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In this level aquarium guide you will find many helpful ideas to make sure your tank sits properly on it's stand.

There are a number of good reasons for this. If your tank does not sit properly on the stand it will put undo stress on the joints of the tank. They are designed to sit flat. Water is very heavy (about 8 1/3 pounds per gallon).

A 55 gallon tank could have 456.5 pounds of water in it, so we are talking about a lot of weight or pressure on the joints of your tank.

Another reason for having your tank sitting properly will become apparent when the tank is full. The water will not match the top of the tank and consequently will be very noticeable to you and anyone else that looks at it. You will be looking at your reef tank for a long time. It's best to make sure it is flat and straight now. The easiest and best way to test your tank is to use a carpenter's level.



This type of tool is perfect for the task at hand. It's accurate and easy to use. Make sure you place it along the length and then the width of your stand. It's important that the stand is square in both directions. If necessary you can place a small shim or two under one or more corners of the stand, until it registers as being flat.

Great! You now have a level aquarium and are off to a good start.

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