Floor Lacquer Fumes Killed My Fish?

[Rummynose]

Haven't been on here for a while. Haven't had much time with all the renos we are doing in the house. Last week we had our master bedroom floor sanded and refinished. I waited a few hours after the sanding was finished and did a large water change in both my tanks, because I was afraid of the dust that may have had a chance to get into the water.

Then, when the floor was being lacquered there were a lot of fumes and a few days after I noticed my female German Blue Ram hiding a lot, and yesterday she was hanging out at the bottom, this morning I found her dead. Could the fumes have causes her death?

 

[Suleika]

Not sure if this is correct, but I have just recently been told by someone at my LFS that chemicals in the home can easily affect fish and cause problems (incense sticks, air fresheners etc.)

 

[Rummynose]

Thanks for your reply Suleika! I was aware of the aerosol sprays being a problem near the tank, and about making sure there are no soap residue or lotions and such on your hands and arms before working on the tank. It's just that the lacquer was applied at the opposite side of the house, and yes, the fumes wafted through all the rooms for about 3 days....I feel terrible that they could have been the cause of her death!!!

 

[Candi1990]

Thanks for your reply Suleika! I was aware of the aerosol sprays being a problem near the tank, and about making sure there are no soap residue or lotions and such on your hands and arms before working on the tank. It's just that the lacquer was applied at the opposite side of the house, and yes, the fumes wafted through all the rooms for about 3 days....I feel terrible that they could have been the cause of her death!!!

The first of the year I had my hard wood floors stripped and refinished. The fumes from the polyurathane killed mine. The fumes were very strong. We had to leave for a few days I should have known it was too much for the fish.

 

[Rummynose]

Hi Candi, and thank you for replying! We were lucky with the weather and had the windows open, yes, those fumes are strong. With the windows open we did not have to leave the house, but your reply confirms it for me, I just don't know what else could have been the cause. It is weird though that I haven't lost any of my other fish!?