mosquito larvae in ro tank

[Mr31415]

How do I prevent mosquitos from laying eggs in my ro tank? due to its design I cannot completely close all openings. can I increase the pH by adding some kalkwasser?

 

[tecoral]

Id just make sure there was lots of surface aggitation, skiters like stagnant water. Maybe a powerhead pointed at the surface.

Can you move the storage container to a screened in room or a closet?

I love that 145 tank by the way:thumbsup:

 

[Mr31415]

Anyone else have opinions? I just think it would be a little challenge to get surface agitation in a RO tank that has greatly varying surface level...

 

[nanoDude]

You could mount the powerhead to a block of foam so it would always stay at the surface.

 

[tecoral]

You could also run an air line and stone in it, it would also help keep the PH elevated.

 

[kathainbowen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11352128#post11352128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr31415
Anyone else have opinions? I just think it would be a little challenge to get surface agitation in a RO tank that has greatly varying surface level...

Really, your best and possibly only option is to increase surface agitation, since you already said that you cannot cover or otherwise completely close all openings. Any other options really aren't viable considering the end intended usage of the water (obviously, since you're on Reef Central, for a reef tank). You already said that covering all the openings isn't an option. The only other options after sealing up the tank and increasing surface agitation would be a sort of pesticide that kills the eggs and/or a mosquito fish like G. affinis (doing either of these, however, would defeat the purpose behind RO water and, in the case of the pesticide, turn the water toxic).

 

[Mr31415]

I will try the surface agitation idea - thanks!

 

[NirvanaFan]

What about making something like an air conditioner cover. It has a stretchy band of material that can go around your container. Usually they are canvas or nylon I think, so they should keep them out.

 

[Mr31415]

That could also work... I have added the pump... Will see how it goes. If it does not work I'll try to cover it somehow. Just wanted to get away from doing that.

 

[new_world_disor]

cant u just buy some moskito netting and tape it over or sumthing ?

 

[Mr31415]

I just do not want to clobber access to my RO tank. That is definitely a possibility... Maybe I should consider something like this when I build my equipment room.

 

[Timbor]

I guess it depends on the size of your ro tank.

If you toss a maxijet in the bottom and point it at the surface, that will probably provide enough water movement.

 

[Swanwillow]

why is this a bad thing? I'd go through it with a strainer every few days, collect the larvae, freeze them.. and voila! Fish food.

 

[Mr31415]

180l.... About 48g. Is mosquito larvae good for marine fish?

Swanwillow: The buggers bite me.

 

[Swanwillow]

LOL, never mind then. I can't imagine them being as bad as other things we feed them... Or if you know anyone that has freshwater fish, they are marketed for them if I recall correctly.

 

[SCR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11353918#post11353918 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr31415
180l.... About 48g. Is mosquito larvae good for marine fish?

Swanwillow: The buggers bite me.

I've been using them for 2 years now, the fish love them.

 

[seapug]

a simple cover made from a trash bag and bungee cords will work. If you are getting mosquitos in the reservior, there's no telling what else is getting in it, too. Purified water easily absorbs pollutants. I'd assume using stale, stagnant water of any kind is not a good thing.