How to prevent mildew in fishroom?

[alvin]

Hi

Anyone got any hints, tips or suggestions on how to prevent the mildew and condensation forming on the fish room walls and ceiling? The walls are concrete walls with normal interior paint.

Will glass tank covers sort this out? Will a specific coat of paint work? Should I just cover the walls with styrofoam?

Thanks in advance

Rgds
Alvin

[Dasher]

I use a wooden hood covered with epoxy,it has tiny holes that allow some air into the tank.

I have a 100Litre so it all depends how big your tank is.

[Henk Hugo]

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=958

There's a thread party on it

[Zoom]

http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?t=958

There's a thread party on it

I think you mean the thread is partly on it.

You do get ani-mildew/fungus additive to add to the paint. Don't bother sticking anything onto the walls if this is your way of preventing it. THe mildew will just grow behind whatever you stick up. That being said, styrofoam stuck on the walls will act as a great insulator of the room.

The only effective way, IMO, is to have a window open ajar slightly to let the heated moisture escape... but then that defeats the point of having a sealed environment to maintain temperature. I've also heard of people taking diluted domestos into a spray bottle and lightly spraying if over the walls. (LIGHTLY) Basically this will kill any mildew, and prevent future mildew for a few months. I however would not condone this, as the chance of getting domestos into your tanks water is great, and this will definately kill EVERYTHING in the tank.

[Henk Hugo]

party - partly - potato potaaato :D

[f-fish]

"Should I just cover the walls with styrofoam" just did that to mine ... now the mildew is behind the foam - out if site out of mind . ... Removed the peace covering the one window - load of mildew on the window frame. Let me go read that thread before I comment further.

LOL - that was my blanket phase ... thinking about it I did not have the mildew issue when I covered the tanks at night with blankets. I seriously need to try the BreatheCoat TEXTURE stuff ...

[Slojo]

by Adam Peters
Mold is troublesome and horrid. It can grow in the most obvious of places like your walls. Being that your walls cover a significant portion of your home, you will want to rid of that mold as soon as possible. The first thing people see when they enter your home is your walls, and it can be quite awful if the walls are covered in unsightly mold. Not only is it embarrassing, but also it ruins the whole image of your home.
Mold can grow on your walls for many different reasons. The most common one is a buildup of moisture in the air. When mold like this occurs, it can be hard to rid of, but you can remove it and permanently keep it of your walls. All you need is a bit of patience and effort not to scrape your walls, and mold can be a thing of the past.
First, mix a solution of bleach, laundry soap, and hot water. Alternatively, you can go and purchase a mildewcide to rid of the mold, but the most cost efficient and easiest way is to go with the stuff that can most likely be found in your house already.
Using a plastic sponge, you can use your solution on the wall. Gently scrub it starting from the base and working your way up. Do this until you find that the mildew is dissolving and all is well in wall-world. If there is mildew in more than one room then repeat this process for those rooms using as much of the solution as you need.
After you are done scrubbing your walls with the solution, you want to dampen a clean sponge with plain water and wipe off the solution from the walls completely. The solution is very potent with a strong smell that you do not want to be breathing in, so rinse your walls well with water to rid of it.
Now that you are done with that, you need to think about a way to prevent it from happening for the foreseeable future. The best way to do this is to purchase some paint that has anti-mildew properties. Its possible that youve never heard of this but you can actually buy this paint at most hardware stores. Get enough of it to cover your house and get to work repainting. Yes repainting is a pain, but just think of how much time and money you will save when you prevent mildew from growing on your walls again.
Yes, painting is laborious, but think of the time, hassle, and money you will save yourself with not having to deal with mold on your walls again. Ridding of mold on your walls can be a simple do-it-yourself job. Make sure you take the measures of keeping it away to maintain a clean and healthy household and prevent the ugly embarrassment of having it on your walls.

[Zoom]

Good post Slojo.

[alvin]

HiThanks for the info.Just one question: What happens if you use a anti-mould preparation in the paint on the walls and ceiling and when condensation forms, dripping into the tanks? Will this not kill the fish because the anti-mould reacts with the moisture and will be present in the condensation falling into the tanks? The plot thickens...Thanks again.RgdsAlvin

[Vis]

Man I hope this is spelled right, what if you use a dehumidifier during the night when most of the condensation occurs?

[alvin]

Vis- Good suggestion but in keeping with DIY I am trying to keep costs to a minimum. I dont really know what humidifiers go for or how much of electricity will be consumed keeping it on for the whole night or if it is going to be efficient. The other problem is condensation occurs night and day, depends on temperature, so I may have to have it on 24/7.

Tks again.

Rgds
Alvin

[Zoom]

What about those chemicals you buy (sometimes available at the big supermarkets) that absorb moisture?

[alvin]

Zoom - bit wary about using chemicals. Even though some claim they are not harmful to humans and pets, its not a chance you want to take.

Tks again

Rgds
Alvin

Zoom - bit wary about using chemicals. Even though some claim they are not harmful to humans and pets, its not a chance you want to take.

Tks again

Rgds
Alvin

[Zoom]

You buy it in a tub, and simply twist the tub open. It apparently draws the moisture to the chemical in the tub. Not sure how well it works

[alvin]

Tks

Will have a look at Checkers Hyper and Makro this w/e

Rgds
Alvin