Save that carpet...

29reef · 03/04/2009, 11:00 PM

So over the years of having aquariums I've found the best surface for an aquarium is tile or a good old ruff concrete floor. Now having no available real estate in my house with this kind of floor I'm forced to look at carpet yet again for the aquarium. I have never had any luck trying to keep the floor around my aquarium from spils and stains. So I am wondering if anyone has come accross a method that they would like to share. I've tried sheet metal, wood, plastic, and carpet on carpet; all with a poor success rate. Thank you for the help.

To all who wanted to talk carpet anemonies, talk to me once the tank is up and running

widmer · 03/04/2009, 11:05 PM

Maybe the primary concern is addressing whatever the source for water spilling is? ie Sloshy return line? Playing around in the tank too much?

theredben · 03/04/2009, 11:08 PM

I don't think there is such a thing as playing around too much, whether it is water changes, redirecting powerheads, moving coral, cleaning glass, or just feeding the fish; the more the better, assuming you have rinsed your hand and forearms first.

James79 · 03/04/2009, 11:16 PM

A good wet/dry vac will clean up oopsies!! But my oops have been really big lately. Dining room needs new carpet pad after topoff feed ran on floor all day, carpet was salvagable but pad was shot. May replace with tile one day.
A nice picture of a coral reef would be a cost effect and foolproof solution for wet and soiled carpet. Other than that covering up carpet with anything like plastic/metal would make it worse, because spills that run under will never dry out.

mille239 · 03/05/2009, 07:20 AM

What about getting one of those semi-rigid 'carpet savers' they put in offices for the desk chairs to roll on? you could trim it neatly to fit around your stand, and store it in a closet when you are not fiddling with the tank.

OneReef · 03/05/2009, 07:42 AM

I put these down around my tank while working on it. They soak up water like crazy, and are waterproof on the underside.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=14697

agreeive?fish · 03/05/2009, 07:42 AM

I hate carpet ..i refuse to live in a house with carpet so ill never have a problem with carpet and water not mixing well together. carpet is only some what clean before its installed and never clean again nomatter how may times a day you vacume it, nomatter how many times you shampoo it or how many times you steam clean it..just look at all the dirt you find under the carpet the next time you replace it...give me a good floor and forget a carpet covering

davenia7 · 03/05/2009, 07:56 AM

I drape high absorbency hair towels (they're made of microfiber and you can get them anywhere from Walmart to the Sally's beauty supply)when I'm working on my tank. It works great. They QUICKLY soak up anything messy. I also, keep my Canister for my FW set up in a plastic bucket and I don't use sumps or anything to have lines to break free from.

chimmike · 03/05/2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mille239
What about getting one of those semi-rigid 'carpet savers' they put in offices for the desk chairs to roll on? you could trim it neatly to fit around your stand, and store it in a closet when you are not fiddling with the tank.

those things are terrible. They trap moisture underneath them and basically ruin the carpet. Would be even worse with a SW tank on top.

Yank the carpet up in that area (or cut it out in that area) and place tile if you can.

Jenisiz · 03/05/2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chimmike
those things are terrible. They trap moisture underneath them and basically ruin the carpet. Would be even worse with a SW tank on top.

Yank the carpet up in that area (or cut it out in that area) and place tile if you can.

If you're not renting of course...

Blown76mav · 03/05/2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chimmike
those things are terrible. They trap moisture underneath them and basically ruin the carpet. Would be even worse with a SW tank on top.

Yank the carpet up in that area (or cut it out in that area) and place tile if you can.

I don't think he ment put it under the tank and leave it. He means cut out a space so if fits around the stand and put it down while messing with the tank, then remove it.

kraze3 · 03/05/2009, 08:47 AM

I agree, if you can cut a hole out of the carpet and put a couple rows of 18x18 tile if you can. Will help with the spills and wont look bad either.

tiffrobbins · 03/05/2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chimmike
Yank the carpet up in that area (or cut it out in that area) and place tile if you can.

I totally agree with this one. Carpet is the devil! You won't regret it.

java · 03/05/2009, 10:09 AM

what about builting a false floor? like a 5/4 peice of ply that is tiled?

Rysam · 03/05/2009, 10:13 AM

Shamwow

im glad my landlord likes me because i've seriously damaged my oak floors(under carpet) from spills. i still spill, but i pay way more attention to it after i saw that bit of warpage. when he sells this place to me, its all about tile where the tank goes.

chimmike · 03/05/2009, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by java
what about builting a false floor? like a 5/4 peice of ply that is tiled?

the ply could likely be warped by the thinset sucking up the moisture. That could make the floor leveling difficult. Not only that but you don't want to place something like this on top of carpet. That's a bad idea and bad accident waiting to happen.

mille239 · 03/05/2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blown76mav
I don't think he ment put it under the tank and leave it. He means cut out a space so if fits around the stand and put it down while messing with the tank, then remove it.

That's exactly what I mean't Blown76mav. Only put it down when you're fiddlin' with the tank.

29reef · 03/05/2009, 11:53 AM

Some good suggestions so far. Still looking for that unique idea that hopefully someone has had. The reasion for not replacing the carpet is it is new, and I can't justify just tossing it, I'd rather ruin it with the tank and replace it later. I like the plastic work area idea, only they seem to lose their flex after a few weeks. Keep 'em coming guys and gals.

03/04/2009, 11:00 PM	#1
29reef It's all about the flow Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Huntington Beach OC Posts: 3,643	Save that carpet... So over the years of having aquariums I've found the best surface for an aquarium is tile or a good old ruff concrete floor. Now having no available real estate in my house with this kind of floor I'm forced to look at carpet yet again for the aquarium. I have never had any luck trying to keep the floor around my aquarium from spils and stains. So I am wondering if anyone has come accross a method that they would like to share. I've tried sheet metal, wood, plastic, and carpet on carpet; all with a poor success rate. Thank you for the help. To all who wanted to talk carpet anemonies, talk to me once the tank is up and running __________________ -Brian RIP-The Metal Halide- My SPS may never know such a great friend again. Current Tank Info: Currently Tankless

03/04/2009, 11:08 PM	#3
theredben Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 47	Playing in the tank too much??? I don't think there is such a thing as playing around too much, whether it is water changes, redirecting powerheads, moving coral, cleaning glass, or just feeding the fish; the more the better, assuming you have rinsed your hand and forearms first.

03/05/2009, 07:20 AM	#5
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	What about getting one of those semi-rigid 'carpet savers' they put in offices for the desk chairs to roll on? you could trim it neatly to fit around your stand, and store it in a closet when you are not fiddling with the tank. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

03/05/2009, 07:56 AM	#8
davenia7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Goose Creek, SC Posts: 238	I drape high absorbency hair towels (they're made of microfiber and you can get them anywhere from Walmart to the Sally's beauty supply)when I'm working on my tank. It works great. They QUICKLY soak up anything messy. I also, keep my Canister for my FW set up in a plastic bucket and I don't use sumps or anything to have lines to break free from. __________________ 5 gal. salt nano 20L salt nano 55 gal. malawi cichlid community

03/05/2009, 10:13 AM	#15
Rysam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise california Posts: 1,000	Shamwow im glad my landlord likes me because i've seriously damaged my oak floors(under carpet) from spills. i still spill, but i pay way more attention to it after i saw that bit of warpage. when he sells this place to me, its all about tile where the tank goes. __________________ Josh “Seek advice but use your own common sense” Yiddish Proverb quote “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 135 reef

03/04/2009, 11:05 PM	#2
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	Maybe the primary concern is addressing whatever the source for water spilling is? ie Sloshy return line? Playing around in the tank too much?

03/04/2009, 11:16 PM	#4
James79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 170	A good wet/dry vac will clean up oopsies!! But my oops have been really big lately. Dining room needs new carpet pad after topoff feed ran on floor all day, carpet was salvagable but pad was shot. May replace with tile one day. A nice picture of a coral reef would be a cost effect and foolproof solution for wet and soiled carpet. Other than that covering up carpet with anything like plastic/metal would make it worse, because spills that run under will never dry out.

03/05/2009, 07:42 AM	#6
OneReef Reef Guru Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: the great South Posts: 3,218	I put these down around my tank while working on it. They soak up water like crazy, and are waterproof on the underside. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=14697

03/05/2009, 07:42 AM	#7
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	I hate carpet ..i refuse to live in a house with carpet so ill never have a problem with carpet and water not mixing well together. carpet is only some what clean before its installed and never clean again nomatter how may times a day you vacume it, nomatter how many times you shampoo it or how many times you steam clean it..just look at all the dirt you find under the carpet the next time you replace it...give me a good floor and forget a carpet covering

03/05/2009, 08:47 AM	#12
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	I agree, if you can cut a hole out of the carpet and put a couple rows of 18x18 tile if you can. Will help with the spills and wont look bad either.

03/05/2009, 10:09 AM	#14
java Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 325	what about builting a false floor? like a 5/4 peice of ply that is tiled?

03/05/2009, 11:53 AM	#18
29reef It's all about the flow Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Huntington Beach OC Posts: 3,643	Some good suggestions so far. Still looking for that unique idea that hopefully someone has had. The reasion for not replacing the carpet is it is new, and I can't justify just tossing it, I'd rather ruin it with the tank and replace it later. I like the plastic work area idea, only they seem to lose their flex after a few weeks. Keep 'em coming guys and gals. __________________ -Brian RIP-The Metal Halide- My SPS may never know such a great friend again. Current Tank Info: Currently Tankless