Aquarium Set-Up Instructions

The Aquarium Stand - The most important accessory to any aquarium is a well constructed aquarium stand. A properly constructed and correctly leveled aquarium stand will increase the longevity or lifespan of glass aquariums. On the other hand, a poorly constructed stand or an aquarium stand that is not properly set up will shorten the life of glass aquariums due to twist stress and may break the face or bottom glass. The vast majority of aquarium manufactures offer a extended or complete warranty when their aquarium is purchased with their manufactured aquarium stand. Consumer made stands can be properly built and correctly leveled to insure a long aquarium life. Unfortunately, most manufacuturers offer only short warranties on seam leakage and do not offer any warranty on glass breakage when you make your own stand. Great Lakes Aquariums Inc. offers a 3 Year Complete warranty when our aquarium is purchased with one of our aquarium stands. This Complete Warranty covers leakage as well as set-up breakage and is a exchange not repair warranty. Aquariums purchase without a aquarium stand include our limited 1 year warranty. This warranty is a repair only warranty when the aquarium is set on a consumer made  or manufactured stand. Glass breakage for any reason is not covered. There is not glass replacement repair on any Glass Aquariums. Listed below is complete set up instructions to properly level and flatten aquariums that are set on manufactured aquarium stands.

Set Up Instructions

All aquariums should be set on manufactured aquarium stands only following instructions below. Aquariums should not be set on wood furniture, stereo or TV stands or other surfaces not designed to support the aquarium. Improperly following the set up instructions below or setting up the aquarium on a home made stand or surfaces not recommended above can result in stress breakage caused by set-up. This is not a defect and to avoid breakage, again, please recheck stand and aquarium set up instructions listed below.

Each leg or corner of the aquarium stand must set flat on the floor (the stand should not rock or move).

Each corner of the aquarium must set flat on each corner of the top of the aquarium stand: if either the legs or the corners of the aquarium do not set flat, then shimming is required. (Shimming is the placing of thin strips of wood, tile or paper under the legs of corners of the aquarium stand to make the stand and aquarium flat.) Shim under the legs or ends of stand to make it flat.

CARPET SET UP! Special set up is required on carpeting because carpeting tends to cover up non-flat floors making it more difficult to set the aquarium up properly. If the carpeting can be pulled away from the floor to expose the bare floor, then follow instructions above. After stand and aquarium have been checked and proper shimming done (if necessary), the carpeting can be put back in place and the stand and aquarium should be placed in the exact same position as before on the top of the carpeting using the same shims as on the bare floor on top of the carpeting. If the carpeting cannot be pulled back, fill the aquarium slowly while checking that the aquarium does not rock or move. If the aquarium rocks, drain the aquarium then shim to make it flat.