Drywall Dust & Saltwater Aquariums

yeahitsgotahemi · 05/29/2009, 12:55 PM

Alright everyone, thanks for all the input on the last thread i posted about the initial setup of my reef tank.

I am just about finished developing my basement. Flooring is down ect. If i put my tank down there and cycle my tank while mudding, is the mud dust going to give me a problem with the tank? I can probably wrap it in poly or something.

Any imput on this would be great.

jenglish · 05/29/2009, 01:02 PM

Depending on the type of drywall mud, I would think some would contain heavy metals. I would toss a tarp over it or something.

Skeptic_07 · 05/29/2009, 01:07 PM

yeah its probably not too terrible to get in the tank as its mostly made of gypsum which is calcium sulfate but there is probably alot of other crap in it as well that isn't good for the tank. Try to keep most of it out but small amounts while cycling probably wont do much as you'll hopefully be doing many waterchanges before adding anything sensitive.

tastingSalty · 05/29/2009, 01:08 PM

When I was installing the hooks on my ceiling for my lights to hang from I just put a towel over the tank to protect from drywall shavings from gettin in it.

If yours is a 90 gallon open top, I would just take some wood boards - like 2x4s - place them over the top of the tank and put a towel/tarp on top of the boards. It should keep most everything out.

rustyjames · 05/29/2009, 01:09 PM

+1 on covering the tank. I've done my fair share of sanding, that dust gets everywhere and can't be good for your tank.

Lyotim88 · 05/29/2009, 01:23 PM

i would even go a step further and wet the towel

yeahitsgotahemi · 05/29/2009, 02:05 PM

Yeah okay cool, Well i think ill get ready to pick it up then! Just was worried about dust. Thanks!

PUParrothead · 05/29/2009, 02:34 PM

I just did a fair amount of dry wall work about 10 ft from my tank with no ill effects. I think as long as you keep the heavy stuff out a little dust won't hurt anything.

05/29/2009, 12:55 PM	#1
yeahitsgotahemi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Red Deer Canada Posts: 48	Drywall Dust & Saltwater Aquariums Alright everyone, thanks for all the input on the last thread i posted about the initial setup of my reef tank. I am just about finished developing my basement. Flooring is down ect. If i put my tank down there and cycle my tank while mudding, is the mud dust going to give me a problem with the tank? I can probably wrap it in poly or something. Any imput on this would be great.

05/29/2009, 01:02 PM	#2
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	Depending on the type of drywall mud, I would think some would contain heavy metals. I would toss a tarp over it or something. __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

05/29/2009, 01:08 PM	#4
tastingSalty Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 498	When I was installing the hooks on my ceiling for my lights to hang from I just put a towel over the tank to protect from drywall shavings from gettin in it. If yours is a 90 gallon open top, I would just take some wood boards - like 2x4s - place them over the top of the tank and put a towel/tarp on top of the boards. It should keep most everything out. __________________ ~\| Jon \|~ Learning is everything in reefkeeping. Current Tank Info: 12g Nano Mixed Reef Hybrid ZeoVit/Neo-Zeo, 150w MH DE, 10g sump with Octopus NWB-150 Protein Skimmer, CPR overflow, Koralia PHs, ATO.com, TLF Reactor, QuietOne Return Pump, ReefKeeper Lite

05/29/2009, 01:09 PM	#5
rustyjames EMT-B Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	+1 on covering the tank. I've done my fair share of sanding, that dust gets everywhere and can't be good for your tank. __________________ I see your Schwartz is as big as mine. Current Tank Info: 20 long

05/29/2009, 01:07 PM	#3
Skeptic_07 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: lawn guy land Posts: 1,418	yeah its probably not too terrible to get in the tank as its mostly made of gypsum which is calcium sulfate but there is probably alot of other crap in it as well that isn't good for the tank. Try to keep most of it out but small amounts while cycling probably wont do much as you'll hopefully be doing many waterchanges before adding anything sensitive.

05/29/2009, 01:23 PM	#6
Lyotim88 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 155	i would even go a step further and wet the towel

05/29/2009, 02:05 PM	#7
yeahitsgotahemi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Red Deer Canada Posts: 48	Yeah okay cool, Well i think ill get ready to pick it up then! Just was worried about dust. Thanks!

05/29/2009, 02:34 PM	#8
PUParrothead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lafayette, IN Posts: 91	I just did a fair amount of dry wall work about 10 ft from my tank with no ill effects. I think as long as you keep the heavy stuff out a little dust won't hurt anything.