What do you put under your stand?

[cookiemn]

I just sold my 60 gallon set up and ordered a new 90 gallon. I had a carpet with a rubber backing on top of the oak floor under my old stand. When I took up the carpet I noticed that some of the rubber backing was compressed onto the oak floor underneath. I was wondering what other people use to help protect the floor underneath. I figure I will have anywhere from 1200-1500 lbs on a 48x18 footprint. My wife will have mt butt if I damage her new wood floors.

Erwin

 

[CurvBall]

Good question cookiemn, anybody got some advice? I'm in the same situation

 

[NaH2O]

We actually have a base to our stand, so not sure if this will help. I wanted to have a little added protection in the event that the sump overflowed, or that I splashed water around. We made an overflow tub out of acrylic to set the sump in. I don't remember the exact gallons it holds but it is more than 10 and less than 25. Here is a pic. Don't know how well you can see it, but you can make it out on the left side. The cord is coiled up on that half, and it runs the length of the stand:

 

[DonW]

I assume you mean the backing of the rug stuck to the floors finish. Any foam backing is going to do this. UHMW tape is always best for hardwood floors. I dont think anything will stick to it. I get it from www.hartvilletool.com .
Slides across hardwoods without scratching.

Don

 

[Desolas]

I use 5 mil construction plastic myself to keep the stands/bookcases from staining the carpet. Works with any flat surface that won't puncture plastic.

 

[Ed Hahn]

I do not know if any of you remember my accident? I use a carpet runner or 5 mil plastic like Desolas is talking about. It saved my carpet. The only downfall I learned was it held water under the stand for a long time. Water in a spill goes under the stand fast. It seeps out very slow. That is the reason I tore my tank down. I was convinced I had a leak in my aquarium. I had very little damage if any to my floor. You can still see a imprint where the aquarium was in the living room. It is just a crease. I know that it will come back up in time. Its hardly noticeable unless you look. I still find my self looking for my tank in living room. But now it is set up in the den.
I highly recomend plastic.

 

[cookiemn]

Nikki,
that's not a bad idea. I think I will use that in my stand. I still haven't decided which person is going to make it though.

Ed/Don,
thanks for the input. It sounds like your ideas will work for carpet, but what about hard wood floors. I need to protect them from making that imprint. I was also thinking of adding some access holes in the bottom of my stand in case of a flood. That way, in case something happens, I can use a blower to help dry out whatever moisture is under the tank.

Erwin

 

[G~]

on my wifes system we have those large Teflon furniture movers under the stand. i bought the big 4" ones. they allow us to slide the entire system up and running to get to the back or to clean up a spill that happened. you need to make sure the stand is overbuilt to handle the extra torque of moving.

G~

 

[cookiemn]

Sounds like an idea G~. But how big is your system? I assume that you do not have anything under your stand.

Erwin

 

[iamjosh]

Intereting Idea G~

Curious how large that setup is..

 

[bri7969]

it s a 125

 

[bri7969]

or go too his home page

 

[DonW]

You get the imprint from the finish being soft. The uhmv will not stick like foam rubber products. I assume only the edges of your stand touch the floor, if this is the case you get a big rectangle on your hardwood finish. If this is what your trying to avoid, Commercial mats like the ones from laundry services will not stick to your finish. Most household stuff is foam rubber but you can get commercial solid rubber / carpet mats at home depot.

Don

 

[iamjosh]

G~'s is a 125, but thats on the fireplace Mantel.. I wanna know what size tank they're moving on the coasters..

 

[Scooterman]

Please don't be shocked by mine!

 

[iamjosh]

I hope you don't get shocked by yours either ;-)

 

[NaH2O]

I'm feeling a bit foolish as I've read thru the responses. First, I've now realized the thread was about what was under the stand....as in under it, like G~ was talking about. I never thought about that. The Teflon furniture movers that were mentioned are a great idea. I have the small versions on my table and chairs in the kitchen so my floor doesn't get scratched. The second reason I'm feeling foolish is because my overflow pan for the sump doesn't hold as much water with the sump in it as it does without the sump in it. At any rate, it is good enough to get splashes as I work, and if the sump would ever flood (it actually won't but you never know), it will hold a few gallons at least.

 

[iamjosh]

I think its a good thread either way..kinda fun to see what people have under the tank in the stand, and intersting to hear what people had under their stand (between the stand and the flooring).

Nikki - Rick in the TriCities is thinking about sorta building a type of maot with a fllor drain under his tank next time he moves to deal with any over flow situations.. it was a very detailed and neat idea.

 

[Scooterman]

I think a better question for me is "What Isn't under my Stand?"

 

[cookiemn]

Scooterman,
the first thing that came to mind when I saw your pic was "fire hazard".