Does sump humidity kill cabinets?

[Mindblock769]

I am picking up my first saltwater tank this Friday (Reefer 250). What I noticed on a lot of used aquariums, the stands look like crap! I know spillage is inevitable, but is there any humidity in the sump area that will eventually start wearing out these cheap MDF cabinets?

I had the idea of wrapping in the inside of the tank with a waterproof vinyl to prevent wear & tear and also help with spills inside the cabinet.

Thoughts?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I run a fan underneath to alleviate that

 

[Fish Think Pink]

I am picking up my first saltwater tank this Friday (Reefer 250). What I noticed on a lot of used aquariums, the stands look like crap! I know spillage is inevitable, but is there any humidity in the sump area that will eventually start wearing out these cheap MDF cabinets?

I had the idea of wrapping in the inside of the tank with a waterproof vinyl to prevent wear & tear and also help with spills inside the cabinet.

Thoughts?

MDF is not designed for wet areas.

Most cabinets and stands are plywood or steel.

Don't think you mean wrapping "inside of the tank" but perhaps inside cabinet or stand... I'd think flapping around or cracking of vinyl would be bothersome overtime but you raise a great thread. Coating with polyurethane or something along those lines might be path for my next stand & cabinet, though if we build next one ourselves we will use wood boards not plywood as banding lifts when exposed to water and the plywood splinters. Spills and splashes are inevitable in hobby.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Generally yes but you can use tough paint, silicone edges and keep the back open to mitigate

 

[Mindblock769]

MDF is not designed for wet areas.

Most cabinets and stands are plywood or steel.

Don't think you mean wrapping "inside of the tank" but perhaps inside cabinet or stand... I'd think flapping around or cracking of vinyl would be bothersome overtime but you raise a great thread. Coating with polyurethane or something along those lines might be path for my next stand & cabinet, though if we build next one ourselves we will use wood boards not plywood as banding lifts when exposed to water and the plywood splinters. Spills and splashes are inevitable in hobby.

Sorry, still new to the hobby (havent even picked up my tank yet) so im mixing up the terminology inappropriately.

Yes, I mean wrap the inside of the cabinet. I thought I had read the reefer 250 was constructed of MDF, but I certainly could be wrong.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Sorry, still new to the hobby (havent even picked up my tank yet) so im mixing up the terminology inappropriately.

Yes, I mean wrap the inside of the cabinet. I thought I had read the reefer 250 was constructed of MDF, but I certainly could be wrong.

You could be right LOL

but MDF isn't suitable for wet areas... when we remodeled our bathroom, there were very decorative MDF baseboards, but one bathroom we went with plainer baseboard and other bathroom we had to route our own design on boards because bathrooms get wet. We didn't want to put all that effort in just to have the baseboards look bad over time with exposure to humidity and wet. Expect MDF to fall apart if exposed to moisture

 

[olonmv]

I dont have a sump but, Im sure good air circulation like @vetteguy53081 suggested would be the route Id take.

 

[olonmv]

Once MDF gets wet, game over. Stay far away from MDF and water combo.

 

[anthonygf]

I am picking up my first saltwater tank this Friday (Reefer 250). What I noticed on a lot of used aquariums, the stands look like crap! I know spillage is inevitable, but is there any humidity in the sump area that will eventually start wearing out these cheap MDF cabinets?

I had the idea of wrapping in the inside of the tank with a waterproof vinyl to prevent wear & tear and also help with spills inside the cabinet.

Thoughts?

Good question. Never really entered my mind. Now I am curious.

 

[anthonygf]

MDF is not designed for wet areas.

Most cabinets and stands are plywood or steel.

Don't think you mean wrapping "inside of the tank" but perhaps inside cabinet or stand... I'd think flapping around or cracking of vinyl would be bothersome overtime but you raise a great thread. Coating with polyurethane or something along those lines might be path for my next stand & cabinet, though if we build next one ourselves we will use wood boards not plywood as banding lifts when exposed to water and the plywood splinters. Spills and splashes are inevitable in hobby.

I would be worried about the fumes from polyurethane or any other coatings, even when dry some still release fumes like formaldehyde, etc.

 

[anthonygf]

Small fan is your best bet.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I had a carpenter build me a well made stand out of 2 by 4's. See my build thread. We left the back mostly closed and I thought there was too much humidity so he built this fan in. MDF is so flimsy I would never trust my tank with it.

 

[Garf]

I am picking up my first saltwater tank this Friday (Reefer 250). What I noticed on a lot of used aquariums, the stands look like crap! I know spillage is inevitable, but is there any humidity in the sump area that will eventually start wearing out these cheap MDF cabinets?

I had the idea of wrapping in the inside of the tank with a waterproof vinyl to prevent wear & tear and also help with spills inside the cabinet.

Thoughts?

I’m not familiar with that cabinet but it should have adequate ventilation, either designed in or modified. Air flow down there is helpful as CO2 can pool in the sump also.

 

[Mindblock769]

So it does appear the cabinet is constructed of MDF but has a HPL laminate type layer that provides the moisture barrier. Still wonder how well it holds overtime, especially with small spills.

 

[olonmv]

So it does appear the cabinet is constructed of MDF but has a HPL laminate type layer that provides the moisture barrier. Still wonder how well it holds overtime, especially with small spills.

Water has a way of finding its way into everything. Only application ive used MDF was in subwoofer boxes. Had MDF board in my garage floor that swelled from 3/4 thick to 1 1/2 inch thick when i forgot about my rodi water. It sucked up the water like a sponge.

 

[Jeffcb]

Fan will help plus help with cooling sump heat. Dropped my tank temp almost 1 degree. I got this inexpensive fan on amazon for the power supply and speed control. I then replaced this fan with a Noctua, super quiet.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Fan will help plus help with cooling sump heat. Dropped my tank temp almost 1 degree. I got this inexpensive fan on amazon for the power supply and speed control. I then replaced this fan with a Noctua, super quiet.

Can you point me to the Noctua please? I am wondering if it is more quiet than the one I bought.

 

[Jeffcb]

I am picking up my first saltwater tank this Friday (Reefer 250). What I noticed on a lot of used aquariums, the stands look like crap! I know spillage is inevitable, but is there any humidity in the sump area that will eventually start wearing out these cheap MDF cabinets?

I had the idea of wrapping in the inside of the tank with a waterproof vinyl to prevent wear & tear and also help with spills inside the cabinet.

Thoughts?

Red Sea cabinets are marine-spec, laminated, plywood. You could build a boat with it.

 

[Jeffcb]

Can you point me to the Noctua please? I am wondering if it is more quiet than the one I bought.

Amazon. That is the one I have. Cant hear it at full speed. Aquariums are loud enough. every litte bit helps.

 

[bpbonds]

Run a Fan and you will be fine!