With your suspicions concerning air fresheners now confirmed, let’s take a look at ways you can prevent this from happening to your own fish. This article will discuss how air freshener affects fish, how pollutants compromise aquariums, how to identify if your fish has been poisoned, and products to avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHow Does Air Freshener Affect Fish?<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
The chemicals present in air fresheners, plug-in fresheners, oil diffusers, and spray bottles vary. Yet, many of these chemicals can lead to different degrees of harm to your aquatic life. Some of the more widely used chemicals are Asphenols, Phenylpropanes, Monoterpene Hydrocarbons, and Ketones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These four chemicals are highly toxic to tank life and should be avoided whenever possible. They should be avoided because once they have been released into the air, they sit on the surface of your tank’s water, leaving a residue that often contaminates aquatic life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These chemicals then make their way into the gills of your fish as they disperse throughout your filtration system, causing oxygen deprivation and even suffocation if left untreated. Moreover, this chemical residue on the surface will prevent oxygen from entering and prevent other gasses from escaping. Chemical residues will also cause further problems, such as algae blooms within your aquarium. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Different Kinds Of Air Freshener<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With so many types of air freshener available on the market today, it is essential to check the labeling. By checking the labeling, you will be able to identify the ingredients present within an air freshener. Thus you ensure that if there are chemicals present, they won’t have any adverse effects on your aquatic life. However, most marine hobbyists agree that the majority of air fresheners on the market contain harmful chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When these air fresheners are diffused or sprayed into a room<\/a> where a fish tank is, the results are usually dangerous. Often any fish within a tank will become sick or die. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Below is a list of air freshener types that usually contain harmful chemicals commonly used amongst individuals and aquarists alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes down to pollutants, there are three main ways in which airborne pollutants found within air fresheners can alter the delicate chemical balance within your tank and kill your fish. Pollutants can adjust the oxygen and Ph of your water. Additionally, large amounts of toxic compounds can become present in your tank. We have listed exactly how these aspects are affected by pollutants below in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For your aquarium to function correctly, there needs to be an exchange of gasses from within your tank through the water’s surface. With the help of a fish tank’s wavemaker and return pump, the water’s surface is agitated. This action allows oxygen to be absorbed and for other gasses such as Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen to be expelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The water’s surface is the first point of contact for any airborne pollutant found in air fresheners. Some contaminants can produce an oily film on the surface, preventing oxygen from being absorbed and gasses from being exchanged even with the assistance of a tank\u2019s wavemaker and pump. Additionally, keep in mind that other pollutants act oppositely, pulling the oxygen from the water via a chemical reaction. Both an oily film and oxygen being removed from a tank’s water will result in making your fish sick or killing them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From dusk to dawn your aquarium experiences its most significant Ph fluctuation. This is because many people indulge with candles, air fresheners, or oils in the evening, making it more likely that your tank will experience a negative Ph change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the lights are off, the algae and coral can no longer photosynthesize and produce oxygen <\/strong>from the Carbon Dioxide. Throughout the night, the oxygen levels consumed increase along with the amount of Carbon Dioxide released into the water. Because of this, the overall Ph of the water decreases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a chemical pollutant is released within the vicinity of your fish tank, it aids in the consumption, conversion, or reduction of oxygen, which further causes the Ph to fluctuate rapidly. As a result, you could have dead fish in your aquarium by morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most significant way to alter the balance within your tank is by having a chemical concentration so great that it begins to destroy the cells within the fish. For instance, some essential oil air fresheners can cause damage to the liver or even death via liver failure from prolonged exposure. As is the case with toxic substances in an enclosed space, if it is not removed with all haste, then your fish, plant life, or crustaceans could face irreparable damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To know what signs to be on the lookout for in your tank, you must first be willing to conduct a few tests. These tests are specifically designed to assist you in evaluating your tank’s overall health and correct any problems that may have arisen. Listed below are the four steps you will need to gauge whether or not your fish have been poisoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all your fish were healthy and active in their tank and then suddenly died, it is most often due to environmental poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: If invertebrates are dead and not fish, test for copper levels within your tank, as it is unlikely that they died due to chemical exposure from air fresheners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To ensure that your fish are thriving, healthy, and happy, it is crucial to avoid all products listed or similar to those listed below. Additionally, if you have determined that a toxin or poison has potentially entered your aquarium, the best thing to do is conduct a significant water change of at least 50 percent as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When doing this, be sure to add in fresh, clean water with a new activated carbon or other absorbent resin or filter to reduce the level of toxins in your tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Pollutants Compromise Aquariums<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Oxygen <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Fluctuating Ph Levels <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Toxic Compounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Check If Your Fish Has Been Poisoned and Tips To Prevent Water Poisoning <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Check If Your Fish Has Been Poisoned By Air Freshener<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tips To Prevent Air Freshener Fish Tank Water Poisoning <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Products To Avoid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n