Exterminator help!!!

[applez022]

Hi everyone, i have a bit of an emergency question. in a few days my landlord is have an exterminator come in to fumigate for bugs and critters and i don't know what to do with my tank, we just finally finish setting it up, i have a few fish and corals in there, it has a sump, protein skimmer, refugium. what do u guys recommend i should do, i've read a few sites that say you should make a tent around the tank with a tarp and tape. but wanted to know what you guys recommend. thanks

 

[playin gmz]

I would wrap it good and wait till the fog clears, maybe open the house for a few hours. I can't get an Exterminator to come to my house, they don't want the liability.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I would wrap it good and wait till the fog clears, maybe open the house for a few hours. I can't get an Exterminator to come to my house, they don't want the liability.

+1. I would also make sure that the stand is wrapped up real good to avoid anything getting in the sump. Good luck!!

 

[JOKER]

Do they plan do just spray or are they bombing? Regular spray no problems they go right by mine when they spray.

 

[143MPCo]

This is only a recommendation of what I would do....

Assuming the exterminator will be spraying and not fogging the premises, I would take the skimmer off line, spraying or fogging you don't need any airborne particulates being sucked into the air tub/muffler. I would also turn off any fans you might have venting the stand or the canopy for the same reasons as turning off the skimmer. I would wrap the the whole tank from top to bottom in plastic drop-cloth and seal the ends off with painter tape. I might also go a far as adding an air stone and pump but run the pump or the tubing outside for fresh air depending on the style of air pump being used. Once the exterminator is done, open all the windows and let the house air out.

 

[4sided cube]

I would recommend turning off your skimmer. The atomization of any fumes pulled in by your skimmer will directly introduce it into your water. I recommend you be there when they are there unless they are going to "bombing" which I would definitely do as others have stated and wrap it up. Normal spraying like baseboard treating hasn't been a problem at my house. I have had a quarterly contract for more than a year and I just told him not to spray near the tank and I haven't sealed or turned off my skimmer(s) and my tank is an open top. But I haven't noticed any smell when spraying so I think the chances are minimal.

I had an issue when refinishing a floor with my old tank (and house) where the fumes got into the tank and caused serious issues with my fish, several going "death spiral". Did a big water change and turned off the skimmer until the air cleared of urethane odor. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[143MPCo]

Additional:

If you go the plastic drop cloth route you should consider turning of the lights as it's easy to melt it and that's the last thing you want... either way most newer LED have fans built in and could over heat a little not to mention circulate the air around.

 

[applez022]

i believe the exterminator will be spraying. but thank you guys, very helpful

 

[zemuss]

Living in florida I fog my house about 4 times a year to keep the critters out. Doing so I turn all external water movement and light. WHat I mean is since i have a sump I turn the return pump off and skimmer off. I then cover the tank and sump for about 6 hours.

Internal water movement such as the RW8's I set to there lowest setting so no surface agitation is noticeable.

Fog the house and done.

 

[applez022]

thank you guys all very helpful