"Volatile" ]vol-ih-TILE] comes from Latin "volare" to go airborne. Little molecules of the stuff actually leave the surface of some substances, either liquids or solids, and float through the air to reach our noses, informing us 'it smells.'
These little molecules can miss your nose and land right in your tank water.
The more a stuff 'smells', the more volatiles it emits. Sometimes a volatile comes along with other things, like oily film. Sometimes substances give off a lot more volatiles when heated.
Volatiles are emitted by: perfumes, perfumed candles, room deodorizers, carpet freshener, 'aromatherapy', perfumed oils, paints, bug sprays, various aerosols, paint removers, solvents, cleaning agents, furniture polish, and glass cleaners. If it smells, something physical is leaving that thing and floating around in the air.
If it is floating around in the air where your tank is, it can get into your water.
Many volatiles, particularly oils and perfumes, are not tank-friendly. Reconsider your basic housekeeping where it regards scents and cleaners in a closed space with your tank, and if someone other than you personally cleans in that room, have a specific discussion with that person. Housekeepers particularly have a set of substances they use, they're deeply into routine, and they don't readily vary that routine, and, well, it can be a problem. It's a good idea when cleaning tank glass, eg, to spray a cloth in another room, and bring just the cloth in to do the job. Same with, say, Pledge, or its like. When painting or varnishing, be sure you can open the windows. A small room in which a LOT of something has been used or accumulates is not good. A big room with good ventilation and sensible use of such substances will fare much better.
These little molecules can miss your nose and land right in your tank water.
The more a stuff 'smells', the more volatiles it emits. Sometimes a volatile comes along with other things, like oily film. Sometimes substances give off a lot more volatiles when heated.
Volatiles are emitted by: perfumes, perfumed candles, room deodorizers, carpet freshener, 'aromatherapy', perfumed oils, paints, bug sprays, various aerosols, paint removers, solvents, cleaning agents, furniture polish, and glass cleaners. If it smells, something physical is leaving that thing and floating around in the air.
If it is floating around in the air where your tank is, it can get into your water.
Many volatiles, particularly oils and perfumes, are not tank-friendly. Reconsider your basic housekeeping where it regards scents and cleaners in a closed space with your tank, and if someone other than you personally cleans in that room, have a specific discussion with that person. Housekeepers particularly have a set of substances they use, they're deeply into routine, and they don't readily vary that routine, and, well, it can be a problem. It's a good idea when cleaning tank glass, eg, to spray a cloth in another room, and bring just the cloth in to do the job. Same with, say, Pledge, or its like. When painting or varnishing, be sure you can open the windows. A small room in which a LOT of something has been used or accumulates is not good. A big room with good ventilation and sensible use of such substances will fare much better.
