Aquarium on carpet

[iangangoo]

I will be starting up my aquarium again but my new place only has carpet, what are your thoughts-experiences with aquariums on carpet. Is it safe? my last place had hardwood floors, I am not sure how it will stand up on carpet.

[aknif]

Both of my big tanks are on carpet... I'm not sure what your concern is about them?

I feel better about my tanks on carpet than I would on hardwoods. If I was going to set up a tank on hardwoods, i'd put a piece of styrofoam under it to absorb any irregularities in the floor. With carpet... that's not an issue.

[iangangoo]

my only concern is with balance, your saying it is better to balance my 90 gallon tank on carpet? Just a little nervous with the thought.

[jmattingly]

I don't think you have too much to worry about, if you set things up correctly and pay attention while you're doing it.

I have a 125 gallon tank set up on carpet in my home. When I first got the tank on the stand, out came the level. I made sure everything was centered and that the tank was level.

After the tank was about 1/3 full, I got the level out again and checked to make sure everything was still in line. I did the same thing as the tank approached full.

Hardwood floors aren't forgiving. If there are flaws in the floor, they will transfer the flaw to whatever you put on it... as far as being level is concerned. Carpet has a pad underneath. So slight imperfections in the levelness of the floor is going to be lessened by the carpet and the pad.

Just use a level as you start to set things up and you should be fine.

Joe

[aknif]

I'm kinda confused about what you mean by "balance"? A 90 gallon tank is gonna weigh a LOT.. even on the plushest 1972 avocado green shag, that tank is going to settle right in and squash the carpet and pad right down.

Just like jmattingly says, get it where you want it and be sure it's level, and monitor it as you fill it. Once it's full, it's not going ANYWHERE.

[iangangoo]

thanks guys I will take the advise and keep my trusty level handy.

[star_rider]

a level and some shims and you're set

[stingray4540]

Hmm... My 85 isn't quite level, is that too big of a concern? If so, what would I need to worry about?

[star_rider]

it's really going to depend on how far out of level it is.

remember that the torque is going to affect the stand and depending on the stand the aquarium itself.

but a lot depends on how far off level it is..is it is just off plumb..I wouldn't worry too much..it's easy to shim it if it is off..especially if the tank isn't full..witht the right equiptment it isn't difficult even if it's full.

[stingray4540]

It's six feet long and the one ends waterlevel is about half an inch lower than the other end.

[Angel_Keeper]

i was just seting up a 55 gallon and than i saw some people say its better in carpet than in hardwood>>??

Can i put the tank in Hardwood though?? i did notice the water moving when people walk around it.

I dont have carpets at home. is it good if i put a rug under the metal stand or will it be ok withot it??

[aknif]

Stingray, neither of my large tanks are PERFECTLY level, but neither of them are off by 1/2" either. I am not certain that it's an issue, but it would make me nervous! I'd do something about it if it were my tank off by 1/2".

Angelkeeper, if you have one of those wrought iron stands, i'd put a rug under it just to protect your floor as much as anything. If your stand has 4 feet touching the floor, I wouldn't worry about the floor being unevenl as much as I would a wooden stand that has contact all along the floor. I'd just put the rug under there to protect the floor more than anything. Just be sure the stand and tank are level on it once you have it set up.

If I ever move and have to set up one of my tanks on hardwood, my stands are all wood, i'd go to Home Depot to buy a piece of 3/4" styrofoam to put under the stand.... to absorb any irregularities in the flooring. (And to protect the floor too!)

Just my .02!

[stingray4540]

Just my two cents, but if it's one of those stands with just 4 skinny legs and the tank moves when people walk by, I would be reall nervous. Those Types of stand are already unstable, I wouldn't want to know what extra movement would do. I say this because I have one for my 30 gallon and it scares me. I prefer the wood cabinet kind, very stable.

[mishi8]

If you're concerned about stability, regardless of the flooring, you can tether the stand to the wall. I have done that with book shelves and dressers too, so that the kids can't accidently pull them over. :)

[stingray4540]

Good Idea.

[DeRo316]

all my tanks have a sheet of 1/4 inch styrofoam underneath, I have 2 on carpet and 1 on hardwood.

[star_rider]

1/2" off on a 6' tank..i would have personally leveled that...but part of it depends on the type of stand.

aquariums on hardwood floors..aren't bad but I would put something between the stand and the floor(kind of like a buffer) compressed foam rubber ot dense styofoam.

[LunchBox]

I used to have a 40 gallon set up on carpet and near the wall where they tacked the carpet down there was something under there that made the tank off balance. In case that is a concern my suggestion is to take a keyhole saw (or other saw) and cut a wooden yardstick to the length of your tank and use it to shim which ever side of the tank is lower. A yardstick is sometimes what flooring companies use to tack down carpet along the edges (my office was recently recarpeted so I've seen it firsthand) so it should be just the right thickness.