Spraying for termites. what do i need to do to the tank?

Paintbug · 03/02/2006, 01:53 PM

i woke up this morning to find 2 rooms in the basement being attacked by mateing termites. which means someone is going to have to spray the house for them. my tank is in the main room of the basement, and my RO/DI water storage is in one of the rooms attacked. what precautions am i going to need to take to prevent killing my entire tank? im thinking of wrapping the entire tank with plastic wrap or bags, same with the RO tank.

Blown 346 · 03/02/2006, 01:58 PM

How long will the sprating go one for? And can you live in the house after the spraying?
I would seal the tank and the water storage tank/bin as well air tight. You will be fine to do that for several hours. Anything longer than that you might have some problems.

Paintbug · 03/02/2006, 02:04 PM

i dont have a clue on how long its going to take or whos doing it for that matter. we are leasing right now with an option to buy in Oct. so the owner should understand he needs to pay for the spraying. if not i may spray some myself, and then when its inspected/appraised before the sell thats one more thing to lower the price. i can get an oxygen tank and keep some oxygen going in the tank if needed.

Blown 346 · 03/02/2006, 02:07 PM

As long as the tank isnt going to be sealed for a long period of time you will be fine. The watrstoage area can remain sealed for days.

chrismunn · 03/02/2006, 02:08 PM

dont they have to cover the entire house with a tent, which stays on the house for like a week while they bomb the entire house?

if thats the case, you may want to take the tank out of the house!

AJT · 03/02/2006, 02:25 PM

I don't think you can use oxygen. I remember someone doing that yrs ago, killed everything.

ONEMANBAND · 03/02/2006, 02:46 PM

I recently had ants, boric acid powder (vs spray) was what we used, it worked well and was put within a few feet of my reef without trouble. Good luck, thats a bummer.

davocean · 03/02/2006, 03:28 PM

I worked for a termite co years ago.
If you saw them they were probably "wings", new infestation
wich can be locally treated and not tented.
Pesticides for these can't be bought over the counter, except for subteranian termites, and that stuff is weak and only works on subs.
I'm guessing you have drywoods.
Local treat is about 4 hrs, not that big of a deal, but I would turn off pumps and completly seal tank w/ plastic and tape just b4 treatment.
After, open all windows/doors
Tenting is 3 days, you'll probably have to move tank or set up QT
or something, depends on what you have.
Microwaves and freezing may be sugested, they don't work for squat

Paintbug · 03/02/2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davocean
I worked for a termite co years ago.
If you saw them they were probably "wings", new infestation
wich can be locally treated and not tented.
Pesticides for these can't be bought over the counter, except for subteranian termites, and that stuff is weak and only works on subs.
I'm guessing you have drywoods.
Local treat is about 4 hrs, not that big of a deal, but I would turn off pumps and completly seal tank w/ plastic and tape just b4 treatment.
After, open all windows/doors
Tenting is 3 days, you'll probably have to move tank or set up QT
or something, depends on what you have.
Microwaves and freezing may be sugested, they don't work for squat

yep there was wings everywhere in the floor when they got finished. the house has wood siding. if we buy the house it will be gone first!! LOL those early moring wake up calls from the woodpeckers are driving me insane!! anyway the exterinators are coming out tomorrow, so i guess we will go from there.

davocean · 03/02/2006, 10:48 PM

Good luck to you.

Sk8r · 03/03/2006, 09:30 AM

Saran wrap the whole exposed area and any vents. Keep the pump shut down, lights off to avoid heat buildup. When it's safe for you to be back in there, open all the windows, and give it a few hours, watching your tank the while. Unwrap when the smell has dissipated a bit, or sooner if the tank looks stressed. ALSO: protect any vessels, dips, water containers, nets, or other items you use in the tank. I've been through this several times and never lost a specimen.

03/02/2006, 01:53 PM	#1
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	Spraying for termites. what do i need to do to the tank? i woke up this morning to find 2 rooms in the basement being attacked by mateing termites. which means someone is going to have to spray the house for them. my tank is in the main room of the basement, and my RO/DI water storage is in one of the rooms attacked. what precautions am i going to need to take to prevent killing my entire tank? im thinking of wrapping the entire tank with plastic wrap or bags, same with the RO tank. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/02/2006, 02:04 PM	#3
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	i dont have a clue on how long its going to take or whos doing it for that matter. we are leasing right now with an option to buy in Oct. so the owner should understand he needs to pay for the spraying. if not i may spray some myself, and then when its inspected/appraised before the sell thats one more thing to lower the price. i can get an oxygen tank and keep some oxygen going in the tank if needed. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/02/2006, 02:08 PM	#5
chrismunn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 4,200	dont they have to cover the entire house with a tent, which stays on the house for like a week while they bomb the entire house? if thats the case, you may want to take the tank out of the house! __________________ Marine Aquarists Association of South Texas Austin Reef Club PBITAWA... Current Tank Info: 14g bio cube

03/02/2006, 02:25 PM	#6
AJT Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 856	I don't think you can use oxygen. I remember someone doing that yrs ago, killed everything. __________________ " You get what you pay for" Now lit with 12 G3 Pros & Reef Link! Current Tank Info: 380 Gallon, Lit by 12 G3 Pros

03/02/2006, 02:46 PM	#7
ONEMANBAND Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 726	I recently had ants, boric acid powder (vs spray) was what we used, it worked well and was put within a few feet of my reef without trouble. Good luck, thats a bummer. __________________ At birth,Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. NOBODY delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 75 reef/100 aggressive

03/02/2006, 01:58 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	How long will the sprating go one for? And can you live in the house after the spraying? I would seal the tank and the water storage tank/bin as well air tight. You will be fine to do that for several hours. Anything longer than that you might have some problems.

03/02/2006, 02:07 PM	#4
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	As long as the tank isnt going to be sealed for a long period of time you will be fine. The watrstoage area can remain sealed for days.

03/02/2006, 03:28 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	I worked for a termite co years ago. If you saw them they were probably "wings", new infestation wich can be locally treated and not tented. Pesticides for these can't be bought over the counter, except for subteranian termites, and that stuff is weak and only works on subs. I'm guessing you have drywoods. Local treat is about 4 hrs, not that big of a deal, but I would turn off pumps and completly seal tank w/ plastic and tape just b4 treatment. After, open all windows/doors Tenting is 3 days, you'll probably have to move tank or set up QT or something, depends on what you have. Microwaves and freezing may be sugested, they don't work for squat __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/02/2006, 10:48 PM	#10
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Good luck to you. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/03/2006, 09:30 AM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Saran wrap the whole exposed area and any vents. Keep the pump shut down, lights off to avoid heat buildup. When it's safe for you to be back in there, open all the windows, and give it a few hours, watching your tank the while. Unwrap when the smell has dissipated a bit, or sooner if the tank looks stressed. ALSO: protect any vessels, dips, water containers, nets, or other items you use in the tank. I've been through this several times and never lost a specimen. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.