NoobtoSalt Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 So I don't really have a big issue in the house with fleas like most people have this year but in the past few weeks I've gotten a lot of little nats in the kitchen and want to rid the house of them. I used to use bug bombs at least once or twice a year but now that I have an open top fish tank I wanted to see what others have done (covers, etc.) I can cover the tank for the day but was a little unsure about the sump being open underneath the tank as well. Any help would be great! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisriverfisherman Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 yes you need to cove the tank and sump area as well as shut off the skimmer while you use pretty much any chemical cleaners IE bug bombs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 yes you need to cove the tank and sump area as well as shut off the skimmer while you use pretty much any chemical cleaners IE bug bombs. Cool. Thanks Brandon. What's the reason to turn off the skimmer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 it sucks in air bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReeFit Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 i personally will never use a spray chemical in my house with $1000's invested sitting in the same room. no thanks, i'll come up with an alternative method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Take a jar and fill it with sweet vinegar. Then cover it with plastic wrap. Pop some holes with a toothpick. Instant knat catcher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackaninny Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Take a jar and fill it with sweet vinegar. Then cover it with plastic wrap. Pop some holes with a toothpick. Instant knat catcher. +1 for rolling it old school style Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 it sucks in air bud. DOH! Wow. I can't believe I asked that....(laugh) i personally will never use a spray chemical in my house with $1000's invested sitting in the same room. no thanks' date=' i'll come up with an alternative method.[/quote'] That's why I asked before I did it. I wasn't about to loose more stuff out of my tank. This has been a bad month and a half already.... Take a jar and fill it with sweet vinegar. Then cover it with plastic wrap. Pop some holes with a toothpick. Instant knat catcher. My wife got all excited to hear about this. I hope it works. She just made it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 If you do bomb I would use plastic to completely isolate the tank and vent it out through a window. If you simply cover it and turn the skimmer off then you will not be getting any oxygen exchange and will slowly suffocate the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 It works. I set one up every year. I dont use chemicals in my house because of my birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R-3 Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 What about fleas??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Bought a powder at the local feed store that is animal and people friendly. It's called dairy and livestock dust. I also set out water traps with lamps over them and vaccuum atleast once a day. With the powder it took 2 days to rid my house of all the fleas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 Never had any problem with any of our tanks using the powder and we have tanks at ground level. You just leave the powder on the floor for 24 hours and then vaccuum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I have two dogs and a lot of yard space... I was wondering about bombing my house for fleas last year. I had a bad out break. Decided to solve organically. As far as the knats. I use apple cider vinegar and dish soap. In a small dish on the window sill. As for the fleas I put cedar chips in the dogs beds and vacuum the floors with flea collars in the bag/collection cup. I also put some more garlic in the dogs food. I agree with no caustic chemicals in the air that feeds all my precious wet pets. Because if you have to remove the dogs that transport the fleas. You should remove all the animals in the exposed radius. Just my two cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 Never had any problem with any of our tanks using the powder and we have tanks at ground level. You just leave the powder on the floor for 24 hours and then vaccuum. I sell the flea powder at my work. There are also sprays you can use (that are eco-friendly) because sometimes the fleas will just run under the floor boards as well. Wasn't too worried about them just these dumb nats...(laugh). But I'm guessing your replying to the above posts. This has been one of the worst flea seasons in recent time around here. Thankfully were almost done with it. If this doesn't work I hope we can come up with something else otherwise I'm going to have to deal with the boss!!!!(wife) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 With the dust we use you can use it on your pets and on their bedding. It's safe enough to even put in my bird cages. And they have very sensitive lungs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 I have two dogs and a lot of yard space... I was wondering about bombing my house for fleas last year. I had a bad out break. Decided to solve organically. As far as the knats. I use apple cider vinegar and dish soap. In a small dish on the window sill. As for the fleas I put cedar chips in the dogs beds and vacuum the floors with flea collars in the bag/collection cup. I also put some more garlic in the dogs food. I agree with no caustic chemicals in the air that feeds all my precious wet pets. Because if you have to remove the dogs that transport the fleas. You should remove all the animals in the exposed radius. Just my two cents I had never heard about using flea collars in the vaccum until a customer told me about it the other day. Sounds like an old school trick but could definately do the job. They don't do very well on the dogs but If all your doing is sucking them up why not! If I have issues with fleas again I think I'm going to try that idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 We read every package out there and the spray gives large warnings so we decided to avoid it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I use a eco friendly spray in my kitchen for ants ever summer but our pets are not allowed in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I did look into the powders as well. Even bought some. Luckily I was able to control it before it was needed. But I do keep it as a back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 The powder we use is specifically used for chicken coops and it got rid of all the fleas within 2 days. The powders I saw at the pet stores have to many do nots that we stayed away from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted October 14, 2010 Author Share Posted October 14, 2010 I use a eco friendly spray in my kitchen for ants ever summer but our pets are not allowed in there. I wish I could say the same. I have both of my dogs crates in the kitchen nook area where we should have a table..lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnkrcklives Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 I spray the inside of the foundation of the house once a year. For spiders and ants seems to keep them at bay. The idea of the flea collars in the vacuum is that if you suck up the adults or the babies it keeps them from reproducing. And breaks their cycle riding your house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 The spray is fine for normal pets. My birds dont have filters in their lungs like other animals or people. They are really sensitive. I puppy sit for a friend and dont even think twice when the dog is wandering through the kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoralCrazy Posted October 14, 2010 Share Posted October 14, 2010 The spray we use in the kitchen is great for keeping spiders at bay. We do use home defense for around the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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