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Odd question - mothballs

Mark_C

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Rodents are moving into the winter apartment, also known as my garage.
I dropped a few moth ball packs around to ward them off and the odor is strong.
Then realized my RODI station is in the garage.
Will the mothballs effect the RODI water, sorta like VOCs in paint?
 

MadReefer

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NJRC Member
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If the water container is covered should be okay in my opinion.
I covered my tank when painting and turned off skimmer, no issues.
Just painted a door in my garage whey new tank and sump are.
I did not cover and think there will be a problem. Of course I will wipe it out from any other dirt.
 
You should have a cover on your RODI container. It will help keep unwanted crap out of it including VOCs. Seems a little silly to go thru the work and expense of making the water as pure as you can and then allowing stuff to get in there
 

Mark_C

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Its a 33g trash can with a space cut out on the lid for the float. I'll just drop a contractors bag over it as well.

Seems a little silly to go thru the work and expense of making the water as pure as you can and then allowing stuff to get in there

So I shouldn't be peeing in it?
This means I have to walk all the way to the bathroom from the garage. Geez, thanks Matt.
 
If the water container is covered should be okay in my opinion.
I covered my tank when painting and turned off skimmer, no issues.
Just painted a door in my garage whey new tank and sump are.
I did not cover and think there will be a problem. Of course I will wipe it out from any other dirt.
Gonna need a OCD cleaning
 

MadReefer

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NJRC Member
Moderator
Its a 33g trash can with a space cut out on the lid for the float. I'll just drop a contractors bag over it as well.



So I shouldn't be peeing in it?
This means I have to walk all the way to the bathroom from the garage. Geez, thanks Matt.
Use a garden hose next time.
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Moth Balls don't work. I can show you chewed up outdoor cushions stored in small plastic sheds packed with moth balls...ruined. Neither does peppermint oil.



The only things I've found that are effective are poison blocks....can't remember name, but green blocks that contain poison. I also really like the new plastic snap traps....clean to load and easy to dump the dead mice.

Mouse Trap.png
 

Mark_C

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Hey Paul,
Thanks, good to know. I actually gave up on the mothballs this morning as the smell was travelling into the house.
I tend to put down some snap traps near the entry door from the garage to the house, and made a spinning bucket trap last year that worked extremely well (got at least 16).
Was just hoping to find a solution to keep them totally away. I'll look into the plastic traps, they seem like they'd be less messy than the traditional woods I use.

This is the type of bucket trap I was using. Can is on spindle, peanut butter on can, mouse jumps to can, can spins, mouse in bucket.
I'll probably re-use it with the plastic traps this year.
iu-1.jpeg

And if you have any working tips on voles, I'll pay you in gold.
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
1601055878653.png


LOL, you have a devious mind @Mark_C ! :D Now what would really top off this Rube Goldberg trap of yours is to have a couple pit vipers in the bottom of the pail.

And as far as moles/voles, my son-in-law uses a plastic trap that contains poison blocks (I think). He has it in a trap because of having a little kid and a dog. I'll ask about specifics.
 

eli smoke

NJRC Member
I used something similar in my barn except with a plate that flipped and the mice fell into the bucket of water. Stuff steel wool in any tiny little hole that they can squeeze thru.
 
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