Odd Question about Carpet Shampooing around a Fish Tank

Jesterrace · Feb 17, 2018

Okay, I have heard some horror stories about people using Carpet Cleaners around their fish tanks and having disastrous results. I haven't shampooed the carpet since getting a tank but here is the setup. I have a 90 gallon tank with corner overflow with Glass Tops and the bottom of the tank sits about 3 feet off the ground on the stand. The front of the stand has a magnetic cover on it and behind it is my 29 gallon sump that is completely open inside the stand. My carpet shampooer is my Kirby Vacuum which cleans via foam rather than a spray. So the question is can I use this thing in the same room as the fish tank without adverse effect or do I need to give it a wide berth? My wife is wanting to clean the carpets in the living room and I want to make sure we aren't going to do any damage to the tank.

GoVols · Feb 17, 2018

Jesterrace said:
Okay, I have heard some horror stories about people using Carpet Cleaners around their fish tanks and having disastrous results. I haven't shampooed the carpet since getting a tank but here is the setup. I have a 90 gallon tank with corner overflow with Glass Tops and the bottom of the tank sits about 3 feet off the ground on the stand. The front of the stand has a magnetic cover on it and behind it is my 29 gallon sump that is completely open inside the stand. My carpet shampooer is my Kirby Vacuum which cleans via foam rather than a spray. So the question is can I use this thing in the same room as the fish tank without adverse effect or do I need to give it a wide berth? My wife is wanting to clean the carpets in the living room and I want to make sure we aren't going to do any damage to the tank.

(lol)
I'm not going to put your reef on the line with my answer:

But... I think you'll be okay as long as you stay away from cans of aerosol carpet cleaner.

Tagging along for more feedback, from other reefers

AdamNC · Feb 17, 2018

If anything wrap the bottom of the tank with plastic so the fumes don't get near the sump. I know carpet cleaners will set off a Co2 detector.

reeferfoxx · Feb 17, 2018

Might turn off the skimmer for 24 hours so that the fumes don't enter the water. Can also run some activated carbon to reduce or remove any contaminants.