Restarting a reef tank: best aquarium

[Anonymous]

The floor actually is not warped significantly. I think the photo makes it look like the board is cupped but it really is not. I just checked. So the main problem is the gaps, and I am concerned that water not be allowed to get through those gaps.

 

[Anonymous]

Which brings up a different point. In the next room we have Pergo instead of wood flooring. Would this be a superior surface? When they put the floor down, they had to put a layer of a cushioning/insulating substance (I forget what) because it sits on top of a concrete slab. So the floor is slightly squishy, which bothers me for an aquarium surface.

 

[trido]

Pergo is a far lesser of a product than real hardwood when it comes to standing water. I would definately advise against putting the fish tank on it unless you have to. The foam underlayment is to keep the pergo from sounding too hollow and allow it to have that little bit of give. If its over concrete I hope they also used the Pergo 6mil plastic first to give you that wonderful 20 year warranty. If you have to you can definately put the tank on the pergo without weight issues. Any spills would be critical to clean up thouroughly and immediately.

Regarding the seams of hardwood. You should use a good filler before varnishing them. If they are too wide the varnish will just crack and let the water in any way. Essentially, we reefers are all doomed to water damage in a matter of time no matter what kind of flooring we have. Even my tile over concrete will show signs of wear in a matter of just years. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Maybe I should fill it with aquarium sealant with sawdust mixed in it.

:lol:

 

[Anonymous]

The peroxide I mentioned earlier is better at removing some stains - always try it first. Bleach bleaches the wood and stain. A big diff. I have never seen a floor's joints filled unless there is a big screw up involved. New floors should be acclimated to the room for a few days and the joints should be very tight when installed so I don't know what they could be filling. Some wood floors do have the grain filled which is different than filling a joint.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll give it a whirl.

 

[Anonymous]

The peroxide I mentioned earlier is better at removing some stains - always try it first. Bleach bleaches the wood and stain. A big diff. I have never seen a floor's joints filled unless there is a big screw up involved. New floors should be acclimated to the room for a few days and the joints should be very tight when installed so I don't know what they could be filling. Some wood floors do have the grain filled which is different than filling a joint.

I would agree about the peroxide, I have never had the chance to use it.

 

[trido]

Good point about the peroxide Andy. You seem to know what you are talking about. Ill give you that. On the west coast here. I have never seen a floor get installed or refinished without some filler put into any open joints. I will say though. I dont know everything. Just what I've seen.

 

[Anonymous]

It's part of me job.

 

[bleedingthought]

I've seen ends where two pieces meet being filled in, and I actually don't know why they wouldn't be , but not the male-female joints.

 

[Anonymous]

I can't get either of two LFS to order me the friggin' fish tank and lights. Only in California do people act like they are doing you a big favor by letting you spend over $1K.

:roll:

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen people fill wood floors. Actually I saw it on This old house, they were refinishing a floor and after sanding and before the Poly went on they spread a filler on the floor similar to drywall spackling and then they sanded it again. That filled any imperfections and any lowered grain as well as cracks in between the pieces of flooring.

When it was done it looked new.


Funny thing Wgscott, my lfs didn't want to order parts for me either. I said fine, then you have lost my business...

 

[Anonymous]

Funny thing Wgscott, my lfs didn't want to order parts for me either. I said fine, then you have lost my business...

... and if you go into the store with a printout of a potential internet company order and ask them to match the price, they freak out like you just confessed to sleeping with their spouse.

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen people fill wood floors. Actually I saw it on This old house, they were refinishing a floor and after sanding and before the Poly went on they spread a filler on the floor similar to drywall spackling and then they sanded it again. That filled any imperfections and any lowered grain as well as cracks in between the pieces of flooring.

When it was done it looked new.


Funny thing Wgscott, my lfs didn't want to order parts for me either. I said fine, then you have lost my business...

That sounds like a grain filler which is used on opengrain wood like oak and others - which is different than a joint filler.

 

[Anonymous]

I have seen people fill wood floors. Actually I saw it on This old house, they were refinishing a floor and after sanding and before the Poly went on they spread a filler on the floor similar to drywall spackling and then they sanded it again. That filled any imperfections and any lowered grain as well as cracks in between the pieces of flooring.

When it was done it looked new.


Funny thing Wgscott, my lfs didn't want to order parts for me either. I said fine, then you have lost my business...

That sounds like a grain filler which is used on opengrain wood like oak and others - which is different than a joint filler.

I couldn't give you the details on it as I was probably watching it with the sound turned down while reading a book or playing guitar...

 

[Anonymous]

No one in my family wants the corner tank either. We are going to go look at aquariums today, but my current idea is either the 75 gal or 100L. I personally prefer the 100L. I am going to tell my wife the L stands for litre, and maybe get away with this. Heh heh.

:twisted:

Isn't she an academic too? Good luck with that!

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, but since she is British, she doesn't know that an American Gallon is smaller than an Imperial Gallon, so maybe I can exploit that.

Also, TruVu's "100L" is 60x18x20 / 231 = 93 gallons.

TruVu != TruVolume

 

[Anonymous]

So I am looking at tank dimensions now.

The 75 is given as 48 x 15 x 24. I was under the impression it was wider and shallower.

Then I saw that for whatever reason the TruVu 100L is (trivially) cheaper:

60 x 18 x 20.

So it is wider and shorter.

Would two HQI lamps be enough for a 5 foot long tank? I assume since it is shallower, this geometry might actually be better for lighting than the 75 quoted above.

Because it's shorter, and they can use thinner acrylic.

 

[bleedingthought]

I can't get either of two LFS to order me the friggin' fish tank and lights. Only in California do people act like they are doing you a big favor by letting you spend over $1K.

:roll:

Did you end up finding a tank, yet? What's the status of your hunt for a new reef?