Cigarette Smoke + Reef Tanks?

[Danzig]

I'm wondering if cigarette smoke has any negative effects on a reef tank. Do any of you have a reef tank in a smoking room? Ive noticed brown residue on my TV, pc monitor, and windows, so im just taking it into consideration.

 

[TheFishTeen]

Smoking kills. Enough Said.

 

[Danzig]

Smoking kills. Enough Said.

That is irrelevant, and dont assume i am the smoker.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

If there's enough smoke around, it can definitely affect the health of the animals. A couple years back a customer of mine was having a terrible time figuring out why his fish kept dying and inverts wouldn't open up right. After tons of questioning and trying this and that, it eventually came up that the tank was in his 'cigar room', where he and friends would smoke and play poker. We realized the skimmer/filter was pulling smoke into the water and was affecting the animals (whether directly or via chemistry changes in the water I don't know). He started paying attention to it, and realized the tank looked its worst in the days after having people over.

If there's enough smoke around to leave the yellow buildup you mentioned, I'd bet you there's enough to do damage to the tank long term.

 

[betamed]

If you stop the smoking in the room you'll probably need to dose nicorate or something to help your fish with the withdrawel

 

[Danzig]

If there's enough smoke around, it can definitely affect the health of the animals. A couple years back a customer of mine was having a terrible time figuring out why his fish kept dying and inverts wouldn't open up right. After tons of questioning and trying this and that, it eventually came up that the tank was in his 'cigar room', where he and friends would smoke and play poker. We realized the skimmer/filter was pulling smoke into the water and was affecting the animals (whether directly or via chemistry changes in the water I don't know). He started paying attention to it, and realized the tank looked its worst in the days after having people over.

If there's enough smoke around to leave the yellow buildup you mentioned, I'd bet you there's enough to do damage to the tank long term.

Thank you very much sir for your time.

If you stop the smoking in the room you'll probably need to dose nicorate or something to help your fish with the withdrawel

Well the fish are not in it yet, but now i can avoid it all together. lol that would be funny except im sure its toxic to them, like it is to some plants.

 

[sporto0]

I used to smoke heavily around my FOWLR & reef tank that was in the living room for 10 years, I never noticed any ill effects from the second hand smoke, I suppose if I didn't keep the glass clean weekly that residue would have formed, as it certainly did on the walls that needed painting every 3 years because of it. The last 7 years I have cut back to less than 10 cigarettes a day & I now smoke them outside, but I have not seen anything change in my tanks, good or bad. I'm not advocating smoking around them but I thought I could at least give you my experience.

 

[Danzig]

I used to smoke heavily around my FOWLR & reef tank that was in the living room for 10 years, I never noticed any ill effects from the second hand smoke, I suppose if I didn't keep the glass clean weekly that residue would have formed, as it certainly did on the walls that needed painting every 3 years because of it. The last 7 years I have cut back to less than 10 cigarettes a day & I now smoke them outside, but I have not seen anything change in my tanks, good or bad. I'm not advocating smoking around them but I thought I could at least give you my experience.

Thanks sporto0 ; ) hi again

 

[567234ta]

i do smoke but not much anyways, i enjoy a smoke outdoors, never smoke inside.
never stick your hands in the tank after smoking, wash them good first.

It may not kill fish but it adds nicotine to the water and is harmful to any plant/invert cells.

 

[Danzig]

i do smoke but not much anyways, i enjoy a smoke outdoors, never smoke inside.
never stick your hands in the tank after smoking, wash them good first.

It may not kill fish but it adds nicotine to the water and is harmful to any plant/invert cells.

I always washed my hands before putting my hands into FW tanks or any fish tank. I also rinse my hands after i wash them and thoroughly dry them to be careful not to get soap into the water afterwards.

 

[jacob.morgan78]

If it's in the smoking room maybe you could run the skimmer airline outside or into another room... I've heard that's good for co2 anyways

 

[elegance coral]

I'm a smoker, and my computer is in my fish room. I go through quite a few cigarettes while I'm on the computer. Most of them just burn up in the ash try as I'm busy on the computer. I've never noticed a problem with my tanks I could associate with smoke.

 

[BIG_KAHUNA]

guess it all depends on what we're smoking here as to whether or not the effects could be toxic or um...therapeutic if you will....:smokin: I like to think my second hand smoke is beneficial to my fishes. :wildone:

just kidding. but seriously.

 

[j tavares]

years ago when first married my wife who does not smoke or I had, her boss come over who smokes like a chiminey,need I say more, I had just placed new macroalgaes in my tank which was a lagoon setup. The woman was sitting next to my tank and in less than 24 hrs Everyone of the caulerpa species, the penicillus and halimeda were dead due to the heavey tobacco stench in the room.I am a physician when I came home late at night the tank was cloudy and algae were dying fast . Needless to say to this day My wife will not allow anyone to smoke in our house including her sister and Mother or father, she never forgot how bad she felt and how I lost specimens in hours after carefully acclimating them. No doubt tobacco was the cause,you be the judge , Tobacco kills pure and simple

 

[syrinx]

I actually have the answer to this question. I had a customer once that had a 125 that was constantly low ph. We dikd all kinds of things to raise it, but it just was fighting us. One day I was opening their bafg to test the water0 and it smelled like a ashtray. There were 4 people in the house- all chain smokers. Vented skimmer outside- problem solved. Basically airpumps skimmers etc turn your aquarium into a bong- a filter for smoke. No fish or corals were harmed. Nicotine is a poision- a drop could likely kill your tank- but in the extreme cases I have seen- smoking around a tank that has its air suppy vented away from smoke is in little danger to corals and fish. If you are super worried a little carbon would clean up everything.

 

[syrinx]

years ago when first married my wife who does not smoke or I had, her boss come over who smokes like a chiminey,need I say more, I had just placed new macroalgaes in my tank which was a lagoon setup. The woman was sitting next to my tank and in less than 24 hrs Everyone of the caulerpa species, the penicillus and halimeda were dead due to the heavey tobacco stench in the room.I am a physician when I came home late at night the tank was cloudy and algae were dying fast . Needless to say to this day My wife will not allow anyone to smoke in our house including her sister and Mother or father, she never forgot how bad she felt and how I lost specimens in hours after carefully acclimating them. No doubt tobacco was the cause,you be the judge , Tobacco kills pure and simple

Antecdotal- new specimins added. What was the effect on other inhabitants? Nicotine has been used for centuries as a pesticide- sprayed directly on plants with no harm.

 

[collie man]

I have a 50 gallon SPS reef in my living room of my 1 bedroom apartment. I smoke in a daily basis anywhere from directly in front of or next to my tank. Given I am not smoking tabacco but i believe i would have seen adverse affects years ago. I do understand cig's have much more pollutants compared to more organic items.

 

[Palting]

I have a 50 gallon SPS reef in my living room of my 1 bedroom apartment. I smoke in a daily basis anywhere from directly in front of or next to my tank. Given I am not smoking tabacco but i believe i would have seen adverse affects years ago. I do understand cig's have much more pollutants compared to more organic items.

Hmmmm........Can't help but wonder.....

 

[collie man]

I can only imagine what habitual cig smoking would do to a reef.

 

[Danzig]

I have a 50 gallon SPS reef in my living room of my 1 bedroom apartment. I smoke in a daily basis anywhere from directly in front of or next to my tank. Given I am not smoking tabacco but i believe i would have seen adverse affects years ago. I do understand cig's have much more pollutants compared to more organic items.

What your smoking doesn't apply to my situation. Even if it did it wouldn't matter. It doesnt leave a permanent stench or residue on walls,electronics, and any anything else. My gf smokes nugs in my room all the time and its all cleared up an hour later.