Thermometer broke in tank, toxic?

JCox · 09-26-2005, 04:24 PM

Well my cheapo glass thermometer broke inside my tank and spilled its little pellets all over the sand. Luckily, the mercury tube didn't break but I had all these stinkin' pellets everywhere. I was able to vacuum them out within a minute of the spill and I'm pretty sure (99.9%) that I got all of them and did a 10% wc. Just what are these pellets and are they toxic?

Loverotties · 09-26-2005, 04:39 PM

I had one go in my wc tank and it smelled and turned the water brown,even left a film on the bucket!I'd change more water and add carbon!

Fishturd · 09-26-2005, 04:39 PM

I found this at this website for ya http://www.wetwebmedia.com/toxictkfaqsii.htm and found sombody with the same problem. Scroll down to the Tile were it says floating thermometer (broken... metal ball-ballast in tank...)

I hope this helps and good luck!!

JCox · 09-26-2005, 04:43 PM

Crap! Thanks for the link. Looks like this stuff is bad news. What in the world are they thinking using this stuff in thin-walled glass thermos?! Surely there has to be something a bit more tank safe that they could use?

reef_noob · 09-26-2005, 05:07 PM

Glad you caught it in time.
Get yourself an electronic thermometer. I've been very happy with my pinpoint wireless.

JCox · 09-26-2005, 06:08 PM

Ironically, I actually just purchased the Coralife digital thermo just the other day. Hadn't got around to installing it up to this point. It's in there now.

BTW Loverotties, I am running ChemiPure and PolyFilter but only had enough water on hand for a 10% change. I had just done a 20% yesterday so I'm lucky to have had that much. I think I'm off to Walmart for some distilled water since I don't have any r/o on hand at the moment. Everything looks OK up to this point, hopefully I got them all.