What to put between tank and new "hardwood"

[4FordFamily]

Hello,

I'd like some barrier between potential moisture and my flooring. What kinds of things have you all used? Or suggest?

Worst case it'll be some plastic liner like you throw down when painting, at a minimum

 

[Big G]

I like the thin, firm yoga mats. I keep a couple of them around to lay in front of the tank when doing w/c, etc. Cheers!

 

[Idoc]

I would actually try to get some air circulation under the stand rather than put a barrier. Any barrier may actually cause condensation below it and damage the hardwood floors! Anything foam related will hold in moisture and keep it against the flooring as well probably causing the wood to rot. Any spilled water will seep under the stand and under the barriers... hence holding the moisture against the flooring!

 

[Joe's Coral Reef]

I use a few Drymate Mats while messing around with the tank, then pull them up when I'm done.

https://www.amazon.com/Drymate-Jumb...4786&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=Drymate++Mat&psc=1

 

[Ryan115]

I just got water running in a 90 gallon that is on my new wood floors.
I went straight wood to wood, with nothing in between. Plastic would be the worst thing you could put under there.
I left that part of the stand unpainted as well, for two reasons.

1. No paint sticking to the floor
2. If any moisture does get under there, the bare wood should help to absorb it, rather than trap it.

 

[VitaminD]

build a stand or pan that would hold any possible overflow of sump or leaking. I actually have a drain in bottom of my sealed cabinet to handle this .

 

[cmcoker]

I would actually try to get some air circulation under the stand rather than put a barrier. Any barrier may actually cause condensation below it and damage the hardwood floors! Anything foam related will hold in moisture and keep it against the flooring as well probably causing the wood to rot. Any spilled water will seep under the stand and under the barriers... hence holding the moisture against the flooring!

this was my thought too, air.

my reefer 250 has those plastic feet underneath, so any water spills can dried out.. but I'm on stained concrete

 

[jsker]

use these link

 

[Heliarc19]

Totally agree with plastic feet and some air.

 

[CastAway]

I used the fiber sound board from the Depot.

 

[Ryan115]

use these link

What size tank is the OP setting up?
Figure out the weight of the tank and then how many feet you would need to get into a reasonable PSI range for the flooring, and placement of the pegs for transferring the load.

 

[Barrett]

I would install rubber feet on the bottom of your stand to raise it off the ground and allow air under it use towels to keep water from under stand when doing water changes. Plastic will cause condensation and with no air it won't dry and ruin your floors fast, kind of like a wet rug on the floor.

 

[jsker]

I would install rubber feet on the bottom of your stand to raise it off the ground and allow air under it use towels to keep water from under stand when doing water changes. Plastic will cause condensation and with no air it won't dry and ruin your floors fast, kind of like a wet rug on the floor.

after time the rubber will stick to the finish.

 

[revhtree]

Another vote for open up the bottom for air movement and enough room for added fab flow in case of a spill. Anything I would think would just make it harder to dry?

 

[burtbollinger]

red sea reefer's plastic feed work wonders and allow air underneath. i would never put a mat down or anything that could trap water

 

[BradNTx]

A polyurethane "gym floor" finish would seal the floor pretty well. You could even mask off an area, roughly the same dimensions as your cabinet, or go 12-16" wider for extra protection. You can get urethane in clear gloss or clear satin so it would minimize the difference between the rest of your floor.

We are contemplating wood floors sometime soon. I've done some research on this, plus have some experience with polyurethane varnish on work tables and other wood surfaces that needed to be durable and stain resistant. I'm leaning towards giving it a try.

 

[4FordFamily]

Totally agree with plastic feet and some air.

180 with feet worries me, shouldn't it?

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks for all of the ideas. @jsker i bought 16 of those feet. I never even thought of that.

The floors are composite hardwood and it's a standard 180 with a 60 gal sump.

 

[jsker]

Another vote for open up the bottom for air movement and enough room for added fab flow in case of a spill. Anything I would think would just make it harder to dry?

you have to put a drain in

 

[jsker]

Thanks for all of the ideas. @jsker i bought 16 of those feet. I never even thought of that.

The floors are composite hardwood and it's a standard 180 with a 60 gal sump.

Start at the corners and center and then space them evenly. I have wood floors and I can move my filled tank, stand when I need to

I designed and made the stand, and I am quite comfortable moving the unit.