Help! Don't know what I did.

bandh0526 · 10/08/2008, 11:39 AM

I was decorating for my daughter's birthday party and was standing on a barstool when it twisted on me and I fell onto the canopy of my predator tank! It busted into the water and the lights broke and fell into the water and they were still plugged in. I took the canopy off, unplugged the lights and took out as much of the glass as I could find. Will the broken glass affect anything? I can't get it all obviously. They had a white coating on them...how will that affect things. I'm about to do a water change and fix my canopy. My fish are OK right now...I'm hoping I haven't done anything too bad!

patsfan1130 · 10/08/2008, 11:52 AM

I am sure the white stuff was salt creep. some glass in the tank wont hurt anything as far as fouling up the water. but be concerned with your livestock injuring themsleves on a glass shard.

bandh0526 · 10/08/2008, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the reply. The white coating I'm talking about it the coating on the inside of the glass bulbs. I'm worried that will seep into the water...will it hurt anything?

Michael · 10/08/2008, 01:06 PM

probably would yes, its probably triphosporous well i think its spelt that way, its probably harmful to the livestock, id do a water change asap, its a chemical to aid the ignition of the gas in the tube, cant see how it can be reef safe, sorry about that, water change now if i were you and keep a close eye on everything

JCJHET · 10/08/2008, 02:16 PM

Along with the phosphor powder, tubes also contain a small drop of mercury.
When the lights are on the mercury is in a gas form , but when they are turned off (or broken) the murcury returns to a liquid.
Im not sure of the effects on a tank but I would follow Michaels advice and water change.
This only applies to fluorescent tubes, not sure what lights you were using.

bandh0526 · 10/09/2008, 09:38 AM

They were the ordinary flourescent lighting bulbs, since we have no corals in that tank. I've done a water change...I hope everything will be OK.

rogergolf66 · 10/09/2008, 10:53 AM

I would also run carbon heavy just in case. good luck

billdogg · 10/09/2008, 11:15 AM

carbon & polyfilter, along with water changes and you should be fine - i'd be tempted to go so far as to sift the substrate for bits of glass - eventually you will find them the hard way if you dont!

Attreui · 10/09/2008, 02:54 PM

Agreed, run carbon, you should be okay. The glass poses a higher danger to you putting your hands in then to the fish, get as much out as you can but if you miss some don't worry about it..

bandh0526 · 10/10/2008, 08:23 AM

Thanks. I have added more carbon and did a second water change, just in case. I also vacuumed out all the glass I could. I think the fish are OK.

JEFFR259 · 10/10/2008, 08:48 AM

It probably doesn't really apply here since the flourescent bulbs broke into the tank water, but always be cautious with the powder that comes from broken flourescent bulbs, it is toxic to you.

So, this also ='s that its toxic for your tank, so do everything that everyone says above and you should be fine.

hodagmike · 10/10/2008, 08:54 AM

Yes there is mercury in flourecent bulbs, and that is not safe for you or your fish...

10/08/2008, 11:39 AM	#1
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	Help! Don't know what I did. I was decorating for my daughter's birthday party and was standing on a barstool when it twisted on me and I fell onto the canopy of my predator tank! It busted into the water and the lights broke and fell into the water and they were still plugged in. I took the canopy off, unplugged the lights and took out as much of the glass as I could find. Will the broken glass affect anything? I can't get it all obviously. They had a white coating on them...how will that affect things. I'm about to do a water change and fix my canopy. My fish are OK right now...I'm hoping I haven't done anything too bad! __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

10/08/2008, 11:52 AM	#2
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	I am sure the white stuff was salt creep. some glass in the tank wont hurt anything as far as fouling up the water. but be concerned with your livestock injuring themsleves on a glass shard. __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

10/08/2008, 12:30 PM	#3
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	Thanks for the reply. The white coating I'm talking about it the coating on the inside of the glass bulbs. I'm worried that will seep into the water...will it hurt anything? __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

10/08/2008, 01:06 PM	#4
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	probably would yes, its probably triphosporous well i think its spelt that way, its probably harmful to the livestock, id do a water change asap, its a chemical to aid the ignition of the gas in the tube, cant see how it can be reef safe, sorry about that, water change now if i were you and keep a close eye on everything __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

10/08/2008, 02:16 PM	#5
JCJHET Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: OH Posts: 124	Along with the phosphor powder, tubes also contain a small drop of mercury. When the lights are on the mercury is in a gas form , but when they are turned off (or broken) the murcury returns to a liquid. Im not sure of the effects on a tank but I would follow Michaels advice and water change. This only applies to fluorescent tubes, not sure what lights you were using. Last edited by JCJHET; 10/08/2008 at 02:26 PM.

10/09/2008, 09:38 AM	#6
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	They were the ordinary flourescent lighting bulbs, since we have no corals in that tank. I've done a water change...I hope everything will be OK. __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

10/09/2008, 10:53 AM	#7
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	I would also run carbon heavy just in case. good luck __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

10/09/2008, 11:15 AM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	carbon & polyfilter, along with water changes and you should be fine - i'd be tempted to go so far as to sift the substrate for bits of glass - eventually you will find them the hard way if you dont! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/09/2008, 02:54 PM	#9
Attreui Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 321	Agreed, run carbon, you should be okay. The glass poses a higher danger to you putting your hands in then to the fish, get as much out as you can but if you miss some don't worry about it..

10/10/2008, 08:23 AM	#10
bandh0526 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tennessee, USA Posts: 187	Thanks. I have added more carbon and did a second water change, just in case. I also vacuumed out all the glass I could. I think the fish are OK. __________________ I'm not a failure. I'm very successful in finding out what doesn't work. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon mixed reef, 120 gallon FOWLR (predator) tank, 46 gallon bowfront seahorse tank.

10/10/2008, 08:48 AM	#11
JEFFR259 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 595	It probably doesn't really apply here since the flourescent bulbs broke into the tank water, but always be cautious with the powder that comes from broken flourescent bulbs, it is toxic to you. So, this also ='s that its toxic for your tank, so do everything that everyone says above and you should be fine.

10/10/2008, 08:54 AM	#12
hodagmike Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 34	Yes there is mercury in flourecent bulbs, and that is not safe for you or your fish...