House being painted

[BHLOZEK]

My house is being painted including my room with my reeftank how should i protect it from the paint and chemicals and fumes?????!!!!!!

[Reefkeeper]

do you have any idea on what type of paint is being used- oil or latex, and method of application? roll on, brush on, or spray?

Mostly latex paints are used for general purpose interior,and those dont give off too many nasty fumes. when I repainted the ceiling in my living room (wich housed my 75gal reef) I didnt do anything to protect it.... HOWEVER..... It is fully enclosed with canopy so that there was no chance of getting paint into the water. I also run activated carbon in my tanks at all times, and recomend that to everyone. It CAN save your butt, and in the case of the painting, just put new carbon in the day before, and then change it agian a few days after just to be safe. If spraying is the way the painting is benign done, then I would definitly use the carbon, but just to be safe I would completly drape the tank with a blanket or sheet that you dont mind sacrificing.

best of luck!

Gene

------------------
" To laugh often and much, To win the respect of inteligent people and the affection of children, To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition, To know one life has breathed easier because you have lived."

THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED
Ralph Waldo Emerson

[This message has been edited by Reefkeeper (edited 01-08-2001).]

Eeeeewwwww, this isnt a good time to paint but if youre in so cal, maybe not so bad. Definatly open the windows and let out as much as possible, a box fan may help too.
Cover the tank and sump etc, shut down power filters or such. You might want to put an airpump outside and run a couple airstones in it for some movement. Hopefully it will be fast drying interior paint. Aafter its dry to touch and worst smell is faded, run carbon for a few days and change daily. If at all possible pre mix enough SW to replace the tanks volume just in case. Not to put a price on animals and such but you might consider moving valuable fish or coral for a day or two. Anyone else been thru this?

------------------
I thought I was me, but we were wrong
email: geeflipr@internetcds.com

[Elvis]

If you're using latex paint for the interior, Benjamin Moore actually makes a product called Pristine which is a low VOC (volatile organic compound - aka stinky stuff) paint. It costs a couple bucks more a gallon but is a high quality latex paint and has the added benefit of not really stinking you out of the house. I don't know how much of a problem the fumes would really be for your tank but it would seem that the low VOC fumes would be better than other options.

[bpaul_jpaul]

Cover everything with plastic. Shut off the skimmer and DON"T use air pumps with air stones. That just takes air from the house and puts it in your tank. Use a max jet pump and place it in the water for water movement. this will hold for a few days and by then your al set

good luck

[Shadetree]

I cannot remember where I read this, but it was suggested that the entire tank be wrapped up and sealed air tight. Then run an airline to a air pump from outside. The only air being drawn in would be fresh from outside or recycling the air inside the "tent".

Scott

[Thallone]

I can tell you all from sorry experience the Rug Doctoring is something to cover all tanks during. After we cleaned the rugs a couple years ago, all of our fish were dead overnight.

Paint? dunno, but I wouldn't risk it.

Jeff

[BHLOZEK]

Thanks for all the info, todaay the room was painted and i covered it with moist towels everything seems fine.