Tenting or Fumigating Effects on Reef Tank

[fsu1dolfan]

A friend of my found out that he has a termite issue and probably will need to have his house treated. Possibly tented but there maybe an other option for treating which i need to find out about. He has a 46 gallon bowfront without a sump...bio wheel filter and a HOB skimmer. Questions:

1) Have you been through this?

2) what were the preparations?

3) What were the results?

Thanks in advance!

 

[BlazinNano]

I would take the tank out. Put it at your house. That stuff is bad. People and animals are not allowed in a house while it is tented. Remember water absorbs everything. I wont let the fiance plug one of those plug ins near the tank. Has to be on the other side of the room.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I would take the tank out. Put it at your house. That stuff is bad. People and animals are not allowed in a house while it is tented. Remember water absorbs everything. I wont let the fiance plug one of those plug ins near the tank. Has to be on the other side of the room.

I had a bad feeling this was going to be the response...really hoping i can find someone that had no choice and can share what happened!!

 

[reefsmokinFOOL]

+1 Blazinnano The water will absorb the termte poison. When pest control comes to my house he is not allowed to spray inside my home. I would not take a 5 percent chance with my tank.

 

[btkrausen]

FWIW, I've sprayed the home pest stuff around my tank before and it never hurt anything from what I've seen.

 

[Sculpin]

Not exactly the same thing, but I'm planning to have my wood floors redone and it was suggested to me that I seal my tank up really tight, turn off the skimmer, and run a ventilation tube pushing fresh air from outside. The goal is to create enough positive pressure in the enclosed tank that it will keep the dangerous fumes out. I still need to figure out how I'm going to seal everything up, but I'm hoping it's not too complicated a procedure.

With a tent covering the house, this approach probably won’t work.

 

[swannyson7]

Someone posted about the same thing a few months ago. The sealed off their tank with plastic and everything pulled through ok. I'll try to find the thread

 

[swannyson7]

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/general-reef-discussions/49681-fumigating-house.html

 

[BlazinNano]

What is he took the lights and filters off and just left the powerheads running and wrapped the whole tank completely with cellophane? Maybe put and airpump on the tank. You can probably get the big rolls of cellophane from home depot or lowes. The ones they use to wrap pallets in. The tank would be completely sealed...

 

[swannyson7]

If possible, I would use something like an aqualifer sucking air from outside and bubbling it through an airstone. It will help dissove some of the CO2 from being covered and keep your pH up

 

[Viva'sReef]

it can be done....Seal off the tank with plastic, and run your skimmer's air intake somewhere outside the tent to draw the fresh air in, and create the positive pressure

 

[Viva'sReef]

Also would run TONS of carbon during the whole process

 

[Lytehouse]

it can be done....Seal off the tank with plastic, and run your skimmer's air intake somewhere outside the tent to draw the fresh air in, and create the positive pressure

Our lfs does this all the time with their clients tanks when they have floors done or pest control. Seal the tank, clean air from outside.

 

[nixer]

why not just flood the entire house with saltwater.
termite problem solved.

 

[reefsmokinFOOL]

If that works awesome. I have read a story about using pine sol in his fish room the reaked havoc on his tank. I guess that im just super cautious sine reading that post.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

why not just flood the entire house with saltwater.
termite problem solved.

Would be the optimal way to solve the problem...while add a ton of water volume LOL Imagine the fish i could keep!

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Thanks for all the information and suggestion everyone - Looks like it might just try to move the tank...He just does want to take any chances. Plus good time for new sand and water huh LOL

 

[Ford4life]

I would take the tank out. Put it at your house. That stuff is bad. People and animals are not allowed in a house while it is tented. Remember water absorbs everything. I wont let the fiance plug one of those plug ins near the tank. Has to be on the other side of the room.

I know this is an old thread but you are incorrect. Water does not absorb everything, only if there is some type of oxygen exchange will you have an issue.

 

[PaulKreider]

Had a girlfriend that left a betta in the bowl while the house was being bug bombed.... The betta was no more never the less. Definitely remove tank and all equipment and or items used with the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I know this is an old thread but you are incorrect. Water does not absorb everything, only if there is some type of oxygen exchange will you have an issue.

Not sure what you are implying, but many of the fumigants used for termites will enter the water and can potentially cause problems.