Needing to bug bomb apartment...but how to with fish?

Fiskars the Whiskers · Post by **Fiskars the Whiskers** » 07 Aug 2005, 23:18

I have a 55 gallon fish tank in my spider and bug-infested apartment. I'd like to do a spider bomb, but am wondering if there is somehow a fish-safe way to do it or if anyone has any ideas? I really appreciate it!

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 08 Aug 2005, 15:53

Any infestations I've had are ants and the exterminator has sprayed outdoors, not indoors. Is there someway the spraying can be done to the outer walls of your apartment? What floor are you on?

Fiskars the Whiskers · Post by **Fiskars the Whiskers** » 08 Aug 2005, 16:14

I'm on the bottom floor apartment of a house. I don't think spraying the outside would do much. The building was built in the 40s or 50s and the spiders seem to all be in the walls pretty well. I was just thinking this morning that the exterminator friend of mine whose services we use here at work just uses a spray can. If he came he would control the spray and I wouldn't have to bomb the whole house. It would definitely be safer that way. I'll have to see how much he charges.

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 25 Aug 2005, 02:26

If a complete interior fogging is unavoidable, I heard about a neat trick a long time ago that can save your fish alot of hassle..

What you have to do is completely cover the top of your tank with plastic film (saran wrap), sheeting or anything else similar & seal it w/ very tacky (duct) tape. Leave nothing open to the outside air except for a tube leading to an airstone. Run the air tube outside to an airpump hooked up to an extension cord, and now you have fresh air pumped into the tank.

Sealing the tank alone might be sufficient, but having the air pumped in should completely prevent any chemicals from getting to the water. For extra insurance, take all related equiptment outdoors, and completely clean off the outside of the tank before you unseal it.

Alot of work I know, so I hope you won't need to do it!

toofazt · Post by **toofazt** » 31 Aug 2005, 04:35

What happens when the air being pumped in through the air stone pops the seal of the plastic wrap? The air pumping into the aquarium has to go somewhere...

pictus_man_77 · Post by **pictus_man_77** » 06 Sep 2005, 16:40

thats a good point, where would it all go? the aquarium would break with pressure unless you had another pipe leading next to the airpump so it would expell all the air once its been used
i think thats quite a good idea

also, why do yo need to kill the spiders? just get an archer fish instead

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 07 Sep 2005, 06:38

Sorry I forgot to post before, but it's actually quite simple..

You'll never get a perfect seal around the tube w/ tape alone, so that's where the air will escape. Also I think the tape or plastic film would pop before the tank itself does.. ;)

andyj · Post by **andyj** » 08 Sep 2005, 10:46

pumping air into the sealed tank, will creat a positive pressure, and the air will leak out through small gaps etc.

This positive pressure will prevent chemicals from coming in through those very same gaps that the air is escaping from....

Andy