painting...

[gr8kingrat]

I have my 55 gallon tank in the family room. I plan on having the room painted sometime next year. Is there anything I can do to protect the fish? Should i just take the tank down and start all over when the painting is done?

 

[playfulalliecat]

Les and I have been discussing this and we have both come to the same conclusion. The paint fumes could definitely be detrimental to your fish. The only solution we came to with that in mind, is to leave it there but take visquine (plastic like people put over windows in winter) and seal everything, air pumps, filters, the whole tank, in it with duct tape making it as tight as possible. However, there is a chance that fumes could still get in it. That is the only thing I can think of short of taking it down and moving it temporarily to another room that is very well ventilated where the fumes won't be harmful. I wish you luck and am glad its not me, although we are the ones who have to move 2 10 gallons, 2 29 gallons, and a 55 gallon in a few weeks! What a lot of work that will be!!!

 

[Pondlady]

Do you use an air pump to circulate the water? Years ago when I used a UGF with air stones, I just put the pump out the window to pull in fresh air. I also taped plastic over the top of the tank to seal out any fumes. Not too tightly though, the air needs a way OUT.

Ventilate as much as possible using lots of fans to speed the drying time.

I only had mine sealed for two days. I could still smell pait a bit, but the fish came through just fine.

 

[Jamnog]

im a little cavalier about thease things i would leave the window open turn of the pump and throw a plastic tarp over it i dont think i would seal it not if the room was properly ventilated. i think they do this so called oderless paint now from dulux or someone perhaps that might be worth looking into.