Tank on hardwood floor

Chrisrush · 09/17/2015, 10:04 AM

I'm considering putting a 50g tank in my office which has hardwood floors. My wife and I are concerned with the water warping the floors however as in the past all of my tanks have been on tile floors. I have had my share of accidents over the years and a flood or two. I have my ro/di and saltwater mixing outside so no floods from that.

My thought is to raise the stand up a few inches off the ground with feet on the corners to allow me to clean up any drops. Also, I'll seal the inside of the stand to keep any leaks contained. Lastly, I'll install a water module on my Apex to let me know if something is leaking.

Any other thoughts?

Shawn O · 09/17/2015, 10:12 AM

Well-placed pieces of 1x2 would raise the tank enough for you to point a fan under the stand in the event of a small spill.

Nrupaw · 09/17/2015, 10:14 AM

i had asked a similar question before putting my aquarium on hardwood.

final result - i had a piece of underlayment in the garage from when i had wood flooring installed. i put that under the stand. i had my tank manufacturer make me a 2 inch high acrylic pan that fits snugly in my cabinet and hopefully will contain any spills (haven't had any so far). finally have an apex leak detector inside this pan, right next to sump. and have a leak detector behind the tank outside of the cabinet.

Overall, you shouldn't have any issue with floors wrapping. yes saltwater can cause some damage but as long as you wipe up spills, you'll be good.

only major thing on hardwood/vinyl floors is that when you move you tank, you'll find a lighter/cleaner/un-tanned shape of your tank's cabinet on the floor compared to the rest of it.

Chrisrush · 09/17/2015, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the comments. I appreciate the time.

I've considered running and all-in-one so that I don't have to worry about a sump, but I'm not convinced that would prevent most of the leaks.

I'll run it by my wife but I think those suggestions should work. I'm not sure about putting anything on the floor underneath the stand. I'd worry that moisture/water would get trapped?

Allentown · 09/17/2015, 01:59 PM

When I went through this I just hired a tile guy to do the room in tile...

Stupid floor cost as much as my tank, stand and canopy.

......wife loved it though

thegrun · 09/17/2015, 09:59 PM

I've kept a tank on our hardwood floors for the past 7 years without issue. You do want to have pads that elevate the cabinet slightly so when you do have a spill you can push a rag underneath to soak up as much water as possible. I just moved my 50 gallon after 5 years and the floor looked better under the tank than the rest of the floor.

Chrisrush · 09/18/2015, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allentown

When I went through this I just hired a tile guy to do the room in tile...

Stupid floor cost as much as my tank, stand and canopy.

......wife loved it though

Unfortunately that isn't an option. Wife would kill me if I suggested ripping up the hardwood.

Chrisrush · 09/18/2015, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

I've kept a tank on our hardwood floors for the past 7 years without issue. You do want to have pads that elevate the cabinet slightly so when you do have a spill you can push a rag underneath to soak up as much water as possible. I just moved my 50 gallon after 5 years and the floor looked better under the tank than the rest of the floor.

Thanks. That is what I was thinking as well. Your size tank is about the size I'm looking at. I think an elevated stand, and drip try in the stand will keep most of the water off the floor

Yash · 09/18/2015, 06:09 AM

Another option is to put a heavy duty pool liner in the cabinet under the sump. You can cut this to size and tape it up to the inside of the cabinet. While a catch pan might be the best option, this one might be easier to come by and possibly cheaper.

When I do maintenance on my tank, I put down double layers of beach towels around the stand to catch any minor drips, spills etc...

Short of a major incident like tank or sump overflowing and dumping a whole bunch of water on the floor, I think you should be fine.

09/17/2015, 10:04 AM	#1
Chrisrush Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,754	Tank on hardwood floor I'm considering putting a 50g tank in my office which has hardwood floors. My wife and I are concerned with the water warping the floors however as in the past all of my tanks have been on tile floors. I have had my share of accidents over the years and a flood or two. I have my ro/di and saltwater mixing outside so no floods from that. My thought is to raise the stand up a few inches off the ground with feet on the corners to allow me to clean up any drops. Also, I'll seal the inside of the stand to keep any leaks contained. Lastly, I'll install a water module on my Apex to let me know if something is leaking. Any other thoughts? __________________ Thanks, Chris Current Tank Info: 2015 Reef Savvy Dream Tank Winner

09/17/2015, 10:12 AM	#2
Shawn O Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts Posts: 1,474	Well-placed pieces of 1x2 would raise the tank enough for you to point a fan under the stand in the event of a small spill. __________________ "55gal glass box full of water, rocks and some not-so-amused little fishes" 2x Occellaris, 1 Pajama, 1 Neon Dottyback. Current Tank Info: 55gal tank, sumpless, ReefOctopus Classic 90, Twin bulb T5.

09/17/2015, 10:40 AM	#4
Chrisrush Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,754	Thanks for the comments. I appreciate the time. I've considered running and all-in-one so that I don't have to worry about a sump, but I'm not convinced that would prevent most of the leaks. I'll run it by my wife but I think those suggestions should work. I'm not sure about putting anything on the floor underneath the stand. I'd worry that moisture/water would get trapped? __________________ Thanks, Chris Current Tank Info: 2015 Reef Savvy Dream Tank Winner

09/17/2015, 01:59 PM	#5
Allentown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Augusta, Ga Posts: 975	When I went through this I just hired a tile guy to do the room in tile... Stupid floor cost as much as my tank, stand and canopy. ......wife loved it though __________________ NEW Build: 225g 72x27x27 Tigger Emerald 39 Sump, ConeS CO-3, 3xHydra 52, BRS 2 part dosers, Vortech MP-40 QD Gyre XF150, Neptune Wav x2, 2x Jaebo RW-4, SMR-1, MR-1

09/17/2015, 10:14 AM	#3
Nrupaw Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 131	i had asked a similar question before putting my aquarium on hardwood. final result - i had a piece of underlayment in the garage from when i had wood flooring installed. i put that under the stand. i had my tank manufacturer make me a 2 inch high acrylic pan that fits snugly in my cabinet and hopefully will contain any spills (haven't had any so far). finally have an apex leak detector inside this pan, right next to sump. and have a leak detector behind the tank outside of the cabinet. Overall, you shouldn't have any issue with floors wrapping. yes saltwater can cause some damage but as long as you wipe up spills, you'll be good. only major thing on hardwood/vinyl floors is that when you move you tank, you'll find a lighter/cleaner/un-tanned shape of your tank's cabinet on the floor compared to the rest of it.

09/17/2015, 09:59 PM	#6
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I've kept a tank on our hardwood floors for the past 7 years without issue. You do want to have pads that elevate the cabinet slightly so when you do have a spill you can push a rag underneath to soak up as much water as possible. I just moved my 50 gallon after 5 years and the floor looked better under the tank than the rest of the floor.

09/18/2015, 06:09 AM	#9
Yash Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 56	Another option is to put a heavy duty pool liner in the cabinet under the sump. You can cut this to size and tape it up to the inside of the cabinet. While a catch pan might be the best option, this one might be easier to come by and possibly cheaper. When I do maintenance on my tank, I put down double layers of beach towels around the stand to catch any minor drips, spills etc... Short of a major incident like tank or sump overflowing and dumping a whole bunch of water on the floor, I think you should be fine.