tobacco in the tank! NEED HELP QUICKLY!

gobiesguy05 · 04/12/2006, 09:08 AM

Had a small get together last night and found this morning that one of my guest put some cig butts in my 55g FOWLR. What do i need to do other than a large water change.

tatoofr · 04/12/2006, 09:57 AM

Nice frtiends,
I would do a water change and run carbon and a poly filter.
How are the animals?

Sk8r · 04/12/2006, 10:25 AM

Tobacco is an organic, but tars and nicotine are concentrated in the butt, and the filter. It's likely to be an irritant, and I don't know what chemicals compose it---it couldn't hurt to run polypads and carbon bigtime, AND do a major water change. Worse, if your guests were that bad, no telling what else could have gone in there that you don't know about. Search for coins and pulltabs. Alcohols and sugars are apt to get cycled, less problem than some things, but I'd be more than annoyed with said guests. Plus heavy smoke which may have been in the air...not good for the fish.

gobiesguy05 · 04/12/2006, 10:41 AM

All the fish seem to be doing good, but my carbs and shrimps are kinda shaken up. I talked to the particular guest and ask what happened and they replied that the first one was by accident and then the second one was done out of entertainment. I got very upset with the guest and told them that they were not welcome to come back over for my dinner parties. Then said guest, and i quote, said "They are just fish, why are you so upset!?" I went off the deep end and told him how much i have invested in just that one tank. He apologized and offered cash for any deaths or treatments that maybe needed to cure the problem.

gobiesguy05 · 04/12/2006, 10:42 AM

Oh about the crabs and shrimps, they have lost some color and it looks like my matrix is molting. Could this be because of the cigs and the stress that followed?

Sk8r · 04/12/2006, 11:26 AM

It ccould be stress. ALso from rapid changes in chemistry. As for the guest, if he ever got back in my house again (not caring that he harmed living creatures is a real major problem in my book; trashing his host's house is right up there behind it) I'd keep him on one drink for the evening, period, for life---NMB, but brother! money doesn't begin to cover the grief.

RobbyG · 04/12/2006, 11:47 AM

Reminds me of the time when my Brother Installed a Tank in a Bar at an all inclusive Hotel. Yep that lasted about 2 weeks, in that space of time he changed all the inhabitants once and on the second call he told them that they had to remove the tank because he would no longer service it if it remained in that location. The first time a group of people dumped Glasses upon Glasses of Beer in the Tank along with Vodka and Rum. The second time someone actualy urinated into a glass and emptied it into the Tank. Just amazing what sick things people do to entertain themselves.

CaptiveReef · 04/12/2006, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gobiesguy05
Had a small get together last night and found this morning that one of my guest put some cig butts in my 55g FOWLR. What do i need to do other than a large water change.

The tobacco will effect the tanks pH by making the water acidic, I use to use natural tea to make water soft and acidic for South American Killiefish. A protein skimmer and carbon will remove the color and humic properties of the tobacco, and adding buffer or a 2 part calcium/buffer will handle the pH.

I would have a talk with your friend. CaptiveReef

jim293 · 04/12/2006, 05:17 PM

I do not think I would invite him back. That sucks.

Aescleah · 04/12/2006, 08:22 PM

ok i think i would have to kill him. how old is that tard like 13. its bad enough that someone would do that to a living creature actully really bad. but its also about respect in someone elses house.

Ashley

piberoptikz · 04/12/2006, 10:55 PM

What a moron. It's common sense not to put any bad materials on any spot near the tank.

being drunk, was it an excuse for this?

If a friend of mine or any house guest accidentally did that to my tank, they'd be swimming with the fishes!

Capiche!

jpfelix · 04/12/2006, 11:00 PM

carbon, poly, skim wet, water changes. there are lots of (~4000) chemicals in cigs. most are organic and easy to remove, some will only be removed with wc's.

Waxxiemann · 04/12/2006, 11:59 PM

I just dread one of my loser friends doing somthing like that. I feel for you man.

This is a little off topic but listen to this: Once I had a "get together" at my place and someone called this 900 number and talked for 60 seconds, hung up, called back, talked for 60 seconds and hung up.

my phone bill was $250! I still never found out who it was. Sometimes I want to kill my friends.

I guess the loss would be a lot worse if one of your animals died. Good thing it's FOWLR because I don't think a lot of corals or clams would take to kindly to that.

gobiesguy05 · 04/13/2006, 06:29 AM

Though the guest was drinking, no one there was drunk that night. He said he put the second one in the tank soully for the entertainment. "I liked the way it make the fish react" he said. From what he said, the fish would swim to it then nip at it and swim away when it first hit the water.

gobiesguy05 · 04/13/2006, 06:30 AM

Waxxie - Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

gobiesguy05 · 04/13/2006, 06:31 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice. Anyone else have any Horror stories?

grendl · 04/13/2006, 09:52 AM

MY horror story would be the explanation to the court of what I did to that brain dead idiot, before & after I killed him. What a total idiot... what an amazing lack of respect for someone elses stuff.

RichConley · 04/13/2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aescleah
ok i think i would have to kill him. how old is that tard like 13. its bad enough that someone would do that to a living creature actully really bad. but its also about respect in someone elses house.

Ashley

He sounds like your average smoker to me. They actually fight for the right to give other people cancer around here (fighting for the right to smoke in bars/restaurants/etc.) They just seem like a crowd that in general doesnt care about what their actions do to others.

FWIW, my brother locks his door now when he has parties. He's found too many ciggys in his tank.

HowardW · 04/13/2006, 11:01 AM

<<< He sounds like your average smoker to me. >>>

Your average smoker would not do something absurdly stupid like that.

mille239 · 04/13/2006, 11:05 AM

I had a whole FOWLR agressive tank (5 triggers, 3 morays and a volitans lion) wiped out when some party goer decided it would be funny to pour beer in my tank. That was the last time I allowed anyone in the tank room during get togethers..

planted tank · 04/13/2006, 11:10 AM

Wait for the small bubbles to come out of the nose before you let them up.

RichConley · 04/13/2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HowardW
<<< He sounds like your average smoker to me. >>>

Your average smoker would not do something absurdly stupid like that.

I disagree. Whenever there are smokers in my home, I seem to find butts in the wierdest of places. In the fish tanks, on the floor, etc.

Go out and find a public fountain, I bet theres lots of butts in it.

Go to the local zoo, I bet theres butts in a bunch of the exhibits.

They just seem to fling them without thinking.

The last time my bro got a butt in his SPS tank, he lost almost all his acros.

gibbswagon · 04/13/2006, 11:18 AM

you are a nicer guy then me! I would have punched him in the face just for entertainment!

Andrew · 04/13/2006, 11:35 AM

Tell him your $850 Chinese clownfish died.

memito · 04/13/2006, 11:39 AM

Absolutely crazy. Freak'n smokers think they can put their trash just about anywhere...

Anyway, a couple years ago my roommates and I had a bash and some numb nut decided to pour some beer into my freshwater 135. Well, while I didn't lose any fish, the tank water turned a very strange green and I had to move the fish to another tank while emptying the 135.

In any case, some people just really shouldn't be allowed to have kids given the lack of respect they have for other living things.

04/12/2006, 09:08 AM	#1
gobiesguy05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	tobacco in the tank! NEED HELP QUICKLY! Had a small get together last night and found this morning that one of my guest put some cig butts in my 55g FOWLR. What do i need to do other than a large water change.

04/12/2006, 09:57 AM	#2
tatoofr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,044	Nice frtiends, I would do a water change and run carbon and a poly filter. How are the animals? __________________ !20 tech tank ATI T5 Club Current Tank Info: 120 reef

04/12/2006, 10:25 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Tobacco is an organic, but tars and nicotine are concentrated in the butt, and the filter. It's likely to be an irritant, and I don't know what chemicals compose it---it couldn't hurt to run polypads and carbon bigtime, AND do a major water change. Worse, if your guests were that bad, no telling what else could have gone in there that you don't know about. Search for coins and pulltabs. Alcohols and sugars are apt to get cycled, less problem than some things, but I'd be more than annoyed with said guests. Plus heavy smoke which may have been in the air...not good for the fish. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/12/2006, 11:26 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	It ccould be stress. ALso from rapid changes in chemistry. As for the guest, if he ever got back in my house again (not caring that he harmed living creatures is a real major problem in my book; trashing his host's house is right up there behind it) I'd keep him on one drink for the evening, period, for life---NMB, but brother! money doesn't begin to cover the grief. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/12/2006, 11:47 AM	#7
RobbyG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: 600 Ft From the Reef Posts: 2,099	Reminds me of the time when my Brother Installed a Tank in a Bar at an all inclusive Hotel. Yep that lasted about 2 weeks, in that space of time he changed all the inhabitants once and on the second call he told them that they had to remove the tank because he would no longer service it if it remained in that location. The first time a group of people dumped Glasses upon Glasses of Beer in the Tank along with Vodka and Rum. The second time someone actualy urinated into a glass and emptied it into the Tank. Just amazing what sick things people do to entertain themselves. __________________ The Optimist says the glass is half full, the Pessimist says it’s half empty, an engineer only see's a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be! Current Tank Info: Insanely Automated Low Power Consumption 90 Gal Oceanic Bow System/Aquatronica Touch Controller/AQ Dosing Pump/AQT LEDS/AQ SMS/Seq Dart Pump/ASM G3/Ozotech Ozonizer/Koralin 1502/Chiller/Typhoon3 Ro/S.Squirt /Phos React/Rmt DSB

04/12/2006, 10:41 AM	#4
gobiesguy05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	All the fish seem to be doing good, but my carbs and shrimps are kinda shaken up. I talked to the particular guest and ask what happened and they replied that the first one was by accident and then the second one was done out of entertainment. I got very upset with the guest and told them that they were not welcome to come back over for my dinner parties. Then said guest, and i quote, said "They are just fish, why are you so upset!?" I went off the deep end and told him how much i have invested in just that one tank. He apologized and offered cash for any deaths or treatments that maybe needed to cure the problem.

04/12/2006, 10:42 AM	#5
gobiesguy05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Oh about the crabs and shrimps, they have lost some color and it looks like my matrix is molting. Could this be because of the cigs and the stress that followed?

04/12/2006, 05:17 PM	#9
jim293 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 169	I do not think I would invite him back. That sucks. __________________ Jim293 110 gallon reef tank Current Tank Info: 72 Gallon bow front/ 110 Gallon Reef Tanks

04/12/2006, 08:22 PM	#10
Aescleah Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Cary,NC,USA Posts: 260	ok i think i would have to kill him. how old is that tard like 13. its bad enough that someone would do that to a living creature actully really bad. but its also about respect in someone elses house. Ashley

04/12/2006, 10:55 PM	#11
piberoptikz Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CA Posts: 317	What a moron. It's common sense not to put any bad materials on any spot near the tank. being drunk, was it an excuse for this? If a friend of mine or any house guest accidentally did that to my tank, they'd be swimming with the fishes! Capiche! __________________ - John Current Tank Info: 300 G / 150 G

04/12/2006, 11:00 PM	#12
jpfelix Moved On Join Date: May 2003 Location: jefferson city, mo Posts: 678	carbon, poly, skim wet, water changes. there are lots of (~4000) chemicals in cigs. most are organic and easy to remove, some will only be removed with wc's.

04/12/2006, 11:59 PM	#13
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	I just dread one of my loser friends doing somthing like that. I feel for you man. This is a little off topic but listen to this: Once I had a "get together" at my place and someone called this 900 number and talked for 60 seconds, hung up, called back, talked for 60 seconds and hung up. my phone bill was $250! I still never found out who it was. Sometimes I want to kill my friends. I guess the loss would be a lot worse if one of your animals died. Good thing it's FOWLR because I don't think a lot of corals or clams would take to kindly to that. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

04/13/2006, 06:29 AM	#14
gobiesguy05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Though the guest was drinking, no one there was drunk that night. He said he put the second one in the tank soully for the entertainment. "I liked the way it make the fish react" he said. From what he said, the fish would swim to it then nip at it and swim away when it first hit the water.

04/13/2006, 06:30 AM	#15
gobiesguy05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Waxxie - Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

04/13/2006, 06:31 AM	#16
gobiesguy05 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 37	Thanks everyone for the advice. Anyone else have any Horror stories?

04/13/2006, 09:52 AM	#17
grendl Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Charleston, Wv Posts: 535	MY horror story would be the explanation to the court of what I did to that brain dead idiot, before & after I killed him. What a total idiot... what an amazing lack of respect for someone elses stuff. __________________ Travis

04/13/2006, 11:01 AM	#19
HowardW Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 1,763	<<< He sounds like your average smoker to me. >>> Your average smoker would not do something absurdly stupid like that. __________________ Florida live rock addict

04/13/2006, 11:05 AM	#20
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	I had a whole FOWLR agressive tank (5 triggers, 3 morays and a volitans lion) wiped out when some party goer decided it would be funny to pour beer in my tank. That was the last time I allowed anyone in the tank room during get togethers.. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/13/2006, 11:10 AM	#21
planted tank Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Virginia, Charleston Posts: 10	Wait for the small bubbles to come out of the nose before you let them up.

04/13/2006, 11:18 AM	#23
gibbswagon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: ohio Posts: 177	you are a nicer guy then me! I would have punched him in the face just for entertainment! __________________ Hail to the Redskins Current Tank Info: 55 gal, flame angel,yellowtail damsel, cinnamon clown, neon dottyback,spotted mandarin

04/13/2006, 11:35 AM	#24
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Tell him your $850 Chinese clownfish died.

04/13/2006, 11:39 AM	#25
memito Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: New York City Posts: 31	Absolutely crazy. Freak'n smokers think they can put their trash just about anywhere... Anyway, a couple years ago my roommates and I had a bash and some numb nut decided to pour some beer into my freshwater 135. Well, while I didn't lose any fish, the tank water turned a very strange green and I had to move the fish to another tank while emptying the 135. In any case, some people just really shouldn't be allowed to have kids given the lack of respect they have for other living things. __________________ Bill