Ok we have a dog with fleas and are trying to figure out if boming the house for fleas is something that is even possible???? I would like to know if it is if anyone has done it but I worry about the O2 exchange and that would it kill the tank? I have a 220 gallon tank and its stocked full of sps and fish. The last thing I want to do is make an decision without knowledge. Thanks for any imput
Flea Bombing and the aquarium
- Thread starter mx838
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Fishbulb2
New member
I don't know first hand out this but my advice is as follows.
You're goal is simply to provide the aquarium with oxygen and importantly, to keep the fumes out. I would wrap the entire aquarium in seran wrap or plastic and then run the skimmers intake from outside the house to draw in fresh air. I would run as large an aquarium air pump as I had on hand to take air from outside and have it pump into the aquarium that is wrapped to create positive pressure. You want to simply create positive pressure in the aquarium stand, sump, and canopy to keep the fumes out. As a bonus, it will oxygenate the take. The volume of air required to do so is also likely so small compared to your house, that it should have no effect at all on the fumigation. Good luck!
FB
You're goal is simply to provide the aquarium with oxygen and importantly, to keep the fumes out. I would wrap the entire aquarium in seran wrap or plastic and then run the skimmers intake from outside the house to draw in fresh air. I would run as large an aquarium air pump as I had on hand to take air from outside and have it pump into the aquarium that is wrapped to create positive pressure. You want to simply create positive pressure in the aquarium stand, sump, and canopy to keep the fumes out. As a bonus, it will oxygenate the take. The volume of air required to do so is also likely so small compared to your house, that it should have no effect at all on the fumigation. Good luck!
FB
While you can do the above I would hesitate to use flea bombs. They are largely ineffective. The aerosols disperse and then fall straight down. They don't get under couches, beds, tables, etc. There are many better and chemical free options. A bit of googling can help. It takes awhile once you have enough that bombs are a thought. Eggs can lay dormant for a long time so it is a process. Look into diatomaceous earth.
Hopefully HighlandReefer will chime in. I believe pest control is his area of expertise. Perhaps post in the chemistry forum for more knowledgeable info.
Hopefully HighlandReefer will chime in. I believe pest control is his area of expertise. Perhaps post in the chemistry forum for more knowledgeable info.
When I was a kid we had a 20gallon fresh water tank. We would flea bomb the house all the time. We covered the top ofthe tank with news papers. The aerosol spray did not kill the fish. One time we forgot to cover the tank and killed everything...
I would think bagging the tank in plastic and purging it with fresh air from outside should work. but it is a big risk.
I would think bagging the tank in plastic and purging it with fresh air from outside should work. but it is a big risk.
AquaTDV
Member
Forget the "bug bomb" go with a more targeted approach. Powders and a case of flea killer in aerosol cans. Even then your air will become thick from the combination of poison and aerosol. 1st spray every room that doesn't have an aquarium in it. Make the room with the aquarium the last room you do... Shrink wrap the top of the tank. Turn off all skimmers or anything that will take outside air and mix it with water. Only put powder near the tank, don't spray the aerosol within 3ft of the aquarium. Finally go have a few drinks some where and try and forget about your tank till the next morning. Then turn on your skimmer, expect it to go nuts, and then use high quality carbon to help strip the water. This worked for me, and I've helped several friends with flea issues this same way and we never lost a coral... Just a lot of sleep
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funkyfish77
New member
+1 for diatomaceous earth that is all I will use now for pests .
Funky
Funky
OK we have three dogs...live in Florida(flea capitol of the US perhaps) and have zero fleas. We use no powders, sprays, flea pills or anything...so how is it we have no fleas....simple..we feed Orijen or EVO. For whatever reason(perhaps natural oils in the skin) these foods keep our dogs flea free...Before using the grain foods and cheaper grain free...fleas...now..none... Oh, their coats are healthy and they never have a 'dog' smell either. Anyways...don't bomb your house...get better food...your companions deserve it.
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We did a flea treatment in our house this summer. Put blankets over the tanks and bombed.
DEAD shrimp in both tanks. No ill affects noted to the corals or fish but all of my shrimp started twitching within a day of removing the tarp then spinning in circles until finally dead.
Another concern is now you have flea killer on EVER surface of your house. Dont touch anything before you put your hands in the tank!
We ended up finishing off our fleas by treating the dog and cats, vaccuming 2x a day for a month while adding borax to the carpets. and spot treating all of the baseboards, furnature, and under everything.
FLEAS SUCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEAD shrimp in both tanks. No ill affects noted to the corals or fish but all of my shrimp started twitching within a day of removing the tarp then spinning in circles until finally dead.
Another concern is now you have flea killer on EVER surface of your house. Dont touch anything before you put your hands in the tank!
We ended up finishing off our fleas by treating the dog and cats, vaccuming 2x a day for a month while adding borax to the carpets. and spot treating all of the baseboards, furnature, and under everything.
FLEAS SUCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So when my house was being treated for termites, 3 day fumigation, a few years ago I looked into how people delta with such issues and a reef aquarium. In the end I moved it to my friends down the street and when it was over built a new, larger tank, and upgraded. But along the way I heard a number of success stories of sealing off the tank with plastic and using a good air pump for fresh air. Basicaly buy the thickest plastic you can from home depot, usually like 6mil and around $10-20. Drape it over the tank and tape it too the floor sealing it off, similar to what you would do to tent a whole house. Then run a hose to an air pump somewhere in your yard under the seal to supply fresh air. I've heard of it being done like this on tanks in the 300g range where tank moving isn't an option but they need to fumigate to protect the house and chemicals much worse than a bug bomb. So buying some plastic an air pump and hose seams to be safe and simple, just use a lot of tape, seal the openings really well and keep positive pressure of fresh air.
Fishbulb2
New member
This is what I would do. Although I would just note that I would likely NOT run my lights while I was doing this. You just might not get enough ventilation in there to keep them cool.
FB
Bluetangclan
New member
I also live in FL. We had fleas at first in my house although we only have three rooms with carpeting. We did a couple things, dogs get Trifexis for fleas and heart worms. They also get garlic powder in their food which helps keep mosquitoes fleas and ticks(I live in the boonies, we have tons). In addition I get that Spectrum pellet stuff from Home Depot and using a rolling spreader, roll it around the yard every three months. That stuff takes out everything, ants, fleas, ticks, you name it and keeps it away from the house. I have three acres so it isnt financially feasible to do the whole yard but if I could I would, but I do hit up the main areas the dogs go to and a 360 around the house on two bags. Havent had flea or tick issues since and aside from bombing(ineffectively) the attic havent resorted to gassing anything around the tanks.
Bluetangclan
New member
Not an expert on entomology by any means, but unless he does that for a few weeks, wont they just go into hibernation? Bugs are tough critters, they can likely last the cold better than people can.
Unfortunately flea eggs are quite resilient. They can lay dormant for up to a year and can hatch quite quickly. Here in PA they will hatch on a warm weekend. I wouldn't advise freezing them out. They are hidden in couches and beds and such and it would take several days for everything in the house to go below freezing. This would not be good for plumbing and such. Not to mention the eggs will still live through it all.
jacob.morgan78
New member
how did it go? have you done it yet?
Bug bombs ime are totally useless at killing anything, make a mess, and makes one wonder what the long term effect on humans is.
Fleas suck.. but can be delt with. Google flea reporduction cycle helps.
Assuming you've already got the pets vet checked and thier fleas removed, once you start using Advantage or that other ones name I can't remeber offhand call a local flea control service. Here in florida (home of the fleas) Fleabusters is pretty good. They have a non toxic powder, kind of a light yellow color, thats used in homes with infants. The pest control guy actually ate some to try and prove to my wife its non toxic. Its not borax but the name of it aludes me at the moment.
After waiting a week or whatever it was before the first vacuming, then vacuming daily for a month, then back to twice a week you shouldn't see anymore fleas.
No worrying, tank is completely safe. Just get used to vacuming, Google "Neato Robot" if your lazy like me and hate vacuming =)
Fleas suck.. but can be delt with. Google flea reporduction cycle helps.
Assuming you've already got the pets vet checked and thier fleas removed, once you start using Advantage or that other ones name I can't remeber offhand call a local flea control service. Here in florida (home of the fleas) Fleabusters is pretty good. They have a non toxic powder, kind of a light yellow color, thats used in homes with infants. The pest control guy actually ate some to try and prove to my wife its non toxic. Its not borax but the name of it aludes me at the moment.
After waiting a week or whatever it was before the first vacuming, then vacuming daily for a month, then back to twice a week you shouldn't see anymore fleas.
No worrying, tank is completely safe. Just get used to vacuming, Google "Neato Robot" if your lazy like me and hate vacuming =)
D2838
New member
Flea eggs are susceptible to chemicals as well as the adults and larvae, the pupal stage is not. The pupae can withstand just about everything but a nuclear blast I think. When helping our clients rid their homes and pets of fleas we do recommend treating the home with sprays targeting baseboards, bedding areas, and under furniture because fleas are photophobic. A good IGR(insect growth regulator) spray works nicely but vacuuming also helps a lot, just be sure to empty it into a bag and tie it off and take it out to the trash immediately. The worst thing is the pupal stage, they can lay dormant for up to a year and then hatch when the conditions are optimal meaning, not too many other fleas for competition and a suitable host. They are a very tricky little pest.
The most important thing as one poster stated is getting all animals on flea prevention, and yes Trifexis and Comfortis are the fastest killing flea products and Comfortis is now approved for cats also. Comfortis has studies showing massive flea populations being taken to extinction in just 3 months while pets were taking spinosad, though in my experience 6 is more typical. There are many other products that work well, just ask your vet if you're confused.
The take home message is treat the pets first, the home second and don't fumigate your house and kill your inverts!! Besides, who wants that stuff all over counter tops, etc., too much of a pain to clean afterward.
Good Luck
The most important thing as one poster stated is getting all animals on flea prevention, and yes Trifexis and Comfortis are the fastest killing flea products and Comfortis is now approved for cats also. Comfortis has studies showing massive flea populations being taken to extinction in just 3 months while pets were taking spinosad, though in my experience 6 is more typical. There are many other products that work well, just ask your vet if you're confused.
The take home message is treat the pets first, the home second and don't fumigate your house and kill your inverts!! Besides, who wants that stuff all over counter tops, etc., too much of a pain to clean afterward.
Good Luck
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