Paint fumes

[nursie]

How long should I wait after I've painted a room until setting up a new tank?
I need to fishless cycle...so won't have fish for a while. We'll probably get the last coat on tonight. Had to prime the walls...bare plaster
So 1 coat primer, 2 coats paint. Didn't really notice any odor until putting on the mixed color for the walls this am.

 

[Bmeasure]

I'd go ahead and set it up. With a fishless cycle you usually end with doing as large a water change as possible, just to re-set any chemicals or pollutants to (basically) zero. I also usually run some carbon in a tank for the first 2 or 3 weeks, if it's a brand new setup. I don't usually do this if it's just upgrading tanks, since I use established media, equipment, substrate, and aged water, and of coarse don't do a fishless cycle either! In your case I'd run carbon during the fishless cycle, and for at least 1 week after (fresh carbon) just to be safe!

 

[Holly9937]

I would think a few days would be fine, plus if you're doing a fishless cycle that will take longer than a few days anyway . I'm not sure if that would bother the tank anyway...

 

[Kissofthegorami]

I wouldn't worry about it. Just wait for the paint to dry.
You can use carbon in the filter as a security against airborne pollutants.

 

[daveedka]

I agree with Kiss... on this one. I just painted my Block in part of the basement today, and kept an eye on my fish in all three tanks. no problems. I haven't put carbon in yet but always keep some on hand just in case.

A lot of this I'm sure would depend on the type of paint. I was using a Latex, not an enamal or oil base. different base solvents create different toxitity levels. Furthermore, I do not have any airstones, and not much surface gas exchange on any of my tanks. Air pumps/ stones are IMO one of the best ways to put airborne chemicals in a fish tank.
dave

 

[nursie]

Thanks for the input everyone! It will take a couple of days for me to clean up the mess, put furniture back etc. So it looks like I can fill and go afterwards. I got a new filstar and I think it came with a starter pack of carbon..I'll put that in for a couple of weeks and should be ok! I used latex for everything. Cleans up so much easier.

 

[Ken]

I assume you were using latex paint, in which case the main aromatic component is usually amonia, which might actually help your cycle, although to a very small degree.