Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Got a phone call early in the week that house was due for annual spider and cocky spray. Thought nothing until the same chap arrived on thursday, It was windy so I asked what about my fish (showed him the setup) NOT A PROBLEM they are far enough away.

Saturday morning uncovered the tanks and looked in, what is the white lines on the bottom (could just make out) HSM.......Yep the whole lot of my SP's and YB's 40 odd in total.

Have one fish frozen and buried the rest, looked like couple of oil slicks on top of water About size of 5c piece, so took samples of that as well.

Sure makes you wonder what in hell is being sprayed around the place by these so called professionals.

I think the problem was that the spray got onto the GB which is only about 4 mtrs from the house and travelled to the FT. The JPs are ok because on a separate system and the GBs are on the other side of the bush house. Funny had no floaters, all on the bottom.
Water temp at 16 is OK, actually had just done a water sample before the HSM and was perfect.

Pictures didn't post, will add later

I wouldnt be paying the pest control bill thats for sure.

OK after some work on the photos here they are

Hi

Bad luck there. I would hit that Pest Mob for six. Spraying on your veggies is poor form as well. You will have to ask them what the witholding period is as if they only sprayed your GB's and the fish died it would be worth knowing.

I agree that you should not pay the bill and ask them to buy more fish etc.

Mark

sad loss, they look freshish so probably why they hadn't floated yet, but I agree with Mark they shouldn't be letting spray near the GB either, I would be hitting them for compensation

You wont get bugger all out of pest control companies, they have their asses very well covered in their fine print.

Most of the chems they use have very big warnings on the drums and the msds labels/sheets should be close by, in the vehicles etc. There is no excuses these days for not knowing what product you are using and the damages they can cause. I've found that most of the bug sprays are not to be used anywhere near rivers and water systems and the labels show this as a picture of a dead fish and a river in a diamond shaped sign.
These are usually S7 type chemicals like alpha cyper-methrin or diamethoate and are even stored away from the usual farmy type chem's.

Either way sorry for the loss

But they are bound, by the licences.... and under pesticides regulations... not to spray when windy...

Yep I think you have a very good case, I would at least indecate you are taking it further, they may then come to some sort of agreement, the pesty here has to check wind direction, weather conditions and note what direction things are in like edibles and ponds etc

Hi All

Thought you would like to know what the chemical was and have a read up on it.........very interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifenthrin

The pest guy has agreed to replace the fish irrespective of the water test. But not with full size ones.

(half life = 7 days - 8 months)

Bugger

Also this from david gray a supplier


Sounds like a full water change plus what about your grow media etc, sounds like a big job

Have emptied and scrubbed out the 2 IBCs (FT and Sump) refilled with clean water and has now been running 3-4 days. Added some seasol to keep plants going. In process of ordering the new fish. Will put a couple in here and remainder in the new barra system I have now had running for couple of weeks to cycle, (Barra still in the heated aquarium tank at 27 deg).

Think I would give up if had to emty all the GBs and scrub all that

Pest company chap, and boss from Bris arrived took photos and want to use for training purposes. AP is all new to them they haven't come across it before.

I think this will be a big learning curve for everyone.

If you run the gb's flooded over the media to waste and stir up the media you might be able to get rid of the bulk of the chemical if its oil base.