2007-02-28 06:05:10 · 13 answers · asked by sara t 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I doubt it. Call the paint manufacturer and ask them.
2007-02-28 06:07:06 · answer #1 · answered by leaptad 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When people pass out from paint fumes in a room, it isn't because they ate the paint. All it took was inhaling the fumes. If paint fumes can affect humans like this, imagine what it could do to a tiny fish. The fumes will affect the fish. To what degree is unpredictable. I have a friend whose sister, unbeknownst to her, sprayed perfume around her aquarium and the fish began acting very sickly. She didn't know what was affecting them at the time, but knew enough about fishkeeping to know that a significant water change was in order. The fish started acting better. Then, the next day, she had the same thing happen again. She finally found out that her sister had been spraying the perfume and told her to not do that anymore. Since then, the fish have been fine. The sister was not spraying the perfume directly into the water, just near it. There is another person who put a rubber pad under his filter pump to quiet the noise, but the heat from the filter melted the rubber and the toxic fumes got sucked in through the filter, were pumped into the tank and killed all the fish. It is not whether anything gets in the water, but that the filter, which sucks in air from the room, will suck any toxic fumes from the room and pump them into the water. It's the fumes that are harmful. Moving the tank completely out of the room would be the best option and, if you have to paint behind the tank, you would need to do this anyway. If you can't or don't want to move the tank, I would definitely suggest covering the tank with a plastic cover and sealing it tightly. You couldn't leave the fish in the tank because you would have to cover the filter too, but you couldn't do that because it needs a continuous source of good air and wouldn't get that if it were covered. If you moved the fish out of the room, then you could turn the filter off (or it would be moved with them) and that would solve this problem. Still seal the tank.
2007-02-28 14:37:52 · answer #2 · answered by Venice Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Adequate ventilation is suitible. Keep fans near the doorway to exuast fumes and open the window for a few hrs. Salt water fish dont differ much from fresh water where painting is concerned as I also have a 55 gal and my fish did fine. Call Pet smart if you have any second thoughts:)
2007-02-28 14:13:31 · answer #3 · answered by HAYLEY 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can remove the fish from the room while you paint and the paint dries. If you can't move the tank out of the room make sure that no paint can fall into it. Even if it isn't toxic to humans it still maybe to your fishes. Better to be safe than sorry.
2007-02-28 14:09:39 · answer #4 · answered by clytisciasha 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use LATEX paint and don't get any in the tank.
Cover your tank and sump with a drop cloth or plastic painters tarp so if you are doing any patching and sanding it won't get in the tank.
If you are anything like my Wife, She likes to paint the entire house once a year.LOL and I have NEVER had a problem with fish or corals.
What colour are you painting the room??? LOL
2007-02-28 19:39:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you don't put the paint directly in the water it should be fine. If you are using latex (water based) paint then it can be absolutely sure it won't hurt them. Oil based paints are the only ones that will create fume that could potentially be harmful. However the chances you are using oil based is very slim and if you do.. the fumes would be so little that the aireation system won't bring in enough to harm the fish.
Hope this helps.
2007-02-28 14:10:43 · answer #6 · answered by wrkey 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The fumes might harm the fish, I don't know. But one thing you can do is go get some big garbage bags. Since they will probably be to small for your tank to fit in, you could just wrap them around your tank and tape them really well. That way you know nothing will get in.
2007-02-28 14:17:52 · answer #7 · answered by fish guy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the paint shouldnt harm yhem just keep the room well ventilated and avoid splashes into the tank happy painting!!
2007-02-28 14:11:08 · answer #8 · answered by skinner 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it, unless you put paint in the water. If you're worried, call your local pet shop and ask them what they would do if they were going to paint the store.
2007-02-28 14:10:05 · answer #9 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use latex based paint.
2007-03-02 16:17:17 · answer #10 · answered by xxx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋