How to protect tanks during tent fumigation?

[theredchaser]

As far as moving your plants around and your oxygen level dropping to a lethal point, that's pretty extreme. Most of us with planted tanks often do various levels of rescaping and trimming, and never have problems. All of my tanks are planted, to varying degrees, and I've never used an air pump to supplement oxygen on any of them. I would say this experience is definently the exception, not the rule.

I agree. Even a huge plant isn't going to be the life-or-death factor. Discus tanks are of higher temperature, which consequently means lower available oxygen in the water. Add that to the fact that ripping out a plant with a large root structure will stir up a ton of mulm from the substrate into the water column. I *think what is happening is a bacterial bloom results from the new available nutrients, which consequently lowers the available oxygen even more. The first time I moved some plants in my discus tank, a ton of crud got into my water and the discus were breathing slightly heavily... Since then, I always use a second filter with a water polisher whenever I want to move plants.


As for the fumigation, any type of airpump/airstone combination will be useless if it is drawing air from the contaminated room. Your aquarium absolutely must be airtight or the toxins can get in. You should lower the water level to less than half so that there is a large available space of oxygen. Next lower the temperature a few degrees. This helps because it raises the available oxygen in the water as well as slows down the metabolic rate of the fish, thus requiring less oxygen. You can also use a small powerhead to splash the water surface at mid-level to aid in oxygen exchange. Avoid feeding a day or two before the fumigation.

Your fish will be fine for up to ~a day and a half. If you can't unseal the tank after the fumigation ends because of work, I would get a neighbor or someone to unseal the tank.

 

[LeahK]

We did not leave anything running though for fear of pulling fumigated air into the tank.

As for the fumigation, any type of airpump/airstone combination will be useless if it is drawing air from the contaminated room. Your aquarium absolutely must be airtight or the toxins can get in.

Rainbowcharmer, I'm feeling a little better after reading your story. Now I have to decide about leaving the filters on or not. Like theredchaser is saying, I don't want to use any air pump that will draw air in from outside. I have HOB filters on all my tanks.

My original plan was to leave them running for water movement, and to just seal them in under the plastic sheets. Their cords hang down along the backs of the tanks, so the idea was to tape the cords to the glass as I make the seal for the plastic, and to use extra tape in the area where the cord sticks out to make sure it's airtight.

But now I'm thinking that I could turn them off, making sure the filter baskets are full of water to minimize bacteria loss. Then I could lower my water level by half, to increase room for air under the seal. And then I could unplug the filters and just pull the cords inside the plastic.

Of course, that would mean no water movement. Unless I get a powerhead, right? But, then, I'd have the cord problem again. I'm not familiar with the mechanics of powerheads--I'll have to look into that.

 

[LeahK]

Just an update, but I've actually decided to rehome my fish before the fumigation. That sounds drastic, but in context it makes sense--I'm probably moving to the mainland next fall, so I've known for a while that I'll need to rehome the fish in the relatively near future. Plus, I'm going out of town for a month in the winter, so it was going to be an ordeal trying to find someone to feed them while I'm away. And then with this fumigation coming up, it just seemed like the right time to go ahead and find them a new owner.
The AC-member Zebulon will take them (even though he doesn't like rosy barbs--thanks Seth! :bowing
I'll keep my betta, because he's pretty easy to transport. I'll just put him in a bucket and take him with me to a friend's house while they fumigate. I'll seal up his tank while we're gone, and then do a 100% water change before putting him back in.

 

[stratusfearrr]

goodluck with your betta!

 

[LeahK]

Thanks! I think I'm going to put the betta in my 55 after the fumigation is over. Then I'll just have the one tank, with the one betta in it.

 

[starfishplus]

I know what its like to lose you fish or shrimp in my case to bug spray...we had gotten a dog that had fleas and we have hardwood floors so in that case we spent most of the summer trying to get rid of fleas. My Hubby set of 4 bombs in our house for fleas i had all my tanks covered but i did not think about my tanks that had air filters and not side filters, so i lost a tank full of yellow shrimp around 29...and cherry ones, and a few crystal reds ...so now iam trying to save to get back what i lost in shrimp...so far i have 4 yellow shrimp..and along ways to go. but it did not hurt my fish or snails.