Concrete & Water

[Johnny Reefer]

Now that my 135g reef tank has an open loop, with two siphon overflow boxes feeding a 33g sump and also a 45g auto top-off tank feeding the sump, I must admit I’m kinda nervous about a potential flood.

So, I’m thinkin’ that I should maybe finally get around to buyin’ my own condo (currently rent) hopefully in about a year or so. And I’m thinkin’ that a concrete building would be better than wood frame in the event of a flood, but I don’t know.

So, I’m wondering if anyone knows of the repercussions that might occur in the event of a 30 – 70 gallon flood in a concrete building. (Second floor or higher. I will not move into a ground floor condo for security reasons).

1). I assume there would be some water seepage into the concrete, but
would it all seep in?
2). Would repairs possibly be required, or would the water just eventually
evaporate out of the concrete?
3). If repairs were required then would this likely cost more than repairs
to a wood frame building?

Thanx much,

[Beverly]

Don't know the answer to your question, but make sure you have specific insurance covering your tank and possible floods.

[Johnny Reefer]

I'm aware of insurance, but I think it would be prudent to try to avoid relying on just that alone by minimizing risk and damage. (I would also get the tanked drilled during the move to eliminate the siphon boxes. One way of reducing risk).

[Willow]

concrete apartments create humidity nightmares!

[Edmonton Eskimo]

Why would that be Willow?

[Invigor]

i was mixing some salt in a rubbermaid tub with an overpowered pump which turned up and sprayed 10g of water all over the living room. my landlord phoned me at work to tell me the residents below were having water come thru their roof. (i was 2nd level). har har! I thought my tank broke so I can burning home to find that...I didn't tell them it was saltwater

so needless to say, 2nd floors don't hold water that well

[danny zubot]

In my old condo I had a hose come loose to my skimmer and it dumped 10 gallons on the floor. It was concrete and nobody muttered a word to me. In my new condo, also concrete, my RODI hose fell out of the bucket onto the floor while I was away. I figured about 15 to 20 gallons soaked my carpet and seeped under walls into our closet. No one said a word. Luckily it was RODI water so all we did is wait for it to dry. The water didn't leak through the floors in those biuldings but they are all built differently. If you buy the place, take the base boards off and calk the walls, if you can.

[EmilyB]

Quite often in those concrete buildings enough of a water spill will leech out through the side of the building. I've seen this downtown several times.

So when you come home one day and notice this big piece of salt creep on the outside of your building, leave town...

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by Invigor

i was mixing some salt in a rubbermaid tub with an overpowered pump which turned up and sprayed 10g of water all over the living room. my landlord phoned me at work to tell me the residents below were having water come thru their roof. (i was 2nd level). har har! I thought my tank broke so I can burning home to find that...I didn't tell them it was saltwater

so needless to say, 2nd floors don't hold water that well

Concrete or wood frame building?

[Willow]

Originally Posted by Edmonton Eskimo

Why would that be Willow?

i lived in a concrete apartment for 2 years, there was always condensation on the windows, at times it was like breathing water, on bad days it felt like the carpet was wet. i had no tank at the time but i can only image that the problems would have magnified if i did.