300g shark tank

**Floyd R Turbo** · 05-15-2012

I don't know much about composite shims. If it were one big shim I would say go for it. I would think that many individual the composite shim would 'bite' into the wood on the stand, versus the wood shims which would slightly compress as you knocked them in and not damage the stand. Either way you're going to do a lot of shimming and snapping. I would set all the shims in place all around with the empty tank on the stand and then start filling the tank and when it's about 1/4 full check all the shims for snugness (make sure you don't start tapping them all in and loosen the other shims, etc!) then start snapping.

Using standard wood shims they will compress slightly, but that works to your advantage as the pressure will even out all around. For the really high spots, I take 2 shims and put one in from each direction to eliminate the 'slant' I guess is how I would put it. If you stack 2 shims they are flat on top and bottom so the weight it evenly transitioned to the floor if that makes sense.

**glarior** · 05-15-2012

10-4 see what I can do.... now where to put all this RO/DI water........ hrm

**Floyd R Turbo** · 05-15-2012

Well $2.50 for a 5g bucket at home depot or a couple of 44g brute trash cans works great. Either way gotta spend some cash to save that water but you'll get peace of mind and extra water storage as a bonus! Or just ask around your local club to see if you can borrow

**kerry** · 05-15-2012

Go for the 30G or 44G brute can!!!!! You will use it.

**RkClimber** · 05-15-2012

Originally Posted by glarior

The plywood is the floor :-) The stand is open inside.

I watched a video talking about it and I can can buy composite shims that are easy to insert and once leveled they are easy to break/trim.

What you think?... I can buy composite shims for the entire stand today and shim it all the way around the base if I had to.

edit: hard wood shims seem better than composite.

Composite shims are the best type to use vs wood. I use them in any indoor or outdoor situation and are perfect for your use. They don't rot, split, compress, critters don't eat them, and they are easy to work with.

**glarior** · 05-16-2012

Originally Posted by RkClimber

Composite shims are the best type to use vs wood. I use them in any indoor or outdoor situation and are perfect for your use. They don't rot, split, compress, critters don't eat them, and they are easy to work with.

Yea, I read some more and agree. I talked to my LFS/friend and he told me which ones to get.

Shimming is PITA! I worked on it for 3 hours and its still not perfect. I am 100% amazed how off the setup was. I used the doller bill method to check gaps and then started with composite shims.

One thing I have learned if you have a big tank... either have lots of extra clean trash cans on hand or have friends with fish tank trash cans you can borrow and a huge water pump.

**kerry** · 05-16-2012

I have a pool/spa pump connected to my brute cans.

**glarior** · 05-17-2012

Originally Posted by kerry

I have a pool/spa pump connected to my brute cans.

Yea I have a sicce 5 that I transfer the water with. Works very well!

Update:

Tank is shimmed to +/- 1/16 of an inch but the 4ft level bubble was in the center at all my points.

I put the water back in, added 2 buckets of salt, pump and heater to mix it. Tonight I will install the sump then add the sand. Maybe by tomorrow it will be fully running? Only time will tell