Ants!

[RainboWBacoN420]

One problem resolved is a gateway for another one to come!
 
It's winter and it's time for those little critter bugs to start moving in. I've been noticing ants in my room a lot lately. This morning, I was feeding my fish in another tank, and I look over to my 15 gallon and there's a cluster of ants on the filter! Most likely sitting near the motor near it's probably warm. But they're all over! They're crawling along the rims, they're everywhere! I found out they're coming from the air duct between my 15 gallon and my 55 gallon tanks. I don't want to use pesticides to get rid of them because my tanks are open top and I have fish that come to the surface for air. I definitely don't want any trace of pesticide to contaminate my tanks. I am also worried about the ants falling in and fish devouring them, could it pose a risk of some sort of disease?
 
How can I get rid of the ants without pesticide or risking the health of the aquarium?
 
I apologize if this doesn't really belong in the emergency discussion, but I thought of it for a while and look at this as an emergency case.
 
Thanks,
~RainboWBacoN420

 

[Chad]

There is a great ant killer I've used many times. I learned about it when I worked as an exterminator long ago in another life. It's called Amdro. You can pick it up at Home Depot. 
It works because it's little crystals you put out. The ants take them thinking they are food and feed them to the hill. The queen eventually gets her bite and dying, takes the entire ant hill with her. You can put it down where the ants are getting into the house and the poison will never make it into the aquarium. 
 
Disclaimer: Of course do your own research and read the label to decide for yourself. I've used it, like it, and have had great results, but that's not a professional endorsement, just an opinion.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

There is a great ant killer I've used many times. I learned about it when I worked as an exterminator long ago in another life. It's called Amdro. You can pick it up at Home Depot. 
It works because it's little crystals you put out. The ants take them thinking they are food and feed them to the hill. The queen eventually gets her bite and dying, takes the entire ant hill with her. You can put it down where the ants are getting into the house and the poison will never make it into the aquarium. 
 
Disclaimer: Of course do your own research and read the label to decide for yourself. I've used it, like it, and have had great results, but that's not a professional endorsement, just an opinion.

I'm aware of this product, my girlfriend used it in her house, but I'm afraid of it possibly getting into the aquarium(s) such as a poisoned but not yet dead ant? 
I don't know, just thinking of what could go wrong here. I'm weighing in on the idea of using it, but I'm not entirely sure. I want to plan a solution very thoroughly before acting.
 
I appreciate the given advice, though! Thank you!

 

[StevenF]

If you don't want to use a pesticide the only option I can think of is to find the gap in outside wall the ants are using to get in and plug it up.  However once you do that they will probably find another opening.  Raid spray does leave and invisible film which ants will not cross.  You could use that around the heater vent to prevent them from reaching the tank.   Reapply Raid as needed to prevent the ants from reaching the tanks.

 

[Jeremy180]

I would recommend against any pesticides, myself.
one admittedly odd method I've tried that seems to work is to use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck up all the visible ants.
I don't know how the ant species you have would react to this, but so far, both Argentine and fire ants have taken the hint after Several times and the survivors moved house.
P.S.
to kill the ats, I put the VC bag in a large freezer bag and freeze it.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

I would recommend against any pesticides, myself.
one admittedly odd method I've tried that seems to work is to use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck up all the visible ants.
I don't know how the ant species you have would react to this, but so far, both Argentine and fire ants have taken the hint after Several times and the survivors moved house.
P.S.
to kill the ats, I put the VC bag in a large freezer bag and freeze it.

If I were to go this route, there would be many stragglers, most are on the filter, but there's some crawling around the frame and on the dresser. I don't think I would be able to get them all. It's a good idea and I might consider it.
 
Would making a distraction work? Like leave a little piece of candy for them all to swarm then when I have them all, just scoop it up and dispose of them?

If you don't want to use a pesticide the only option I can think of is to find the gap in outside wall the ants are using to get in and plug it up.  However once you do that they will probably find another opening.  Raid spray does leave and invisible film which ants will not cross.  You could use that around the heater vent to prevent them from reaching the tank.   Reapply Raid as needed to prevent the ants from reaching the tanks.

They're coming in through the ventilation, I could spray around the house if it doesn't rain again, soon. 
 
I want no poison in my room at all.

 

[Jeremy180]

 

I would recommend against any pesticides, myself.
one admittedly odd method I've tried that seems to work is to use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck up all the visible ants.
I don't know how the ant species you have would react to this, but so far, both Argentine and fire ants have taken the hint after Several times and the survivors moved house.
P.S.
to kill the ats, I put the VC bag in a large freezer bag and freeze it.

If I were to go this route, there would be many stragglers, most are on the filter, but there's some crawling around the frame and on the dresser. I don't think I would be able to get them all. It's a good idea and I might consider it.
 
Would making a distraction work? Like leave a little piece of candy for them all to swarm then when I have them all, just scoop it up and dispose of them?

I wouldn't do this, I think you would just end up luring more in from outdoors.
 
You might want to double-check toxicity for your fish, but I remember reading that while it won't kill them, peppermint or wintergreen oil makes a good ant repellent.
I've never tried it myself though.
 
Apparently fresh Clove or Citrus oil will kill ants, but I'm pretty sure these are also mildly toxic to fish.
Still, this could be used to kill any ants that aren't too close to the aquarium.
Edit: apparently cinnamon also works as a repellent.
However, for all I know, any and all of these could possibly be toxic to fish in more than trace amounts.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

Jeez, this is so difficult to come up with a safe plan to get rid of these ants. I bet there will be a whole lot more when I return home...

 

[Jeremy180]

After further research I've found that:
There have been some concerns raised over Wintergreen oil being possibly toxic for fish, not sure how toxic it's supposed to be.
Clove oil will kill fish, is sometimes used as as a fish sedative, but will kill when overdosed.
Citrus oil is mildly toxic to both fish and cats apparently.
 
 
This article only briefly mentions fish and pesticides, but would be useful if you're worried about any other pets.
http/davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/782/#b
The best news I've found is an entry on another forum where somebody reported that after planting peppermint plants by a pond, the goldfish were eating it with no apparent harm. However peppermint oil is a bit more concentrated than that, maybe you could dilute it a bit to be safe.
 
Maybe a sticky trap on some of the trails could work?
 
EDIT: I've found no info at all regarding cinnamon and fish toxicity, but it is apparently mildly toxic to dogs and cats in moderately large amounts.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

After further research I've found that:
There have been some concerns raised over Wintergreen oil being possibly toxic for fish, not sure how toxic it's supposed to be.
Clove oil will kill fish, is sometimes used as as a fish sedative, but will kill when overdosed.
Citrus oil is mildly toxic to both fish and cats apparently.
 
 
This article only briefly mentions fish and pesticides, but would be useful if you're worried about any other pets.
http/davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/782/#b
The best news I've found is an entry on another forum where somebody reported that after planting peppermint plants by a pond, the goldfish were eating it with no apparent harm. However peppermint oil is a bit more concentrated than that, maybe you could dilute it a bit to be safe.
 
Maybe a sticky trap on some of the trails could work?
 
EDIT: I've found no info at all regarding cinnamon and fish toxicity, but it is apparently mildly toxic to dogs and cats in moderately large amounts.

I have a dog but I can easily keep her out of my room.... hopefully, she usually tries to sneak her way in there when I'm not looking.
 
Thanks! I'll look into this some more. 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

http/www.weekendgardener.net/organic-pesticide/diatomaceous-010801.htm
 
 
Here ya go.  diatomaceous earth - this is your answer.
 
 
 
Find where the ants are getting into the house and put this stuff into the crevices.
 

As a long lasting control, just sprinkle into cracks and crevices where bugs hide. Any insects that come into contact with it, or ingest it, die within 48 hours.

 

[Jeremy180]

Oh, yeah, Good ol 'Diatomaceous earth! Can't believe I forgot about that!
One caveat is to be sure to get food grade, the food grade is so non-toxic one could literally eat it in small amounts, but the normal grade can be harmful if inhaled.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

http/www.weekendgardener.net/organic-pesticide/diatomaceous-010801.htm
 
 
Here ya go.  diatomaceous earth - this is your answer.
 
 
 
Find where the ants are getting into the house and put this stuff into the crevices.
 

As a long lasting control, just sprinkle into cracks and crevices where bugs hide. Any insects that come into contact with it, or ingest it, die within 48 hours.

Thank you! I'll take a look at my local OSH.


Just time more thing I'll need some ideas on... They're all over the filter... How can I get them off? There's already floating ants in the water.... Might as well just try to wipe them off and scoop the dead ones out of the water?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

http/www.weekendgardener.net/organic-pesticide/diatomaceous-010801.htm
 
 
Here ya go.  diatomaceous earth - this is your answer.
 
 
 
Find where the ants are getting into the house and put this stuff into the crevices.
 

As a long lasting control, just sprinkle into cracks and crevices where bugs hide. Any insects that come into contact with it, or ingest it, die within 48 hours.

Thank you! I'll take a look at my local OSH.


Just time more thing I'll need some ideas on... They're all over the filter... How can I get them off? There's already floating ants in the water.... Might as well just try to wipe them off and scoop the dead ones out of the water?
 


 
They will go back to their home eventually... and die when they hit the DE.  Or just suck them up with the vacuum. 

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

So, just got back from OSH, couldn't find Concern.
I went with Terro: Liquid Ant Baits, which is pretty much the same thing that tcamos mentioned. I'll just try this product and hope for the best.
I have a picture to show you guys, it's actually pretty funny. I'll post it as soon as I can, but I can't post pictures directly from my phone. But you should see what these ants have gotten themselves into.