Big tanks on laminate floors

[gonorth16]

Hi all,
Im looking to start up a 180 or 210 agreesive fish only tank and was wondering if the weight of the tank would ruin the laminate floors Im about to put down. It will be a floating floor so dont know if the tank will ruin it. The salesperson @ lumber liquidators said it will be no problems but would like to know first hand if anyone has done this with damaging the floor. Thanks,Peter

 

[beckbrass]

When water spills, and it will, you may have problems with the floor soaking it up and expanding. But you could just buy enough extra to fix the area of the tank when you move.

 

[dannyp02908]

Agree with the above concerning water. When ip put up my 110, i took up the floor around the tank.

 

[ducducguzzi]

as a mfg rep for a major player in the commercial flooring world
don't do it
-you need to know the static and dynamic loads the lam floor can take
when you put a heavy load on the floor the "pad" under it will deflect and ripple the floor (stand in the middle of a mattress and watch the edges turn up)
-these floors are usually constructed with a backing like peg board, if it gets wet it will expand and break the joints / hinge
-water on the floor will get under the floor + pad that can absorb moisture = Mold growth, most insurance will not remediate this mold and this is the one that will get you sick
- heavy weight on the floor will prevent the movement of the floor (floating) rainy damp day will make the floor expand, crank on the heat in the winter and dry it out and the floor will shrink

I recommend a direct glue LVT plank over a floating floor with a min of a 2.5 mil wear layer. my guess is you have a plywood sub floor

 

[gonorth16]

Thanks to all that responded . I guess I'll have to wait to the new house for the next tank.