Will Saltwater ruin my carpet?

[VisionsSS]

After 3 plus years of reading and studying I'm yet to actually run a saltwater tank. I've notice while maintaining my freshwater that I'm a little care free about water dripping on my carpet in my bedroom. I'm assuming that once I jump into saltwater there will be a need for a little more concern.

Will saltwater stain or quickly ruin my carpet?

Is this something I should be concerned about?

I was thinking I would make a "U" shaped rug to go around the parimeter of my tank that would protect my bedroom carpet from saltwater but easily be removed for cleaning.

What are your thoughts?

[Aquarist007]

salt water will mat it, the water itself can cause mildew and mold under the carpet and the salt water can attrack more dirt when walked on.
I use a runner from the door over to my tank and across the front of it. I had to clean it a number of times for getting dirty and matted quickly

[demonsp]

<------------- certified journeyman water restoration technician.

Yes fresh and salt water will ruin carpet but SW will do it much faster and smell so much worse. Whene a carpet gets wet from a category 1 source or clean water then odor and mold will take longer to show then a category 2 or any contaminated source it speeds this up. The odor you smell is the the bacteria waste and there dead and dying friends. SW haveing bacteria supercharges this.
If you have a concrete subfloor and the water doesnt have contact with a food source (wood, pet urine , or just dirty carpets) then the chance of mold is greatly reduced but if the leak continues it will collect under the foundation ( concrete very pourus) and if givin enough time can cause problems from mold to cracking foundation.

I reccommend useing wood blocks to elivate the tank above the carpet. Or the impossible , dont get it wet.

[Lotus99]

I use a DryMate mat in front of my tank while doing maintenance. You can drip freely on it, and it's washable. It has a plastic backing that prevents water seeping through. It folds up pretty small for storage in the stand.

[Playa-1]

Use a water repellent on the carpet and a towel of something to catch any of the small stuff immediately. You don't want to let it saturate the padding. Because then the landlord will be PO'D

[VisionsSS]

Well I own the house so the landlord is not my main concern but being that I am the landlord I do hold some concern about how it will effect me.

Thanks for all the input. I think it is more than clear that I should do what I can to protect my floor.

It sounds like a runner in front of the tank would be benefitial but as long as I am not pouring SW on my carpet a towel to catch the drips could work.

Since I don't see myself placing a towel down every time I place my hand in the tank I will probably invest in through rug to fit my room and just keep in mind that SW is definatly worse the FW when it comes to damage or clean up.

[returnofsid]

Where's your priorities man....the proper question should be "will carpet contaminate my saltwater??" All kidding aside, get it cleaned up as soon as it spills and you should be fine.

[fareforce]

I alway set a couple of these in front of my tank to protect from spills. They work great, and are fairly cheap.

[fishnut321]

well if you have wood flooring or supports under that floor than the carpet could possibly not be your worst problem.... gravity is a b****

[Aquarist007]

If I am going to clean the display tank or move some coral around etc then I put two garbage bags down over the carpet, so it doesn't get wet

[FBNitro]

Originally posted by fareforce
I alway set a couple of these in front of my tank to protect from spills. They work great, and are fairly cheap.

I've got one of these also, I'm considering picking up another so I have a walkway from the tank to the tile... they are great.

[EllieSuz]

I use a plastic boot tray to catch spills when I do water changes, etc. and I don't even have carpet under the tank. It's just easier to empty the tray instead of wiping up spills.

[rhkingsfan]

Not to scare you, but 90% of the people in this forum have had a major spill (more than 1 gallon), so be prepared for that to happen at the most inopportune time. I had the powerhead come off of my Remora and it shot 5 gallons of water out of my tank.

[jthao]

if you have a reef tank, you'll have saltwater carpet.

[mixed_reefer]

Yes, you will want something down every time you stick your hand into the tank. Once the hand is in, you may as well do everything you've been wanting to do in the display, its reefers law, i doubt you can resist it..

[Steve 926]

A cover for the rug is best, plastic / rubber mat, whatever. I have invested in a rug cleaner ( Bissell Pro Heat 2x, Nice machine!) for cleaning my rugs & the occasional spill from anything.
At the very least the cleaner will dilute the spill, & extract over 90% of it. a fan helps to dry it & prevent mold. I'm sure that when I take the display down, the rug under it will not be pretty.
come that time I'll need a new one anyway, So might as well get a larger display also !!!

Steve