Refinishing timber floors with Tung Oil in the same room as aquarium

[AquaticJim]

I have *killed* the Tung Oil finish on the polished hardwood flooring after a decade or more of countless litres of water being spilled on them from my tanks whilst water changing, aquascaping etc etc.

Tung Oil is pretty smelly and even when it's dried it gives of a smell for a week or so and I will need to do at least 3 coats at 24 hour periods, my tank is open top and I wondering how to refinish the floors without any danger to the tank?

Any suggestions?

 

[Jim Miller]

Are you using pure tung or a varnish containing tung?

Jim

 

[AquaticJim]

Are you using pure tung or a varnish containing tung?

Jim

Hi Jim

This is the product -

http://www.feastwatsoncommercial.com.au/productPrintFriendly.asp?ProductID=112

I'm not sure if it's pure Tung Oil or not?

 

[Jim Miller]

Usually the quickest way is to read the MSDS. For some reason they require a login to do that. Here's pure tung oil: http://www.realmilkpaint.com/oil.html

Jim

 

[Tom Barr]

Polyurethane might be a better and longer lasting.

Use a fan and open the place up either way.......air it out good for a few hours.

you can use activated carbon to remove any organics that end up in the tank, but generally it's not an issue, I always use the Activated carbon and water change after just in case, cover the tanks good while I do it.

 

[AquaticJim]

Thanks for the replies.

I had a 1000L reef tank in the same place for 5 years and now I have had the planted tank for over 4 years so the timber floors have really copped a hiding and my wife has been very patient about me refinishing them.

 

[Tom Barr]

3-4 coats of the poly and you should be good.

It's pretty tuff stuff, I like a good linseed or Tung oil myself, but requires more work, wood and water do not mix that well, better than carpet and sub flooring.........but .........the poly would give you the best solution I think, if you do the work, it pays to do it right and do a good long term job on it for the usage you have planned.

 

[DukeNJ]

Refinishing an existing floor will serve you well. Poly on am old, sanded floor does a good job of sealing. Pre-finished floors let water in the cracks. Causes problems. A solid layer of poly may be the best scenario for wood near water.

 

[Tom Barr]

Refinishing an existing floor will serve you well. Poly on am old, sanded floor does a good job of sealing. Pre-finished floors let water in the cracks. Causes problems. A solid layer of poly may be the best scenario for wood near water.

Agreed, those pre done floors stink and allow water in, refinishing it much better.

Or go with nice tile!!

 

[pat w]

The house we bought in Daphne, AL has 20" tile throughout (even the closets). I've become down right sloppy with tank maint. I'd vote for tile around the tank if possible, if not do a full seal as suggested. Water under those prefinished floors are just inviting mold issues.

 

[AquaticJim]

Luckily the floor isn't that floating floor board stuff that you see for sale in packs at the huge hardwares. It's 80 year old 3/4" thick tongue and groove Cypress Pine.

 

[Jim Miller]

I know it isn't the current favorite suggestion but if you have a scrap of the flooring around somewhere why not try a few different finish ideas on it. It sounds like a very nice stock to work with. Why not get some pure tung and some citrus oil to cut thin it with and see how it looks?

Jim

 

[Tom Barr]

Sort of going along with Jim's suggestion: do the tung oil and citrus................then top coat that with 1-2 coats of the poly.

Sealing those gaps between the planks is critical and will preserve the wood for another 200 years.
Do it right I say.

It's worth doing in this case.

 

[AquaticJim]

Thanks one and all, I appreciate all the help and replies.

 

[Crispino Ramos]

I just place lots of old towels around the tank when I work on it.

 

[Tom Barr]

I just place lots of old towels around the tank when I work on it.

Moving pads/blankets work very well for this.