My 9 inch Aro was doing great. He was eating crickets then I got him to eat raw shrimp. A couple days ago, I got him some crickets again and he ate some of these. He seemed to stop eating when I started to sand the aquarium stand. My Wife wanted it cherry stained and it was oak stained. I sanded it with a orbital sander, primed it and stained it without draining the tank or anything. I kept a fan going and the tank was covered but sawdust was everywhere as well a fumes from the stain. I did a water change today and put new media along with carbon in the 2 Emperor 400's. I am also running a Rena XP3. I can hook up my Marineland Magnum if I find hoses to fit it. All the other fish are fine. The CK's are taking shrimp along with the Florida gar. I have tried shrimp, krill and Arowana pellets but Aro refuses to eat. Do I need to try some Epson salts. I added aquarium salt to the tank. Maybe tomorrow he will eat again. I hope I didn't hurt him by staining the stand. I did notice that his mouth fork is a little frayed. None of the fish liked it when I sanded the stand but i didn't have a choice.
New Aro not eating?
- Thread starter Crustman
- Start date
Just let him relax a little. That was a very stressful day for him. The vibrations from the sander probably just scared him. Give him a few days, he should eat, and I wouldn't start to worry unless he hasn't eaten in over 2 weeks.
I agree. Just let him chill for a few days. He will eat when he feels better. I wouldn't eat either if Had to hear BBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
then smell some fumes.
then smell some fumes.
Thanks, he is still swimming fine. Since he is at the air water interface, the fumes likely bothered him more. Never again will I do this. I will just buy a $800 stand and canopy that is cherry finished and tell the Wife that we have to have it rather than endanger my fish. I saved hundreds by buying the used 120 tank and stand. She is starting to count my fish tanks now and even counts the empty 10 gallon that I put feeders in sometimes. I have the 55, 75 and 120 but I need more tanks. I want to keep some Featherfins.
Famous last words! Eventually we're going to hear that you want a 50,000 gallon. 
If you ever do this again, it is better to remove the fish, and put them in a different room. Instead of a fan, use a shop vac next to the sander as you sand, suck up the sawdust. Even with towels over the tank, I would do, 3-4 layers, all wet towels.
Your aro should pull through fine though. Guessing he mostly just got shaken up, quite literally.
If you ever do this again, it is better to remove the fish, and put them in a different room. Instead of a fan, use a shop vac next to the sander as you sand, suck up the sawdust. Even with towels over the tank, I would do, 3-4 layers, all wet towels.Your aro should pull through fine though. Guessing he mostly just got shaken up, quite literally.
