hairdressers fish tank

[PartyAnimal1UK]

I am a hairdresser and we have recently set up a fish tank in the salon. we brough 2 small oranda's and they both died within 2-3 weeks, the tank has a filter and punmp and has a lid which i thoug would stop the hairspray entering the tank. i am a avid fish keeper at home and was wondering if anyone could offer and explanation as to why this fish are dying, is it the hairspray? thanks if so what other fish are hardy enough to cope. we just need something to brighten up the salon any other suggestions fo the tank.thanks:confused:

[OrionGirl]

If the tank hasn't been cycled, the fish died from the build up of ammonia. Very common. But, you can use a starter culture from your home tanks to establish the bacteria needed to support the fish by bringing in media or gravel from your tank.

However--I'm not sure a salon is the best place for a tank. The variety of chemicals--many aerosols--will not be good for a fish tank, and it will be difficult to prevent them from getting into the tank while providng adequate aeration as well. I would probably not risk it.

[NJ Devils Fan]

What size tank is it? Let us have some figures, i.e., ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, p.h. gh.

There is a possiblity that some hairspray is getting into the water by the filter and heater openings in the back of the hood. Have you tried moving the tank to other areas?

[SayersWeb]

I seriously doubt the hair chemicles are getting into the tank. Just in case, you probably should have carbon in your filter.

Your tank probably did not cycle properly. Also, who has control of the food? Are they being fed too much food when you are not looking?

[PartyAnimal1UK]

the tank was cycled ph, ammonia e.t.c all good and carbon is in filter any other suggestions. i thought maybe i could try white clouds or neons are they more hardy thanks for replies

[TKOS]

Yes, I would make sure that everyone at the salon knows not to touch the tank. Probably have 2 people that can look after things and only those 2. That way there is bound to be 1 person around in case things happen.

. Frequent water changes with a dechlorinator and fresh carbon everyweek will help. The carbon will go bad quickly if it is dealing with chemicals so you are going to constantly have to change it.

Neons are not that hardy. White clouds are but they are cold water fish and don't like it too hot. Platies area colourful and hardy fish that you might wish to try.

[PartyAnimal1UK]

thanks tank is cold water and no ones dares touch the tank else they have me to deal with and they know that! ha what other fish would you recommend, the tank is out of the way no in any direct spray of chemicals.
the sort of filter i ahve is the pump variety, does the pump suck in air and filter it or just blows it out again, and would wrapping it in a towel filter out any chemicals thanks again.

[PartyAnimal1UK]

please guys can anyone help. what temp do platties like coz the water aint that cold about 20-22 would wrapping pump in a towel filter the hairspray out of the air.

[Hans]

i would try doing bettas, with all that flowing fins , they look like the came from a salon

[PartyAnimal1UK]

ha quite good, tried to keep them before my self didn't know if they were to cold, what temp do they like! there not very hardy though are they? thanks for you help any more suggestions or ideas about weather the hairspray affects them.

[PartyAnimal1UK]

what about shrimps or crabs are they hardy enough

[Ngaio]

If you want to try filtering the air before the pump sucks it in I'd use filter batting instead of a towel. I'm talking about the polyester fiber stuff that they use for furnace filters, air filters, tank filters, etc.

I know that spray window cleaners are lethal to marine tanks. Is somebody helping you by cleaning the glass of the tank? Too enthusiastic spraying might be a problem.

I have found bettas to be pretty hardy - they just don't have really long life spans. And although I've been told that they don't mind room temperature tanks mine was much more active when the water was a little warmer.

[PumaWard]

I wouldn't get the betta... being air breathers just might make things worse.

Here's some species you might be able to try, depending on tank size...

White Clouds
Hillstream Loaches
Bloodfin Tetras
Guppies
Swordtails
Florida Flag Fish
Platies
Peppered Cories
Lyretail Killies

[Hans]

you girls must just be going nuts with that hair spray, how big is your shop???

[PartyAnimal1UK]

its very windy in engalnd need a lot of spray.!!! ha!!!

AS for the filter cover where will i get that from, does it just act as a box to but the pump in with a whole for the tubing. what about a tuperware box with a tiny hole for the piping to come out would that work???

thanks for ideas on fish will try, was gonna try white clouds coz ive kept them before in cold water but might be two small for the old dears to see. back to the platies and swordfish, what temps do they they like. i have them at home in a heated tank, but the tank in the salon isn't heater, but is generally not too cold as the salon is heated well.

so just asking for tips to cover pump and about the fish. thanks guys i know this thread has been long winded.

[SteveyB]

ive never found it esspecially windy here :p its just generally... bad...

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by PartyAnimal1UK
what about shrimps or crabs are they hardy enough I don't think shrimp or crabs would brighten, or liven up an aquarium... Colorful fish would work..

[PartyAnimal1UK]

well got three cherry barbs to be getting on with,and i am gonna put the pump in a tuperware ( sandwich) box and see how i get on, i'll let you know thanks for all your help, it's very much appreciated.

[SBA]

the problem with putting the pump in a container is that if the container is airtight the pump will not work correctly. if not it will allow pollutants into the container...

also the water in the tank gets most of its O2 from the surface of the water, not from the pump itself, so if fumes were getting into the canopy they could be absorbed in this manner.

what kind of filtration do you have? i'm guessing its the standard uk pet shop UGF with a (probably underpowered) airpump? if so you could get a powerhead to run the UGF. They are quiter, more powerful and can also be used to add bubbles (if you really want bubbles that is). if it is a UGF you may find its not the easiest filtration to maintain correctly. you need to vacuum the gravel regularly and will still get a build up of mulm in the gravel (unles you go RUGF but that's another thread!).

Or you could get an internal filter.

neither of these gets round the fumes problem though, but they would eliminate the possibility of fumes getting in via the pump.

i think cherry barbs can be a bit nippy (someone correct me if i'm wrong).

not sure what size your tank is but pumaward's suggestions of guppies, platies and maybe a few cories could be good. colourful, easy to keep fish. you would need a heater though (in the uk you are a bit limited without one unless you like goldfish).

anyway, hope some of that helps!

[PartyAnimal1UK]

IT'S JUST A BASIC SMALLWORLD FILTER THAT IS FILTER FLOSS AND CARBON CONNECTED TO AN AIR LINE, SO DO YOU THINK THE PUMP WON'T WORK AT ALL. WHAT ELSE COULD I WRAP IT IN THEN TO PROTECT FROM FUMES AS CAN'T GET POLYSTRENE, LIKE MENTION ABOVBE

[SBA]

not sure if the pump would work or not, but i guess what i'm saying is that maybe an airpump is not what you need in a shop with fumes in.

do you know that this is the problem anyway?

I mean there are lots of other potential contaminants in a hardressers that could get into the tank via hands at feeding / cleaning time, from soap to whatever else 'old dears' have in their hair!

i think the stuff that Ngaio was talking about (polyester fibre) can be bought from most fish shops as filter floss.

[PartyAnimal1UK]

No hands get in the tank, not really any chemicals get in the tank, apart from, the hairspray..... the only chemicals we use are perms and colours which go no where near the tank. no cleaning chemicals either, maybe it was just the look of the draw and was nothing to do with the environment. i'm gonna try again and the tank now has established water from my own tank so just keep you fingers crossed for me.