When a tank breaks?

[Opesus]

I'm going to be living on the 4th floor of an apartment next month, and I'm kind of worried about my tank.

IT's an acrylic 10-gallon.

If it were to break (or the table it was on) and leak, would I be responsible to pay for any damages?

Anybody know how this stuff works?

thanks,
matt

 

[dbacksrat]

hmm...it is very unlikely that an acrylic aquarium will break under normal use...as for liability, check with your landlord

 

[JNevaril]

you would be responsible for any damage caused, unless you have renter's insurance.

Even if you did, unless you had a specific rider written into the policy, you would probably still be liable for any damage.

Although, I do not think a 10 gallon would do that much damage....

and the chances of a tank made from acrylic breaking.....not so much.

 

[Fish Friend]

I doubt a 10 gallon tank would break but anything is possible, maybe you should check it out with the owner of the flats and see if you would be responsible

 

[Aaron]

My renters insurance covers it and didn't need any special waiver. They did make note of it though so it never hurts to ask. It is covered under water damage just like a pipe bursting.

 

[Fish Friend]

with the exeption of some fish flapping around

 

[Aaron]

The same policy also covers half the replacement value of my dog. I'm not sure what half. It's neat the way insurance companies assess the value of things.

 

[discus4everGrl]

and renters insurance is a pretty cheap.

 

[SullenGirl]

i already had this happen to me, we were in the process of moving out and i left my 29 gal set up (with fish) until after everything was moved out...well accidents happen, a table went through the glass, 29 gallons of water + fish went spilling onto the floor, i lived in the 3rd floor of an apt, and my landlord came upstairs a half hour later saying that someone noticed water leaking into they're apartment on the first floor! Luckily, my boyfriend and the movers where there when it happened and they were able to catch some of the water in whatever was around....the damage to the other apartments was minimal, not enough to pay for damages, but we did give our landlord $50 to get the carpets cleaned...it smelled very FISHY!! So all in all, a potentially disasterous situation, was fairly mild, my poor fish though 3/4 died. Good news though, i upgraded my tank size Bad news, i'm really nervous to walk by my tank in case of it falling over or something....and i get very angry when commercials show the fish tank getting something smashed into it and everything comes out, thats basically what happened..i not longer think seeing that in commercials is funny!!

 

[Etheostoma]

Once had an (ex) girlfriend hurl some ornament or other through the side of a 55gal back when I was in college.

Renter's insurance saved the day.

 

[Timbo]

You will probably not have a problem in this direction as these things are built to take quite a lot. HOWEVER. It depends on where you live as to what the law says about this. See your local citizens advice (or similar) and find out how you stand BEFORE somone sues your $%**