PVC cave = Death

[Sorrell]

Hi, I had a PVC pipe cave in my 150 for about three months, after getting the idea off this forum, I pulled out the pipe, cleaned it with alcohol, dried it, covered it with aquarium sealant and attached gravel to it. I then let it air dry at room temperature for 48 hours. I put it back in the tank about 11PM and in the morning, my pleco was dead. My husband thinks that he sucked on the glue and died. Is there any validity to this? Is it just coincidence, or did I do something wrong? Thanks.

 

[drobbins27]

I doubt it was coincidence yet I also doubt it was aquarium sealant. What did you glue onto it? was it just gravel? Could any other substances have come in contact with it (where did it dry? kitchen? )

 

[Mollymomma]

Could it have been the alcohol?

But if I'm reading the post right the cave was constructed then placed in the tank and has been there for three months..if thats the case then the plec had to die of non cave related disease or injury... 3 months is way to long, if it was the cave construction the plec would have died months ago.

 

[drobbins27]

Could it have been the alcohol?

But if I'm reading the post right the cave was constructed then placed in the tank and has been there for three months..if thats the case then the plec had to die of non cave related disease or injury... 3 months is way to long, if it was the cave construction the plec would have died months ago.

No, he took it out and added the stones after it had been in the tank for three months I tihnk

 

[Sorrell]

Drob, you're right I (she ) took the cave that had been in the tank for three months and added the gravel.The pleco died the morning after the cave was reintroduced. I used the rubbing alcohol because the bottle of sealant said to clean surfaces with alcohol before applying sealer. It dried inside a cabinet in my kitchen. Thanks for your ideas guys.

 

[Lateral Line]

As long as it was aquarium rated sealant, it should be harmless, even if swallowed. There are a lot of sealants around that are not suitable for aquarium use, they contain fungicides etc., so first check is your sealant.

Pure alchohol, (ethanol), will evaporate quite quickly and not leave a residue, but a lot of cleaning products that are alcohol based contain other things, surfactants and the like that will remain. I would not use cleaning products in a tank. Scrub it with some water, and if necessary, sand it with some fine sand/emery paper.

Since I can see neither your sealant or alchohol it is difficult to comment.

Coincidence is unlikely.