Home Construction Safe for Fish?

[emjs777]

Are the fumes associated with contact cement used for formica application overly dangerous to fish tanks? In the adjacent room to my fish room, we will be using this cement which comes with a warning to humans. We plan on closing off the room and blowing a fan out the window to aerate, but I am wondering if this is enough. Has anyone had any experience dealing with these types of fumes and their tanks?

 

[Anonymous]

I would say yes it could very well be. My suggestion would be to tent the tank in plastic dropcloths venting this to the outside thru a window. Tape all seams with duct tape. When the odor is gone then simply remove the tent from the tank. I wouldn't take a chance.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[drywallguy29]

Perhaps you were going to take these precations already but just my two cents. : :wink: I would go to your home improvement store and buy a small roll of plastic and masking tape about 10-15$. Then I would mask off the door way or opening to your fish's room by putting the tape around the casing or opening(tape always goes first) , also tape to the floor. If there is a window in the room open it to allow air circulation from an external source.
My reason for the wary side of caution is, I know of two full blown reef tanks crashing in less than a day from chemical introduction. One from crop dusting pesticides 1/2 mile away and the other from epoxie fumes the realy nasty ones.
The glue you use can be water based or solvent based one being more toxic than the other. There are some very bright people on the boards who may know what is in these perticular glues. I always tend to air on the side of caution beacause Mr. Murphy seems to know me by my first name. Good reefing

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you were going to take these precations already but just my two cents. : :wink: I would go to your home improvement store and buy a small roll of plastic and masking tape about 10-15$. Then I would mask off the door way or opening to your fish's room by putting the tape around the casing or opening(tape always goes first) , also tape to the floor. If there is a window in the room open it to allow air circulation from an external source.
My reason for the wary side of caution is, I know of two full blown reef tanks crashing in less than a day from chemical introduction. One from crop dusting pesticides 1/2 mile away and the other from epoxie fumes the realy nasty ones.
The glue you use can be water based or solvent based one being more toxic than the other. There are some very bright people on the boards who may know what is in these perticular glues. I always tend to air on the side of caution beacause Mr. Murphy seems to know me by my first name. Good reefing

I remodel homes for a living and have been working on the one I am living in for several years. We have completely renovated more than 1/2 the home. New sheetrock, tile, hardwood flooring, oil and latex paint. I have had Tanks throughout this period and have never covered them.

What is in the contact cement that is toxic? I have breathed more of it than was good for me, but it didn't kill me or the guy installing the laminate.

I would ventilate the house as much as possible and let it go at that.

 

[Anonymous]

The smae precautions you take for yourself should surfice. Ventilate and don't get any in the tank.