Fish Tank on Laminate Floor

Q: We just installed Pergo laminate flooring in our dining area – it looks great!! My question is – we have a 55 gallon aquarium that weighs roughly 650 lbs. when full of water – can we move our tank into the dining area safely? Will the weight hurt the floor?
Thanks in advance
Jessica
A: When it comes to any floating floor, such as your Pergo®, it is not advised to put anything that is especially heavy on one portion of your floor, such as book cases, cabinets, or aquariums. This being said, this can depend heavily on the underlayment you use as well. Dense underlayments, such as cork, can support weight better than the typical foam underlayment.
There are folks who will put heavy objects, such as pool tables, in a rec room over floating cork or laminate and have success with it. Being an aquarium keeper myself, I would be curious to know what type of tank you have and what type of base you used for it. A longer rectangular tank would spread the weight over a larger area and perhaps be more suitable. Although I would advise putting your aquarium elsewhere since this is a floating floor.
In the end, another thing to keep in mind is wood and water do NOT mix. So should a spill occur, whether when cleaning your tank, changing water changing items in the tank, etc., you run a big risk or ruining the laminate unless many precautions are taken. I personally lay down towels around my tank before doing anything that could involve spills and my tank sits over stone tiling.
To summarize: I would generally not suggest placing something heavy, such as your aquarium, over a floating floor. Wood and water do not mix; however, this is your floor and your home so you can do anything you like – just be prepared for consequences.