Will Bug Bombs....

[fishfishfish]

will bug bombs effect 2 fish tanks?

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

yes without a doubt read the back of the tin it will say dangerous to aquatic life

 

[paulf]

whats a bug bomb??

got a link?

 

[invader]

I just used these at my house... I taped trashbags over the tanks and put a towel over the bag.... The fish are fine, but every single one of my lovely shrimp died. It was horrible. I don't know if your bombs will affect your fish or not, because it may be a different brand, but please be really really careful, because that stuff gets in the water. I put more shrimp in (in another tank for feeding) and they all died within the hour, so it's definitely the water, not the air.


Please be very careful!

 

[TerraDreamer]

I used to live in Phoenix, Arizona and cockroaches were a fact of life. No, I'm not a slob - lol - it's the climate there. They're as common as crickets (used to feed my Oscars crickets I caught on the porch, they loved them). My tank was located in a den, not in the living area. When I had to bomb, which was probably once a year, I turned off all pumps and filtration, placed a towel across the top of the tank, opened the window, closed the door and taped off the entire den door with masking tape. I then set off the bombs, which after doing so you have to leave the premises for about four hours. I never lost a fish, but I took good precautionary measures to guard against it. If I felt I needed to de-bug the den, I'd simply use spray bug killer along the wall bottoms and in the closet, again only after shutting everything down and opening the window.

If your tank is in a living area, or in any area that cannot be sealed off, you're taking substantial risk at killing your livestock. That stuff is extremely deadly and permeates everything.

There are much better ways of dealing with bugs than bug bombs. You can buy concentrated insect killer and a one gallon pump sprayer (at least in the U.S.) and spray the areas that really need spraying, such as under kitchen and bathroom sinks, and along walls at the floor. It's just as effective as bombs. Bombs are a mess. Everything in your house gets that crap on it. Plates, silverware, clothes, you name it, it clings to it and if you don't wash everything you're liable to end up with an ear growing out of your forehead. Use a pump sprayer instead. I used bombs at the time because I was single and didn't own much. I could wash all my dishes in one load in the dishwasher and most of my clothes in one load in the washing machine

Kind Regards,

Steve

 

[newtotropical]

Wow they sound great fun!!! he he

 

[dirtydogg]

When we had to do it a couple of years ago I used wet towels over every opening in the tank, wrang them out in the tub and covered the tank. then a layer of dry towels, folowed by a spare quilt over the entire thing. I didn't lose any fish that way, but had a lot of laundry to do.

 

[fishfishfish]

i made a basic drawing of the small area of my house that has my tanks in it

just click the black bar above the pic for better picture

 

[smmetz]

I would put in new carbon filter media, then seal the tanks as airtight as I can. Soon after the bomb is done, I would replace the carbon, and take the carbon out after a day or two. Hopefully that would absorb any chemicals during the "bombing", then the second carbon filter would absorb and residual chemicals in the air that enter the water. Then getting rid of the second carbon filter withing a coupld days would ensure nothing leaks back out of the carbon into the water.

I don't know if it would work, but that is my best guess how to ensure the safety of the fish during a bug bomb.

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

cling film may get you a nice seal

 

[TerraDreamer]

Well, after looking at your map, the only thing I can suggest is to follow the advice with the towels. I'd even use the cling wrap idea along with the towels and seal the tanks up with masking tape. This is how I'd do it...

Remove all heaters, filters - cannisters or HOB - and air lines from the tanks and remove from the house. This is so you don't have to fuss with trying to wrap the towels around all these items, which will surely leave gaps, as well as to not contaminate these items. All you want is a tank with no protrusions. Also, you definitely wouldn't want a pump running for the obvious reason. Take these items, along with all other maintenance items with you when you leave. Flake food cans, heaters, nets, spare stones...all of it.

After removing 20-30% of the water (to provide extra air in the tank) and leaving the hoods on, place cling wrap over the top of the tank and stretch it good and tight without breaking it and with as few seams as possible. Then run it around the outside glass to cover the edges that came over the top. Tape this into place with painter's masking tape on all edges on sides and top (for ease of removal later), then place a damp (damp, not soaked) towel over that, then place another towel (dry this time) over that one, then seal the edges again all the way around with masking tape. The idea is air tight here. Hell, add another layer of cling wrap on top of the towels, it can't hurt.

Have all your towels, cling wrap ready to assemble as it's going to take you probably fifteen minutes each tank. Take your fish gear/equipment out to the car, come back inside and set that bad boy off.

Be sure you disconnect your smoke alarm and open all of your cabinets and closets. Come back after the alloted time, open all your windows to remove any left over fog, then after 20 minutes remove the towels and cling wrap, wash your hands, and focus on getting the tanks running again. Let the place air out before starting up any air pumps.

Your fish will probably live to see another day if you ensure the tanks are sealed tight. Don't skimp on the cling wrap; make sure you have a few rolls on hand.

Good luck!

EDIT: Keep your filter media wet with the removed tank water.

 

[fishfishfish]

i may also put the window fish (1 figure 8 puffer) in my spare tank in my room and then seal it up tight

 

[crazie.eddie]

I have never done it, but I have read other threads where people who have fish tanks, have used bug bombs or had an exterminator spray the whole house.

As many people suggested, seal your tanks. SEAL THEM WELL. Wrap the airpumps and filters and seal them well. I would also bag up and seal up all your fish food, dechlorinators, meds, equipment, and anything else you use in the aquarium. If the chemicals stick to objects, then make sure everything is wrapped.

 

[TerraDreamer]

i may also put the window fish (1 figure 8 puffer) in my spare tank in my room and then seal it up tight

Good idea. Let us know how it went.