Are cinderblock stands stable??

[Aquadiva]

Starting to think about the stand in the basement for the new sump. Was just thinking about building a utilitarian stand out of 2x4's. Was poking around looking at a number of pics and noticed that some (Greg Hiller) and few others were using the old wood on cinderblock trick.

I was wondering if these were temporary setups or permanent installs. Would be a good way to go so you could change things down the line. Wondering how many blocks you could stack. How stable are they? Looking at a 4x2x2ish sump/fuge thingy.

Thanks

 

[joefitz]

I've never liked the idea but I would guess that as long as you kept water -- especially saltwater -- off of them they'd probably hold out for quite some time. Saltwater is about as bad an enemy as concrete has...

 

[littlep93056]

cinderblocks are fine even if every now & then they get wet

 

[wrassefan]

I would think the cinder blocks would work...if you are worried about the saltwater, paint each block with a concrete paint or stain

 

[S Hunter]

saltwater corrodes concrete by degrading the cementing agent and by forming crystals in the pores that eventually expand and physically break down the internal structure of the concrete... i would seal them

 

[Pat H.]

I have a 150 gl rubbermaid tub on 8 cinderblocks(two at each corner). Works fine, just be sure to stack them with the holes vertical NOT horizontal. I don't think I'd go higher than three just for safety.

 

[Aquadiva]

thanks guys

Patrick did you seal yours or anything?? How long they been up? Any sign of salt infestation. I really did think much about the salt/cement factor. We used to make shelves and bookcases out of bricks and boards and cinder blocks and boards all the time in college. Quick, easy and mobile.

When I saw a few pics of people doing the same it got me think of using them for a sump stand, too.

 

[Pat H.]

Patrick did you seal yours or anything?? How long they been up? Any sign of salt infestation.

No, I didn't seal them. No salt damage on mine that I can see. They've been in use just about a year. IMO they will last a very long time with just an occasional spill or splash of seawater, different story if they were to get wet daily.

 

[customclimates]

I have a 150 gl rubbermaid tub on 8 cinderblocks(two at each corner). Works fine, just be sure to stack them with the holes vertical NOT horizontal. I don't think I'd go higher than three just for safety.

Pat is 100% correct. The strength of the cinderblock is when the holes are facing vertically. If the block is laid on its side so you can stand in front & see into it, then the block is extremely weak & susceptible to collapsing.

 

[Aquadiva]

thanks for the input, guys....

 

[~Flighty~]

I hear about the salt damage a lot, but have never seen a degraded cinder block from these conditions. Does it have to freeze/thaw to really kill the concrete? I can't see an difference on the stuff in our fish room that has been getting wet for years.

 

[littlep93056]

They are very stable & will not fall apart in this use

 

[S Hunter]

but really, wouldn't it stink to find out the hard way , that a 10 dollar can of sealer could have saved you from that mess.....

 

[Aquadiva]

As far as stable goes, I was thinking about lateral stability. I was looking into sealing the floor, so I'll have see if the same stuff will work on the blocks. I can't see why it wouldn't.

I know there are areas of my floor that have "white dust" on them. Salt, or deterioration of the cement? I don't no which it is, but the salt water is definitely doing something there. No holes or cracks, though. So I would think there is a bit of concern over the cement/saltwater combination. I just don't know how much.

 

[joefitz]

I certainly haven't seen a concrete block fail at home due to corrosion from salt water...but every person I've spoken with that knows anything about concrete has always told me to make sure I seal it, especially under these types of conditions. Salt damages the binding agents in concrete. Freezing/thawing would surely be worse but that activity isn't required for the concrete to be damaged. Heck, straight water is really pretty bad for unsealed concrete. I also believe cinder blocks are more susceptible to water damage because they are more porous than poured concrete (which I think you'd find is also sealed after hardening).

I'm sure we have members in the club that have been using cinder blocks to support tanks and whatnot for years without any obvious problem... I wouldn't think occasional spillage would take quite some time to become a problem but like shunter is suggesting, insurance is cheap in the form of sealant.

Cinder blocks are obviously quite different from poured concrete as well...they are much more porous. I'm not sure what that means for sealant effectiveness, but I wouldn't think it would hurt.

 

[SaltCreep]

Damn... I used unsealed horizontally holed blocks for my old 55 stand....
:-0


I lasted 6 years before it had to be moved........spilled all kinds of water on it.

 

[~Flighty~]

Well, I hope it works. Just lugged 18 blocks around for my 100g stock tank 3 layers high. Darn, they are heavy.