Hardwood Floors?

UNCCwill · 03/24/2010, 07:43 PM

I will soon be moving into a new second floor condo with new hardwood floors. Is there anything I should know about the effects of placing a saltwater tank on this type of flooring? Spillage, etc? Is ruining the floor with random spills inevitable? I have a 40 gallon FOWLR.

justsomeguy · 03/24/2010, 08:19 PM

I have had my 90g tank on hardwood floors for two years and haven't had any issues. However, I am meticulous about cleaning up spills and I lay towels down when I do maintenance. What's the point of having a beautiful expensive reef tank on floors that look like crap.

I think it also depends on the quality and type of finish on the flooring too.

spamreefnew · 03/24/2010, 08:32 PM

my hardwoods are showing a bit of wear in the tank area due to drips

thegrun · 03/24/2010, 08:41 PM

No problem with mine, although I lay down towels on the floor whenever I do major work in the tank.

rayn · 03/24/2010, 08:42 PM

Just asking, but are you positive they are hardwood and not laminate? If they are hardwood, the I would just go to a flooring store tell them what you are planning and see what kind of conditioner or cleaner they have for it.

roneil · 03/24/2010, 09:37 PM

i clean my hardwood floor with Bruce everytime i drip any amount of water from my tank (as per instructions from the wife)

Manwolf · 03/24/2010, 10:25 PM

if you do spill just clean it up as quick as you can because it could damage the hardwood floor, and over time it will get worse.

billdogg · 03/25/2010, 06:14 AM

you may consider putting your stand on several "feet" to allow a small air gap underneath. I thought all was good with both my 150 and my 120 a number of years ago (last house) until I moved to the new place and saw what even a small amount of water trapped under the stand can do. And for the record - I was very careful about spills.

Vin7250 · 03/25/2010, 07:37 AM

i placed my tank down on a nice rug runner

Reverend Reefer · 03/25/2010, 08:27 AM

ive accepted the fact that if i ever decide to move, im going to need to reinstall new hardwood. its not just the water damage, its the indentation from the weight of the tank.

Onedeadbob · 03/25/2010, 08:34 AM

What type of flooring would you guys recommend?

OceanLandlord · 03/25/2010, 08:58 AM

A dehumidifier may be needed keep a close eye on the floor for any bowing or buckling of the wood and get one ASAP if you even think you see any buckling. My parents live along the ocean and get constant breezes with no tanks and they still are getting buckling in their floors (there was a 1/4" gap between the floors and wall all around for all those that think this might have been due to the floor being installed too tight to the walls)

stevek480 · 03/25/2010, 10:16 AM

I bought a large plastic sheet from HD and I cut a piece to be a little longer than the tank and a few feet wide, and I put that down when working on the tank. I still manage to drip on the hardwood sometimes but I just wipe it up right away.

dockery07 · 03/25/2010, 11:20 AM

I have teak floors and I just make sure I clean up spills right away.

kareem314 · 03/25/2010, 11:43 AM

I have hardwood and I like the idea of a small rug under the stand, but I would worry about it soaking up water without me noticing it.

L98-Z · 03/25/2010, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kareem314

I have hardwood and I like the idea of a small rug under the stand, but I would worry about it soaking up water without me noticing it.

I've always read that rugs... or anything really over the hardwood is bad. Unless it's only temporary. Anything that can trap the water and prevent the wood from breathing causes the wood problems.

L98-Z · 03/25/2010, 12:16 PM

Double.

kareem314 · 03/25/2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L98-Z

I've always read that rugs... or anything really over the hardwood is bad. Unless it's only temporary. Anything that can trap the water and prevent the wood from breathing causes the wood problems.

As long as it isn't rubber backed, it is usually ok. The floor should be able to breath somewhat through the rug. It helps to be able to remove the rug and use some wood treatment under it a few times a year.

I will probably just use some felt pads to slightly lift the stand off the floor to give the flooring some air.

UNCCwill · 05/22/2010, 03:39 PM

I've trying to educate myself as much as possible today on this subject, because tomorrow is moving day. What I think will be an effective method is putting down four cork board squares under the corner of my stand. I think this will protect the hardwood from being scratched by my wooden stand, and also allow some breathing room underneath the stand should any water get down there. I decided against a rug underneath because many people have experienced water spills that get soaked up by the rug and they are unable to dry it out due to the inability to move the tank easily. Each cork square is 30 cm thick, I hope this isn't too much, though I can always put one right under the center of the tank too.

mihamlet · 05/26/2010, 10:39 AM

Yeah, I'm about to enter this situation too as I'm moving into a house with all wood floors, lots to learn. Don't want to have to replace the floors.

DustinB · 05/26/2010, 10:49 AM

You know you can probably go to home depot/lowes and get some of those 1/4" thick locking wood tiles. Make a platform about 2" wider than your tank all around. Finish off with some thin stained wood trim around the perimeter. You could glue the whole thing together and lay it down like a sheet of wood.

03/24/2010, 07:43 PM	#1
UNCCwill Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 103	Hardwood Floors? I will soon be moving into a new second floor condo with new hardwood floors. Is there anything I should know about the effects of placing a saltwater tank on this type of flooring? Spillage, etc? Is ruining the floor with random spills inevitable? I have a 40 gallon FOWLR.

03/25/2010, 06:14 AM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	you may consider putting your stand on several "feet" to allow a small air gap underneath. I thought all was good with both my 150 and my 120 a number of years ago (last house) until I moved to the new place and saw what even a small amount of water trapped under the stand can do. And for the record - I was very careful about spills. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/25/2010, 12:16 PM	#17
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	Double. Last edited by L98-Z; 03/25/2010 at 12:21 PM.

03/24/2010, 08:19 PM	#2
justsomeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Vermont Posts: 144	I have had my 90g tank on hardwood floors for two years and haven't had any issues. However, I am meticulous about cleaning up spills and I lay towels down when I do maintenance. What's the point of having a beautiful expensive reef tank on floors that look like crap. I think it also depends on the quality and type of finish on the flooring too.

03/24/2010, 08:32 PM	#3
spamreefnew Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: rhodeisland Posts: 1,491	my hardwoods are showing a bit of wear in the tank area due to drips

03/24/2010, 08:41 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	No problem with mine, although I lay down towels on the floor whenever I do major work in the tank.

03/24/2010, 08:42 PM	#5
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	Just asking, but are you positive they are hardwood and not laminate? If they are hardwood, the I would just go to a flooring store tell them what you are planning and see what kind of conditioner or cleaner they have for it.

03/24/2010, 09:37 PM	#6
roneil Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St Charles, Missouri Posts: 492	i clean my hardwood floor with Bruce everytime i drip any amount of water from my tank (as per instructions from the wife)

03/24/2010, 10:25 PM	#7
Manwolf Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Buffalo Grove Posts: 391	if you do spill just clean it up as quick as you can because it could damage the hardwood floor, and over time it will get worse.

03/25/2010, 07:37 AM	#9
Vin7250 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Connecticut "The Big East" Posts: 1,144	i placed my tank down on a nice rug runner

03/25/2010, 08:27 AM	#10
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	ive accepted the fact that if i ever decide to move, im going to need to reinstall new hardwood. its not just the water damage, its the indentation from the weight of the tank.

03/25/2010, 08:34 AM	#11
Onedeadbob Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 76	What type of flooring would you guys recommend?

03/25/2010, 08:58 AM	#12
OceanLandlord Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Lake Worth Posts: 137	A dehumidifier may be needed keep a close eye on the floor for any bowing or buckling of the wood and get one ASAP if you even think you see any buckling. My parents live along the ocean and get constant breezes with no tanks and they still are getting buckling in their floors (there was a 1/4" gap between the floors and wall all around for all those that think this might have been due to the floor being installed too tight to the walls)

03/25/2010, 10:16 AM	#13
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	I bought a large plastic sheet from HD and I cut a piece to be a little longer than the tank and a few feet wide, and I put that down when working on the tank. I still manage to drip on the hardwood sometimes but I just wipe it up right away.

03/25/2010, 11:20 AM	#14
dockery07 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Warsaw MO Posts: 439	I have teak floors and I just make sure I clean up spills right away.

03/25/2010, 11:43 AM	#15
kareem314 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Downtown Denver Posts: 56	I have hardwood and I like the idea of a small rug under the stand, but I would worry about it soaking up water without me noticing it.

05/22/2010, 03:39 PM	#19
UNCCwill Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 103	I've trying to educate myself as much as possible today on this subject, because tomorrow is moving day. What I think will be an effective method is putting down four cork board squares under the corner of my stand. I think this will protect the hardwood from being scratched by my wooden stand, and also allow some breathing room underneath the stand should any water get down there. I decided against a rug underneath because many people have experienced water spills that get soaked up by the rug and they are unable to dry it out due to the inability to move the tank easily. Each cork square is 30 cm thick, I hope this isn't too much, though I can always put one right under the center of the tank too.

05/26/2010, 10:39 AM	#20
mihamlet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 52	Yeah, I'm about to enter this situation too as I'm moving into a house with all wood floors, lots to learn. Don't want to have to replace the floors.

05/26/2010, 10:49 AM	#21
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	You know you can probably go to home depot/lowes and get some of those 1/4" thick locking wood tiles. Make a platform about 2" wider than your tank all around. Finish off with some thin stained wood trim around the perimeter. You could glue the whole thing together and lay it down like a sheet of wood.