Household mold

[skierguy]

Has any one out there had a mold problem in their home due to their tank? I have been battling mold in our apartment for several months now. The mold problem is throughout the apartment not just in the room with the tank. I am worried that when I talk to the management, they will blame the mold problem on tank evaporation. If anyone has experience with this please let me know. Thank you.

 

[broncofish]

Hey skierguy how ya doing. I live down the road on the Air Force Base, and let me tell you mold runs rampant in these parts. Susuin should be renamed Sumold. I can say that with out a doubt any land lord between Vallejo and Sacramento that tries to blame mold on a tenant is smoking crack. I've had more freinds have mold problems than you can imagine, and all of them have moved to new places at the expense of the landlord.

 

[sadlit'lfish]

I don't know about cali. but in up here in wash. you see it alot. And around here it it more due to a leaking roof or too much insulation or air tight house than water evaporation. And from what I've heard if its mold you have to cut that section out . Bronco is right, your not to blame for the problem imo.

 

[skierguy]

Thank you. I just wanted to confirm with others that I was not being unreasonable. I really don’t want to move as you can imagine the thought of moving my tank almost makes me sick. On the other hand this mold may actualy be making me sick.

 

[broncofish]

If you do have to move and have some coral refugees in need of asylum....uh let me know.

 

[skierguy]

Thanks for the offer. I will keep you posted.

 

[zafirablanca]

I do not live in such a climate. But if it helps, I have a background in microbiology and these things will kill mold spores if you are attempting to eradicate the mold through cleaning processes:
-Household bleach (Sodium hyypochlorite)
-70% ethanol/ methanol
My favorite:
Buy two spray bottles, one being black (or very dark color) and not permeable to light.
Fill one with white vinegar.
Fill the black one with hydrogen peroxide.
On moldy area generously spray on the vinegar and then the peroxide. Allow to sit wet for as long as possible.
There is a similar product that my laboratory used to buy for this purpose, called Spor-Klenz and another called Minn-Care. It was very effective (we/they also use these products to sanitize RO/DI water systems). One day I saw a morning television show that was showing how to prevent cross-contamination and food poisoning in the kitchen and they set up the two spray bottles - and a light bulb went off in my head! Same thing. It works for all micro-organisms, bacteria, fungi and virus. Worth a try of you are having problems.
Good luck,
-Christine

 

[zafirablanca]

Your welcome!
Let me know if it helps.
-Christine

 

[dindi]

Use a bleach water mix 50/50. I'm a realtor and am VERY cognizant of your problem. Spray your bleach solution do not use ammonia with this. Wipe clean, 3 days later again use the 50/50 spray solution on your mold. Then one week after that use it again but full strength. It won't hurt your windows or glass but make sure you cover your tanks. It should clear up. BUT.. if you have very high moisture levels not caused by your tanks which is very minimal by the way, check your plumbing or maybe water access from the ground if you are a ground floor unit.. from snow or loads of rain. If it is caused by nature or plumbing problems then your landlord is obligated to take care of the problem. If you are an upper floor unit it is caused from a unit below or from water leaking from the roof. Either way you rent and mold is a huge issue as long as YOU did not cause the problem. As I said your fish tanks won't cause enough moisture to be a mold factor. At least not in my case. I add top-off to the tune of 15 gals a week and NO moisture in my place dag-nabit. Still have static electricity in my hair, never happens in the summer when humid. Hope this helps.

 

[dindi]

Oh by the way I have a 3 level 1900 square foot town home. No condisation EVER anywhere and I live in the Washington DC metro area. We had record snows and hot weather and still NO condisation from my tanks.