Smoke from wildfires

Ippyroy · Aug 22, 2020

The smoke here is horrible. The air quality is listed as very unhealthy. The fires aren't really close and the sky is orange for just a few hours in the morning and ash is raining down. I don't have AC so some of my windows remain open all day. I have one window over my sump. The window is open with the curtains closed. Do you think the smoky conditions could affect my tank? Close the windows or leave them open, we are in the mid 80s during the day for about one more week then we will be back in the 60s.

dwest · Aug 22, 2020

Ippyroy said:
The smoke here is horrible. The air quality is listed as very unhealthy. The fires aren't really close and the sky is orange for just a few hours in the morning and ash is raining down. I don't have AC so some of my windows remain open all day. I have one window over my sump. The window is open with the curtains closed. Do you think the smoky conditions could affect my tank? Close the windows or leave them open, we are in the mid 80s during the day for about one more week then we will be back in the 60s.

I don’t think anyone would really know how the smoke affects your tank to be honest. I would do what you normally do but possibly make sure to have some a GAC in the system that gets changed weekly during the bad times.

Ippyroy · Aug 22, 2020

That is what I thought. I use GAC but only replace once a month. I will go ahead and change it out now. Thanks

Jeeperz · Aug 22, 2020

I'd honestly be more worried about burning something in the kitchen, especially with a non stick pan. The fires in Idaho last year didn't seem to affect my tanks and at times it was pretty smokey in town.

Scurvy · Aug 22, 2020

Interesting question for sure. Hard to know but Ive seen many people comment about simply smoking outside by a window near the tank having an affect. Does it correlate? IDK but curious. Have you seen any impact on PH? Id assume theres more Co2 in the fresh air than normal but again hard to say.

All the best to our Cali friends!

secret_reefer337 · Aug 22, 2020

If you gave open windows, coming with the wind are ashes from burning trees and grass. Our back patio is full of ashes from the fire. So those ashes might ruin your water quality.

Ippyroy · Aug 22, 2020

My PH flucuates from 8.2 - 8.3 daily. Hasn't changed much other than when I dose soda ash which is expected. My ORP, which I don't understand has gone from the 220s to the upper 230s since the fire started. I also turned off my skimmer at the same time.

AltitudeAquarium · Aug 22, 2020

If you can use activated carbon or chemipure to grab any potential contaminants that would be absorbed. I am in Colorado and have been dealing with smoke for 2 weeks. It appears that my swamp cooler filter is adsorbing most of the smoke particulates.

Ippyroy · Aug 22, 2020

AltitudeAquarium said:
If you can use activated carbon or chemipure to grab any potential contaminants that would be absorbed. I am in Colorado and have been dealing with smoke for 2 weeks. It appears that my swamp cooler filter is adsorbing most of the smoke particulates.

I'd love a swamp cooler here. How does affect the house with the evaporation from your tank?

Jeeperz · Aug 22, 2020

Scurvy said:
Interesting question for sure. Hard to know but Ive seen many people comment about simply smoking outside by a window near the tank having an affect. Does it correlate? IDK but curious. Have you seen any impact on PH? Id assume theres more Co2 in the fresh air than normal but again hard to say.

All the best to our Cali friends!

Smoking, as in cigarettes, is full of toxic chemicals so that would probably affect a tank. Trees burning is full of less toxins unless a house burns.