and install a screw through the oak into the block. (Do it ever 6" or so)
    Do this on the front and back of the stand top. It will strengthen the top as well as help hold it flat.

    I use coated deck screws so they won't degrade from rust PR humidity.
  4. melev's Avatar
    Thanks, that might be just the solution for the time being.
  5. dahenley's Avatar
    I hope my explanation made some kind of since haha.
    You might can put one in the middle under the stand if needed

    (To be fancy cut the ends half way up @ a 45 )

    I wish I could draw my explanations haha
  6. melev's Avatar
    No, I totally understand what you meant. Thanks.
  7. Midnight's Avatar
    shouldn't that frag tank be on Styrofoam?
  8. melev's Avatar
    It wasn't necessary with a perfectly flat surface. Styrofoam for bigger objects especially on questionable surfaces. This was fine for 27 months, until this happened. Foam wouldn't have fixed this one.
  9. melev's Avatar
    Every day, the board is flattening back out. I'm able to pull the shims out a little more every two days. Seems the cessation of moisture fixed one problem, and gravity coupled with the weight of the tank full of water is resolving the situation nicely.
  10. Jnarowe's Avatar
    wow. ####### added for message length.
  11. melev's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Jnarowe
    wow. ####### added for message length.
    Look who's slumming.
  12. melev's Avatar
    Blog updated with how it all worked out.