Tank security...........

Diesel · Nov 15, 2014

How did you have planned or execute prevention on the security of your tank/sump in a matter of little kids around the house?

We all are afraid that something can get in the water that can possible nuke your tank in matter of hours, by either a kid of your own or a friend of them, maybe the dog dropping in something............ you know what I mean.
This is what happened local here in the Houston area

(quote: Well apparently I did something to upset the gods. Today my 3yr old son learned how to open the "child proof" cleaning cabinet while I was 3hrs away. While everyone was asleep my son woke up and put two gallons of "natures miracle" and about a pint of raid into my sump. Lets just say that every single thing that I loved about that tank was nuked. My wife may have managed to save a bubble, a torch and few mushrooms. I never thought this would happen don't let it happen to you! I've had a lot of these fish for 3 or more years. I may need pre-mixed water tomorrow so if anyone is close to the Tomball area I would appreciate the help with the water thanks.

What is your opinion about this?
Should chemicals like this be in the house?
What is a good child proof device?

IMO, if I leave a loaded gun in a child proof cabinet and still put a lock on the gun so no matter what it's unable to get discharged but a kid is still getting a hold on the gun, it will be out the question he can hurt him self or somebody else with it but......................... he still can SCARE THE LIVING DAYLIGHT out of a person just by walking around with it.

ReefFreak@ · Nov 15, 2014

First line of defense in my house is gates! As far as little kids and chemicals i think high shelf in the garage is the best, even better would be the craw space above it.

PedroYoung · Nov 15, 2014

Should be thankful it went in the sump and not down the kids throat. Lots more to worry about there than the tank!

kschweer · Nov 15, 2014

These magnetic locks work very well especially if the magnet is kept in a place that kids or anyone you don't want to get into the cabinet don't know or can't get to.
http://www.cabinetparts.com/p/revashelf-revalock-locks-RV20100?gclid=CNreos7s_MECFUQF7AodrjIAuA

DFW · Nov 15, 2014

Lock and key for EVERYTHING! But you really can't anticipate everything that might happen. I had 3 adults in a family drop by one time, and 2 of them thought it was fun to play with the magnets holding my frag rack to the side of the tank. Go figure! Another time someone brought a 5 year old that was not being controlled by his parents. Send them out of your house immediately if you want to protect your tanks! One rap on the glass with a hard object can end your hobby for a while!

Zero Nitrates · Nov 15, 2014

Child proofing is all we do. I guess putting locks on everything is something to consider.

Diesel · Nov 15, 2014

All good points and I think most of us are responsible, no matter if you have a tank or not.
Chemicals should just be away completely from the house.
What about a audible alarm in batteries you can get at the home improvement store?
If or when the door access to the tanks sump would be opened a alarm will go off.
Any thoughts about that?

Nevil · Nov 15, 2014

My 1st thought is not why the tank was accessible but how a 3 year old could get the raid and natures miracle. Thankfully he dumpped it in the tank and didn't drink it.

Scythanith · Nov 15, 2014

Fish room, lock the door.

If it's an open air system in a cabinet then I'd go with the magnetic locks. Something you need intent and the cognitive ability to unlock. As for the actual chemicals, tank related or not, same thing... lock them up.

ReefFreak@ · Nov 15, 2014

The alarm would be ok if your around but what if you don't hear it or arnt there. As said locking things is the best.

MrDJeep123 · Nov 15, 2014

Kids are incredibly curious little creatures. The thing I've done to help insure they do not mess about it is through conditioning. We have a 1 .5 year old and he's into everything. So when he was smaller and started to crawl too close to the tank, I make a loud noise that scares him away from the tank. Now that he's able to walk, and has for some time, he won't go near the tank unless I'm in the same room. We also have "child proof" latches on the tank doors. So far, this has worked. It can also be used for other areas you don't want them to go into or around.
As for the older two kids, 6 and 10, I don't have to worry about them.

We try our best to use natural products to aid in cleaning. Vinegar and warm water is what we use mostly. The worst thing we have is bathroom cleaner w/ bleach and Pinesol. The spray bottle hangs on the shower rod too far above any of the kids to reach. The pinesol is in the closet of the bathroom.

Glad your little one only managed to mess about with the tank and not decide to see how they tasted.

Diesel · Nov 15, 2014

Glad your little one only managed to mess about with the tank and not decide to see how they tasted.

It wasn't my little one my little ones are 6'2".
This was a member in my local club.
Thought it was a good topic to bring up as a reminder how this can happen easily to many of us with small children.

Maybe ppl can show some pics how they secure their tank.
We all know that chemicals need to be up high in any case, no questions ask.

MrDJeep123 · Nov 15, 2014

Diesel said:
It wasn't my little one my little ones are 6'2".
This was a member in my local club.
Thought it was a good topic to bring up as a reminder how this can happen easily to many of us with small children.

Maybe ppl can show some pics how they secure their tank.
We all know that chemicals need to be up high in any case, no questions ask.

Oh...I think my reading comprehension was off this morning.

SeeingGreen · Nov 15, 2014

Didn't your edit say your 3yo?

Nm reread it, that was the quote from your friend.

pgravis · Nov 15, 2014

I'm curious how many have their stand secured to the wall? I have a 2 month old, so no worries for a while, but as she starts to walk, I think I should secure everything to the wall so it won't come crashing down if she uses the stand as a means to pull herself up. However it's in a corner so I still need to figure out how.

Diesel · Nov 15, 2014

ReefFreak@ said:
First line of defense in my house is gates! As far as little kids and chemicals i think high shelf in the garage is the best, even better would be the craw space above it. [/QUO

Just noticed, you have motor cycles in your fishroom :squigglemouth:

phillrodrigo · Nov 15, 2014

I used to have a lock on my tank. As the kids got older they don't do anything crazy. I found a dime in my tank once. I did come home and find my aptasia killing needle in the betta tank along with a half container of food

ReefFreak@ · Nov 15, 2014

Diesel said:
ReefFreak@ said:

First line of defense in my house is gates! As far as little kids and chemicals i think high shelf in the garage is the best, even better would be the craw space above it. [/QUO

Just noticed, you have motor cycles in your fishroom :squigglemouth:

Click to expand...

Haha i was waiting for someone to notice that. Me and my dad were putting decals on our bikes last night. Its to cold for the decals to stick out in the garage, so had to bring em on in.

MrDJeep123 · Nov 15, 2014

pgravis said:
I'm curious how many have their stand secured to the wall? I have a 2 month old, so no worries for a while, but as she starts to walk, I think I should secure everything to the wall so it won't come crashing down if she uses the stand as a means to pull herself up. However it's in a corner so I still need to figure out how.

I actually did this once. One of our older tanks before we moved sit on carpet. It wasn't the most secured even with shims. I took 2 door hinges and secured the stand to the wall via long screws to secure into the supports.