The Exterminator!!

[iwishtofish]

...is coming to my apartment - 2 times in a month, I believe they said. I am assuming I have no choice in the matter and that they will probably just squirt some stuff in the kitchen (under fridge, stove, etc).

My 29g open-top tank (includes SPS and shrimp) is about 10 feet from the kitchen. Do I need to worry? Any precautions I should take, questions I should ask management? Do I need to run a fan to ventilate the apartment? Thanks

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It could be a big concern, yes. Without knowing what is to be used, it is hard to say how important.

I once had a contractor spray a bee hive that was outside the house. i soon had a bunch of belly up limpets.

Fans, closed doors, extra carbon, skimmer off, etc all may help.

[iwishtofish]

Thank you, Randy. I am going to email the apartment rep today to try to get more info.

[NirvanaFan]

Why skimmer off? so it doesn't go crazy?

[iwishtofish]

Geez, I hope things won't be that bad!!! I just emailed the apartment people to try to get them to consider placing baited traps instead of spraying. We'll see how that goes...

[ReefDreamz]

turn the skimmer off to keep the water and air mixing to a minimum(the pesticides will be in the air)..I think

[NirvanaFan]

that makes sense. Didn't even think about that.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, that's the thought. Same plan when painting may help.

[dadonoflaw]

i had an exterminator from terminex come and i covered the tank and turned off the skimmer and i always run alot of carbon and i had 0 loses so...

[iwishtofish]

Originally posted by dadonoflaw
i had an exterminator from terminex come and i covered the tank and turned off the skimmer and i always run alot of carbon and i had 0 loses so...

dadonoflaw, what kind of spraying did they do - was it into cracks and crevices with a wand and a pump can? Do you by chance know what chemical they used? I'm glad your tank was OK!

[dadonoflaw]

i dont know which chemical they used but he did have a can and a sprayer and sprayed all around the tank and in cracks and crevices. thanx i was happy about that as well.