moisture-mildew-mold

[calicichlid]

This maybe the wrong forum so please forgive, but earlier this morning I noticed that a window in my house had a lot of condensation on it and small area seemed to have mildew or mold starting to grow. got some bleach and cleaned it all up and dried the window off. Now I got curious and found that my 60g more than likely was the cause of the problem. I also have 3 other large tanks and I am wondering if there other unseen problems inside my and garage? My 200g is in the garage and is mostly covered and water temps @76-79F. my 125 inside my home and is only covered by a canopy the 30g sump is completly open. I dont want to jump the gun here but I also dont major mold problems later either nor am I looking to quit the hobby. Is there thing that should be done. At this time I am considering removing my large tanksfrom inside the house to the garage. LMK

 

[ohhsweetness]

is yur tanks covered glass lids ?? hood ?

 

[Aquamojo]

I had the pond up for fourteen years and just took it down this year. The condensation was a constant problem in the upstairs...all of the tanks and the pond were in the basement. We had a major mold problem in a back storage area. 5K for mold remediation. No chump change. I ran three dehumidifiers 24/7 and had lids tight on all tanks. Keep an eye on all of the areas in your garage. It will start where you can barely see it. Good luck. It really sucks.

 

[Otherone]

I had a heated indoor pond as well - dismatled it in May 09' - the humidity in the house was getting very uncomfortable as was the musty smell. Fortunately no mold.
Amazing what those plastic/glass lids hold back.

 

[calicichlid]

is yur tanks covered glass lids ?? hood ?

My 60g has 2-6"x18" slots covered with plexi glass and two open slots were the filters access the tank that uncovered. My 210g outside in the garage is completely covered with styrofoam over piece pond liner. there is a 3"x3" hole to let gases out and air in I guess. I have notice a blackish blooms of algea inside the tank but is easily removed during WC.

I had the pond up for fourteen years and just took it down this year. The condensation was a constant problem in the upstairs...all of the tanks and the pond were in the basement. We had a major mold problem in a back storage area. 5K for mold remediation. No chump change. I ran three dehumidifiers 24/7 and had lids tight on all tanks. Keep an eye on all of the areas in your garage. It will start where you can barely see it. Good luck. It really sucks.

Yeah trust me I am it really has me worried now because the summers here are intense on a good day we're talking 115F -121F outside easily and we're in the middle of winter. Is there some kind of paint I can use to block it from or prevent it from entering theinterior walls?

I had a heated indoor pond as well - dismatled it in May 09' - the humidity in the house was getting very uncomfortable as was the musty smell. Fortunately no mold.
Amazing what those plastic/glass lids hold back.

I was really planning on moving my 210g inside my home but now im rethinking that plan may never happen. Haven't noticed any must smell yet. Just really worried about mold, but I love this hobby and don't want to give up my tank and cichlids.

 

[calicichlid]

Well Mo your right again...."some days you have a hobby and others when the hobby has you".

 

[Oddball]

Same problem running 125 tanks. My solution was an interval-timed dehumidifier. I also use multiple ceiling fans to keep air moving (and the heat down by the tanks). Problem areas receive a coating of waterseal with some copper sulfate added to kill and prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and fungi.

 

[calicichlid]

oddball, can i get a little more info. ????

 

[Oddball]

oddball, can i get a little more info. ????

Dehumidifiers cost alot to run and they produce alot of heat while running. I set mine to 2 hours ON and 6 hours OFF. My hatchery has 20 ceiling fans throughout the building. These fans blow up to the ceiling and force warmer air down the walls to the floor (thereby helping to heat the tanks). The problem areas are those that receive little to no air flow. Such as behind large pieces of equipment (ie: filter eqpt and water storage tanks). These areas receive routine swabbings of waterseal (like Thompson's but, farm-grade from Gempler's). I add a concentrated dose of copper sulfate to the waterseal before applying it and the mix protects those areas from fungi, mold, and mildew.

 

[sbrodacz]

I am having the same problem, glad I found this post. The worse part is its in a rental. I have styrofoam over the tank now, but it doesn't help enough and its a pain to have to keep taking off. It's a 300 gallon stock tank. I was really considering getting a dehumidifier if it'd do the job. If it cost me $10-$20 more a month to run, it's worth it. Better than having to pay for the walls to be redone once I move out in fall.

Oddball, do you think a dehumidifier would be enough? Its in a fairly small room, the tank tanks up almost half the room.