Cant Decide Which Floor to Put Main Display...

[AquaFrenzy]

Hello everyone! after moving into new home I cant seem to find a place that I can feel 100% happy with setting up my new tank, its 125g with 36 gallon sump that will most likely be in stand. I first thought that the living room would be a great spot since it has a nice wall to put it against but it has cedar walls/ceiling and all the rooms share the same hardwood flooring that is tongue and groove with 90 degree edges and nailed down on ends, so any fair amount of water may be able to seep down between the boards and that may smell not to mention its salt water, not sure long term affects of that on hardwood in general...another issue is that room gets a lot of sunlight like a typical contemporary living room, more glass the better.... I could also do the bedroom, maybe put a membrane down and a carpet over that to deal with water spills during maintenance. I also have a finished basement that I could put it in but its not used much and it would be a little more difficult to keep an eye on the tank in comparison to the other options I listed but keeping temps down would be very easy in summer but heating in winter would be tougher...

Any of you guys had to sacrifice being able to showcase the tank for similar reasons?

 

[BigEZ77]

I have mine in my livingroom where I spend most if my time when I'm home because I want to see it as much as possible. I love looking at it, find it very relaxing. I wouldn't be too worried about water as long as you safe guard everything as best as possible...there's lots of good threads on here on best precautions. When I do water changes, I put towels on the floor around the stand.

PS. I keep my tank 3-4" from the wall. Seems far enough that there's no salt creep or moisture issues.

 

[davehead86]

With all the money i spent on my system i made sure it was prominent in the living room.

There would be no damage to the hardwood if you are not letting puddles sit around and soak in. Its just a tank and stand. Now with the sump area I would put down a membrane in the bottom of the stand to capture any of that spillage. But if that tank blows no matter what flooring you have down its going to ruin it and be expensive (home owners insurance anyone!).

Put that sucker in the living room!

 

[Gaxmode]

+1 living room. Too much money and beauty to not be front and center.

 

[kmbyrnes]

Living room for sure!
Look at it this way. Would you buy a very expensive piece of artwork and hide it your basement or put it on display where you could admire it all the time?

 

[Half Vaped]

I own a three-story house with a den and garage on the first floor (I can only enter the house on this floor) and a living room and kitchen on the second floor. I keep six fresh and saltwater tanks on the first floor and two nanos in the kitchen.

I specifically wanted to keep fish tanks out of the living room so I can enjoy my home theater without the sound of water running, motors buzzing and skimmers fizzing. I don't want tanks in my bedroom for the same reason. Having a good sized den was actually a good selling point in me picking this house.

I keep a smaller audio/video system in my den to have something playing in the background while I do tank maintenance or stare at my fishes. I spend maybe four hours in my living room for every hour in my den. In some ways I would like to have more access to my fish, but I'm glad that I don't hear the tanks when I'm watching movies or listening to music.

 

[carrots]

Put it in the room you will be in the most. I have a few big reef tanks in a finished basement but love my little 10 gallon nano in the kitchen. Wish I had all my tanks in viewing distance from the kitchen where I spend most of my time.

 

[C.Eymann]

Like mentioned above, a reek tank is a living, expensive piece of art. Don't hide it.

 

[AquaFrenzy]

thanks for all the input!! =) In my living room one end it has a fire place (propane) and the opposite end would be the tank with couches in between allowing you to view either, the other 2 walls are all sliding doors with large windows above them, If I went with the living room id have to find a way to minimize algae growth wouldn't I? I also have a decent size office that I could fit it in as well that I spend a lot of time in that I can control the lighting issue easily which is also on the same floor, but I agree I also think it would look best in the living room, that's where the tank has been sitting since I moved it in as that's where I originally wanted it