Help! wood varnish accident

celamb89 · 08/08/2013, 03:28 PM

Hi everyone,

Im currently at work and I just recieved a call... The carpinters were varnishing some wood with an air compressor, of course no one followed my instructions to cover the tank... Yep you guessed it, call from home to tell me there is small surface of varnish on the water surface...

They already covered it, but its too late... they said everything looks ok, but of course I told my sister to see if the SPS polyps were extended.. answer: what are the polyps? so yeah no input whatsoever

Im here at work burning from the inside thinking of the tank... Has something like this happended to anyone? any tips? I'll be gome in about 2 hours...

125 gal mixed reef...

Joe0813 · 08/08/2013, 03:38 PM

if i were you i would get in writing that the carpenters did not cover your tank like you instructed and they got paint in there. Just in case for whatever reason something dies then you could go after them for the money.

celamb89 · 08/08/2013, 03:43 PM

I'll try and do that but that seems like a long shot... I told them to be careful, called them yesterday, told my mom to cover the tank... talked again today... as a result got ignored and got an emergency call, great...

Longest 2 hours of my life, waiting to get back home...

Ross33 · 08/08/2013, 04:15 PM

Let us know how it works out. If anything you could have someone get some carbon and RO water ready for you when you get home.

Lynxone · 08/08/2013, 04:19 PM

Carbon and big water changes ASAP. I don't have any experience with exposing a tank to those chemicals but I can't imagine it would be harmless. Good luck!

James77 · 08/08/2013, 04:23 PM

Run carbon. Also, when doing the water changes, see if you can skim it off the top if you can see any floating...or even try absorbing it with paper towels.....

blue736 · 08/08/2013, 05:50 PM

+1 on the paper towels

celamb89 · 08/08/2013, 07:16 PM

The surface of the tank was clean when I got home... Corals looked ok but not great, SPS were by fully extended but there was some PE.. Added a large batch of new carbon I the reactor, PE is now good and everything looks ok!

I hate those moments when you're not home!

celamb89 · 08/08/2013, 07:24 PM

Good tip on the paper towels! Hopefully I won't be using it soon!

Eric45 · 08/09/2013, 09:53 AM

Guess I dodged a bullet! I just had to break down my tank to change the stand and at the same time my wife decided to have the floors redone i.e. sanded, stained, varnished. The corals and fish were all in open plastic containers adjacent to the living room, with powerheads and airstones.

Of course we opened doors/windows and turned up the a/c, but the smell was awful. The result: no visible damage to any of the corals or fish. Must have been some good varnish they used!

08/08/2013, 03:28 PM	#1
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	Help! wood varnish accident Hi everyone, Im currently at work and I just recieved a call... The carpinters were varnishing some wood with an air compressor, of course no one followed my instructions to cover the tank... Yep you guessed it, call from home to tell me there is small surface of varnish on the water surface... They already covered it, but its too late... they said everything looks ok, but of course I told my sister to see if the SPS polyps were extended.. answer: what are the polyps? so yeah no input whatsoever Im here at work burning from the inside thinking of the tank... Has something like this happended to anyone? any tips? I'll be gome in about 2 hours... 125 gal mixed reef... __________________ CEL

08/08/2013, 03:38 PM	#2
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	if i were you i would get in writing that the carpenters did not cover your tank like you instructed and they got paint in there. Just in case for whatever reason something dies then you could go after them for the money. __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

08/08/2013, 03:43 PM	#3
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	I'll try and do that but that seems like a long shot... I told them to be careful, called them yesterday, told my mom to cover the tank... talked again today... as a result got ignored and got an emergency call, great... Longest 2 hours of my life, waiting to get back home... __________________ CEL

08/08/2013, 04:23 PM	#6
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Run carbon. Also, when doing the water changes, see if you can skim it off the top if you can see any floating...or even try absorbing it with paper towels..... __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/08/2013, 07:16 PM	#8
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	The surface of the tank was clean when I got home... Corals looked ok but not great, SPS were by fully extended but there was some PE.. Added a large batch of new carbon I the reactor, PE is now good and everything looks ok! I hate those moments when you're not home! __________________ CEL

08/08/2013, 04:15 PM	#4
Ross33 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Texas, Lubbock Posts: 374	Let us know how it works out. If anything you could have someone get some carbon and RO water ready for you when you get home.

08/08/2013, 04:19 PM	#5
Lynxone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 251	Carbon and big water changes ASAP. I don't have any experience with exposing a tank to those chemicals but I can't imagine it would be harmless. Good luck!

08/08/2013, 05:50 PM	#7
blue736 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 106	+1 on the paper towels

08/08/2013, 07:24 PM	#9
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	Good tip on the paper towels! Hopefully I won't be using it soon! __________________ CEL

08/09/2013, 09:53 AM	#10
Eric45 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 725	Guess I dodged a bullet! I just had to break down my tank to change the stand and at the same time my wife decided to have the floors redone i.e. sanded, stained, varnished. The corals and fish were all in open plastic containers adjacent to the living room, with powerheads and airstones. Of course we opened doors/windows and turned up the a/c, but the smell was awful. The result: no visible damage to any of the corals or fish. Must have been some good varnish they used!