Help Please With My New Cichlid Tank

[crouchies]

Jus set my new cichlid tank up, im quite new to this and i have put my tank up in my room. the tank is 30inch wide 18 high and 15 deep. where i have put the tank is on top of a cupboard which is 31 inch wide as i had the tank made to fit. I have jus put it on the shelf and filled it up with water and rocks(it looks lovely), but now its all filled up i have noticed its not touching the polystyrene in the middle jus on the edges, which i can only think that the shelf was already bowed slightly. will the tank be ok as it is, if not what do you suggest thicker polystyrene???

thanks alot please help me imscared im going to have alot of water gushing thru my room tonite lol

 

[jayjay]

i'd suggest a stronger shelf

 

[crouchies]

ok yea thats cool
there is supports each side which are screwed also to a wardrobe either side and there is also a support in the centre which is quite alot of support. there is only a few mm difference. is ther a chance the tank will crack at all or not

anymore ideas will b most helpful

 

[SamUK]

yea id maybe try and beef up the shelving unit thing a bit with some good ole DIY.


if your sure it is strong enough tho and the wood is jus slightly bowed from before the tank was even near it then adding extra polystyrene should help.

id wait for a second reply on that one tho cos im not 100%.

 

[Cheffi]

Maybe a photo would help as I'm not getting the scene by your description

 

[crouchies]

thats where it is
and there are extra supports either side attatched to the side of wardrobe and right to the floor and there is one where the door is shut up against

so what ya reckon

 

[denis coghlan]

Hey croucy,

I would take the water and rocks out now!! On all the post that I have read, and on the manufacturers brochures that come with new tanks, it says that it is vital for the tank to be on an even surface, by the sounds of things you don't have an even surface. Take the tank out of the position and get yourself a spirit level, maybe you have used one already, but recheck the levels on the surface in lots of directions and different positions, not just in the middle.

(Sorry had to stop to get chips as I was feeling rather peckish!!!)


If the surface is truly uneven then I recommend that you get a think piece of bord, e.g. MDF, chipboard or plywood. It has to be thick enough that it wont bend, I suggest 20mm minimum or greater in thickness. Cut a section of this material to the same dimensions as the top of the cupboard and just place it over it. Then put the tank on this, any bow in the original surface will not transfer into the new thicker material, thus leaving you with a nice even surface for your tank to sit on.



edit: You had not posted the picture the last time I posted. Your tank is roughly 22gallons (or there abouts) or about 178 pounds in weight (only water). I would make very sure of those joints, going directly into the presses either side, if I was you I might even thinking of bracing them, with some additional support. Other than that it looks like a nice place for a tank. Lets just hope you can get his bow effect sorted out.