thermometer broke help!

kevantheman35 · 12/28/2009, 03:15 PM

my little suction thermometer just broke in my 12 g nano, the little balls are on the sand, am i screwed, help?

kevantheman35 · 12/28/2009, 03:21 PM

i used a magnet to get what i could and im about to water change

dcombs44 · 12/28/2009, 03:26 PM

are you talking about the weights in the bottom of the thermometer?

They may be stainless steel. Probably not a huge issue if you got most of them out.

What about mercury. Did the mercury from the thermometer get into the water? I'm not sure what ill effects that it could cause.

johnd651 · 12/28/2009, 03:35 PM

does the thermometer contain a red liquid? if so it is a alcohol thermometer, not mercury.

most consumer grade thermometers are not made with mercury for obvious reasons (and its also silvery in color)

im not sure what the actual composition is ... ethanol, methanol, etc... so im not sure how it will affect the tank

kevantheman35 · 12/28/2009, 03:41 PM

i got the black balls out. it does have the red liquid and it appears that that part is not broke, just the outer glass, im working on getting all the glass out

dcombs44 · 12/28/2009, 03:43 PM

Aside from the possibility of cutting yourself, I'd say you don't have much to worry about. If it is an alcohol based thermometer, I would doubt that it would have much affect.

ChadTheSpike · 12/28/2009, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnd651

does the thermometer contain a red liquid? if so it is a alcohol thermometer, not mercury.

most consumer grade thermometers are not made with mercury for obvious reasons (and its also silvery in color)

+1 if red its alcohol, think of it as a small vodka dose...

Also, you said that you are using a magnet to get the bbs out, that means that they are steel and not lead (which is of slightly more concern), steel is mostly iron, which may oxidize some and act as a fertilizer, but is nothing to worry greatly about.

Doing a water change will likely make you feel better, your tank will be fine

kevantheman35 · 12/28/2009, 03:45 PM

thanks everybody, been awhile since i had a scare like that

johnd651 · 01/01/2010, 07:50 PM

just wondering how the tank is holding up???

any problems???

would be good to know for everyone else who uses the little thermometers

Daniel Reef · 01/01/2010, 08:28 PM

Tagging along for the results.

kevantheman35 · 01/01/2010, 08:29 PM

it has had no visible effect of the tank, although the red fluid did not enter the tank, only the glass around it broke. Im very happy!

12/28/2009, 03:15 PM	#1
kevantheman35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort wayne, IN Posts: 823	thermometer broke help! my little suction thermometer just broke in my 12 g nano, the little balls are on the sand, am i screwed, help? __________________ -Kevan Current Tank Info: 34g Mixed Reef Solana (2 years old). 12g jbj nanocube dx (retired at 2 years old)

12/28/2009, 03:21 PM	#2
kevantheman35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort wayne, IN Posts: 823	i used a magnet to get what i could and im about to water change __________________ -Kevan Current Tank Info: 34g Mixed Reef Solana (2 years old). 12g jbj nanocube dx (retired at 2 years old)

12/28/2009, 03:35 PM	#4
johnd651 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UT Posts: 406	does the thermometer contain a red liquid? if so it is a alcohol thermometer, not mercury. most consumer grade thermometers are not made with mercury for obvious reasons (and its also silvery in color) im not sure what the actual composition is ... ethanol, methanol, etc... so im not sure how it will affect the tank Last edited by johnd651; 12/28/2009 at 03:36 PM. Reason: alchol affects on tank

12/28/2009, 03:41 PM	#5
kevantheman35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort wayne, IN Posts: 823	i got the black balls out. it does have the red liquid and it appears that that part is not broke, just the outer glass, im working on getting all the glass out __________________ -Kevan Current Tank Info: 34g Mixed Reef Solana (2 years old). 12g jbj nanocube dx (retired at 2 years old)

12/28/2009, 03:45 PM	#8
kevantheman35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort wayne, IN Posts: 823	thanks everybody, been awhile since i had a scare like that __________________ -Kevan Current Tank Info: 34g Mixed Reef Solana (2 years old). 12g jbj nanocube dx (retired at 2 years old)

12/28/2009, 03:26 PM	#3
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	are you talking about the weights in the bottom of the thermometer? They may be stainless steel. Probably not a huge issue if you got most of them out. What about mercury. Did the mercury from the thermometer get into the water? I'm not sure what ill effects that it could cause.

12/28/2009, 03:43 PM	#6
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	Aside from the possibility of cutting yourself, I'd say you don't have much to worry about. If it is an alcohol based thermometer, I would doubt that it would have much affect.

01/01/2010, 07:50 PM	#9
johnd651 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UT Posts: 406	just wondering how the tank is holding up??? any problems??? would be good to know for everyone else who uses the little thermometers

01/01/2010, 08:28 PM	#10
Daniel Reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 1,430	Tagging along for the results. __________________ Daniel Restarting my tank 90g 20g Life Reef sump 5ft Life Reef Skimmer See my album for pre-build tank pictures.

01/01/2010, 08:29 PM	#11
kevantheman35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fort wayne, IN Posts: 823	it has had no visible effect of the tank, although the red fluid did not enter the tank, only the glass around it broke. Im very happy! __________________ -Kevan Current Tank Info: 34g Mixed Reef Solana (2 years old). 12g jbj nanocube dx (retired at 2 years old)