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Hardwood floors and saltwater

newreefer03

Well-Known Member
BRS Member
Just wondering if people do anything to protect their hardwood floor from saltwater spills from tanks. I would like to protect the floors as I know saltwater does do a number on the hardwood but I don't want the tank to look too stupid either.
 
20 years ago when I had my first SW tank (55-gal) and was still living at home in my mother's 100-year old, beautiful, mint, victorian house, I put those large rubber mats between the stand and the floor. These mats had a sort-of absorbant top, but the bottom was rubber and waterproof. Similar to what you might put at the front door of your house.

This helped with just about all of the spills and accidents. Luckily, I never had a flood. Otherwise, I might not be sitting here now 20-yrs later typing this to you. :D
 
I've got hardwoods, and I spill water all over it. As long as you wipe it up, it doesnt seem to cause a problem.


Spilling PVC glue on the other hand.....
 
Dennis, as you've already known, wood and water just don't get along :)
Depending on your tank location, can you install tiles in the room where the tank is going to be located? They even have tiles that has wood floor grain & pattern, if that's the look that you're looking for. For comfort, you can always put an area rug around the sitting area.
 
Painful topic for me...get the matt as Gina suggested, or put the tank in the basement, or ....quit the Hobby. It is accident waiting to happen. :o
 
RichConley said:
I've got hardwoods, and I spill water all over it. As long as you wipe it up, it doesnt seem to cause a problem.

that's not true. if the hardwood floor is perfectly finished (unlikely) than you won't have a problem. However, here in NE the temperature fluctuates a lot from bitter cold to really hot so the hardwood tends to contract and expand, causing the seal to crack. If you spill water, the water eventually will find its way through the cracks and wiping it up won't help you at all. And there's also the risk of flood...
 
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RichConley said:
I've got hardwoods, and I spill water all over it. As long as you wipe it up, it doesnt seem to cause a problem.


I second that!
 
Armando said:
that's not true. if the hardwood floor is perfectly finished (unlikely) than you won't have a problem. However, here in NE the temperature fluctuates a lot from bitter cold to really hot so the hardwood tends to contract and expand, causing the seal to crack. If you spill water, the water eventually will find its way through the cracks and wiping it up won't help you at all. And there's also the risk of flood...
This is where the wax comes in...
 
Small spills are no problem but I must agree with puffer its an accident wating to happen, ask my wife.

Jim
 
Well, the reason I posted is that I will be moving and I do notice some damage on the current wood floor from several minor and a couple major spills/accident and would like to prevent the damage at the new place. Does anyone use any kind of plastic mats/pads? I'm not sure you can put the Dr Foster and Smith mat under a stand and tank.
 
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