It’s common for homeowners to utilize air fresheners to help revitalize a musty space. From aerosols to candles to essential oil diffusers, these products all saturate the air with fragrance and provide a room with a more inviting atmosphere. However, if you happen to have an aquarium in your home, you may wonder whether these substances are doing more harm than good. Read on to learn whether essential oil diffusers and candles are safe for aquariums and what you can do to minimize their effect.
The Potential Risk
Products designed to produce a fragrance are known to carry a series of different ingredients. While most ingredients are typically natural and harmless, some have the potential to be toxic to pets—including fish and other aquatic life. This is especially the case should some of the solution make its way into your aquarium’s water. Aerosols pose the most risk because they tend to saturate and linger in the air for long periods of time, thereby increasing their chances of infiltrating your tank’s ecosystem. A few materials to look out for are phenols, phenylpropanes, and ketones.
The General Consensus
But despite the potential risks involved, many aquarium owners use these items near their tanks and experience little effect at all. This is often because the product isn’t strong enough to cause any lasting impact. Though air freshener sprays are a different story, candles and oil diffusers are a bit safer since the materials aren’t made to linger in the air. So, as far as whether essential oil diffusers and candles are safe for aquariums, it’s important to recognize that the answer will depend on the specific products you’re using. As such, you should always assess an item’s ingredients prior to purchasing it.
How You Can Protect Your Aquarium
Still, if you want to be completely sure that your aquarium is safe from these potential pollutants, it’s typically best to refrain from using them nearby. Many choose to compromise by closing the door to the aquarium room or only spraying air fresheners in places that they know to have better ventilation. You can also reduce your risk by using all-natural products to ensure that overly poisonous poses a potential hazard. Make sure you’re frequently checking the chemical levels of your aquarium to catch any changes in your specimen health.
At World Wide Corals, we want to provide you with the knowledge and resources to keep your marine life safe. This is why each of our staff members is also experienced in the aquarium-building field. We also offer red and rainbow montipora for sale—two highly durable corals that can withstand harsher environments. They make the perfect fit for beginners who still want a series of vibrant colors in their tank.
