Hydrometer Broke... Lead balls in tank. What to do?

Aimforever · 08/10/2007, 11:13 PM

I accidentally shattered the base of my large floating glass hydrometer, and a couple hundred of those tiny lead balls (i'm assuming they are lead) sunk into the depths of my reef.

I used a magnet to retrieve as many as I possibly could, but I know there must be some still in the cracks of LR and even some in the sand probably.

Does anyone have any experience with this, or insight into how big of a potential problem I am dealing with? Long term, will the few that are still in there leach and cause problems? I'm not sure if it is worth removing all the sand and LR from that area and going through it thoroughly with a magnet. Any educated tips would be greatly appreciated.

I HATE it when stupid stuff happens like this. I am such an idiot

BrokeColoReefer · 08/10/2007, 11:19 PM

is lead attracted to magnents? i dont think so. if the magnet is picking them up, that means there is iron in them, and i dont think thats a good thing to have rusting in the bottom. If it where my tank, i would leave them, but im more careless then most.
I still have metal hose clamps that have been in my sump for years, i know its not the best, but my tank is happy. I dont think those balls equal one metal hose clamp.

Aimforever · 08/10/2007, 11:40 PM

Wow brokecoloreefer, my physics prof would smack me if he knew what I posted.... you are so right!! DUH lead is not magnetic. For some reason I was thinking about lead sinkers or something and just got all worked up that everything was going to get poisoned and die.

Now that I think about it I have heard of a few instances where people dropped razers behind their rockwork and didn't find them for years without problems.

Hopefully the same holds true for these little balls. When the lights are on tomorrow I'll go back through and try to see if I can get out any more. Thanks for the quick reply. I'll actually be able to sleep now.

08/10/2007, 11:13 PM	#1
Aimforever Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 281	Hydrometer Broke... Lead balls in tank. What to do? I accidentally shattered the base of my large floating glass hydrometer, and a couple hundred of those tiny lead balls (i'm assuming they are lead) sunk into the depths of my reef. I used a magnet to retrieve as many as I possibly could, but I know there must be some still in the cracks of LR and even some in the sand probably. Does anyone have any experience with this, or insight into how big of a potential problem I am dealing with? Long term, will the few that are still in there leach and cause problems? I'm not sure if it is worth removing all the sand and LR from that area and going through it thoroughly with a magnet. Any educated tips would be greatly appreciated. I HATE it when stupid stuff happens like this. I am such an idiot

08/10/2007, 11:19 PM	#2
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	is lead attracted to magnents? i dont think so. if the magnet is picking them up, that means there is iron in them, and i dont think thats a good thing to have rusting in the bottom. If it where my tank, i would leave them, but im more careless then most. I still have metal hose clamps that have been in my sump for years, i know its not the best, but my tank is happy. I dont think those balls equal one metal hose clamp. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

08/10/2007, 11:40 PM	#3
Aimforever Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 281	Wow brokecoloreefer, my physics prof would smack me if he knew what I posted.... you are so right!! DUH lead is not magnetic. For some reason I was thinking about lead sinkers or something and just got all worked up that everything was going to get poisoned and die. Now that I think about it I have heard of a few instances where people dropped razers behind their rockwork and didn't find them for years without problems. Hopefully the same holds true for these little balls. When the lights are on tomorrow I'll go back through and try to see if I can get out any more. Thanks for the quick reply. I'll actually be able to sleep now.