Potential Air Pollutant in House Effecting Reef Tank?

[Dree]

So I have a 2 story house, South Florida, and in the summer now, we’re startinrg to see a few cockroaches in the past month. My reef tank is in a bedroom that we’ve only seen one roach. I’m thinking about having the interior sprayed with whatever the exterminator feels is necessary. Would any of these roach killing chemicals effect the air in my house and poison the air being diffused into my tank? Would it be safe if I just didn’t have that room sprayed and maybe shut the door and put a towel under the door for the day?

 

[NY_Caveman]

So I have a 2 story house, South Florida, and in the summer now, we’re startinrg to see a few cockroaches in the past month. My reef tank is in a bedroom that we’ve only seen one roach. I’m thinking about having the interior sprayed with whatever the exterminator feels is necessary. Would any of these roach killing chemicals effect the air in my house and poison the air being diffused into my tank? Would it be safe if I just didn’t have that room sprayed and maybe shut the door and put a towel under the door for the day?

I am no expert, but off my head I would completely seal around the tank in plastic myself and then still put the towel under the door. I know some have asked questions about a fogging (like for fleas or termites) and this is what was recommended.

Maybe #reefsquad has some more experience in this.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Best bet would be to close off the room the tank is in, open the windows, and drape plastic over it just to be safe

 

[Redleg]

I would run GAC and shut off your skimmer for a couple hours. I would suspect any chemicals that kill roaches will also kill all of your inverts at the very least. Like Crabs said open any windows in the room as long as they are not spraying outside.

 

[Diesel]

It all depends on what the spraying.
If they do spot treatment you are good to go.
I spray my house every month in Tx and no problem at all.
My skimmer draws air from the outside.
I used to have bait boxes in the room where the tank.

 

[Antics]

Speak with the technician and find out where he is spraying. Cover the tank and turn off the skimmer while the work is being done. I'd run carbon and do a water change after for my own peace of mind to help reduce/remove the hypothetical contamination.

 

[jsker]

So I have a 2 story house, South Florida, and in the summer now, we’re startinrg to see a few cockroaches in the past month. My reef tank is in a bedroom that we’ve only seen one roach. I’m thinking about having the interior sprayed with whatever the exterminator feels is necessary. Would any of these roach killing chemicals effect the air in my house and poison the air being diffused into my tank? Would it be safe if I just didn’t have that room sprayed and maybe shut the door and put a towel under the door for the day?

I too had a bug issue, termite, carpenter ants, and yes an occasional palmetto. We hired the exterminator two years ago and have not had an issue. I was very nervous about having someone come in and spray on a regular basis. I have a airline going outside for my Skimmer/PH. We have the bait stations for the termites and the company we use natural products and we have had not a problem. Except the ghost ants and they come out and lay down some bate. As far as spraying inside the company we use does not spray on the inside they control the issue from the outside. Ask question

 

[BigAl07]

My office tank was completely NUKED earlier this year by pest control and they didn't even enter my office. The technician sprayed around the baseboard of the entire building (except my office). They sprayed Friday morning (I was here for the whole thing) and everything was good to go when I closed up to go home Friday evening.

I come to work Monday morning and the water in the tank looked like dark TEA or something. Everything in the tank was dead including GHA that I had battled for months. My 11 year old clown was DOA along with all the SPS and other coral that had been in the tank and stable for 6 years.

I did not have a skimmer or "Air Intake" system of any kind on this tank. It was a simple JBJ 12 NanoCube with some high power LED lights. The tank had been up and running for 11 years and was the definition of stable. Friday they spray (outside my office) and Monday I have a tank full of death. Coincidence? Kind of hard to think so . . . .

 

[Treasure Coast]

Exterminators usually spray around the edges where walls and floor meet. We get it done quarterly. You should not have any problems, drys quick. If you are really worried shut your tank lights off so the fan doesn't draw in any fumes.

 

[Dree]

Thanks for all the recommendations and help! I will definitely be talking to whenever I hire about what he uses and where he sprays. The room with the tank also is the access to the attic. If he sprays in the attic, will that have a different effect?

 

[Treasure Coast]

Keep away from central air inlets/outlets in the attic or again maybe just shut off central air for a few minutes if in doubt.