Friends tank gets nuked by paint thinner....

[FishAreFriends2]

I have a friend who works at a autobody shop and one of his co-workers poured some paint thinner into his tank. And it killed everything. Does he need to get a new tank? new rocks, new everything? I really don't know what to tell him. Since I never had a experience with paint thinner in a tank.

Will vinegar help clean the tank and filters?

[GSMguy]

was it intentional or an accident? i assume you might be able to clean the filters but the rock will need to go.

[aastretch64]

***! Why would someone pour paint thinner into a tank full of living animals!?!?

I would say that he should thoroughly clean the tank, rock, pumps etc will vinegar (soak it for a day or two). Let everything completely dry and start the tank back up. He will have to really let it cycle since he is now going to start with "base rock."

Alex

[FishAreFriends2]

I believe it might be intentional, he's the boss at his work place, probably got someone mad and decided to toss some thinner in for pay back.

Could the rocks be used or is it garbage.

[areze]

glass or acrylic tank?

if its acrylic the whole think is probably trashed.

what kind of paint thinner? unless its some nonhazardous paint thinner(if that exists, and even so, the tank died, so probably not). anything you do would be tough to gaurentee its gone.

if the rock dries out completely, the paint thinner should evaporate as well. then cook... might be ok. no promises.

[FishAreFriends2]

its a 100g odyssea glass tank, he works at a autobody so its got to be some car paint thinner.

he watched as everything died in minutes.

[areze]

yeesh. hope he pays a week in arears and takes it out of the paycheck.

[areze]

PS. can he file charges on that? detruction of property or something... lawsuit for damages?

[bubbly]

I agree -- the rock needs to go.

The tank, filters, etc. would just need to be cleaned with vinegar or some other solution that would help get rid of the paint thinner.

I would have him get rid of all the rock, fill the tank up with clean fresh RO/DI water and run it for a few weeks with a couple of 100% water changes for good measure to make sure all the paint thinner is gone (it's volatile, so it won't stay in the plastic, etc, I am pretty sure).

I would then have him start the SW thing again lightly -- just a little live rock in the tank, and see if a bunch of pods start showing up. If the pods and whatever cheap critters he gets will live, then the tank is ready to go full reef again. (at least that's the way I would do it, before I put a bunch of expensive corals in the tank again)

I would have him check out the chemistry forum here and talk to Randy Holmes-Farley (the resident chemistry expert) about ways to neutralize the paint thinner and make sure it is gone.

Does he know which guy did it? Are his coworkers evil? How did they react when they find out the guy vandalized his house (tank) and killed his pets -- that's pretty sick, and usually means at least $1k in damage from the lost corals/livestock, not to mention time.

The tanks are usually nicer the second time around, so it can be nice to set it up all new as well, but that really sucks!

Some Poly-Bio filter pads and lots of activated carbon will also help make sure that all the chemicals are gone when he restarts the tank.

The chemists would have the final word, though.

[FishAreFriends2]

I have no clue, but he spends a lot of time looking and making his tank look good at work. So he probably got one of his workers mad.

He has no clue who did it.

[Savas]

I had this happen at the office with latex paint when my office was being painted. It was an accident as far as I could tell. As the painters caused a larger spill. I had an acryllic tank and ended up spending a lot of time cleaning everything before the tank was usable. Everything in the tank was a complete loss.

[aastretch64]

I'm confused. Is he the owner of the autobody?

I wonder if curelty to animals would apply here is charged were brought. Same as poring paint thinner in a dogs drinking bowl I guess.

[widmer]

Well I just looked up paint thinners on wikipedia. There's a good chance it contains organic solvents which won't fully evaporate off at room temperature. Since they are *solvents*, then heavy flushing with water, potentially with another emulsifier like dish soap, for a long time, then followed by more flushing with water should leave at least everything but the plastic equipment in good usable shape. If I were him I'd throw all the rockwork out in a tub outside filled with water and hoze in some new water from time to time over the duration of maybe a month. I'm no expert tho.

He should really invest in a pinhole camera to watch and record the tank from here on out, if it's that big and in a public place. A pinhole camera & recording box is not an expensive purchase at all.

[matthewscars]

New tank? He needs a new job that isn't full of immature idiots.

[areze]

Originally posted by aastretch64
I'm confused. Is he the owner of the autobody?

I wonder if curelty to animals would apply here is charged were brought. Same as poring paint thinner in a dogs drinking bowl I guess.

99.9% sure fish are not protected by whatever limited animal cruelty laws there may be state to state. plus, paint thinner is probably one of the more humane ways to kill a fish.

[Mark426]

Eventually the word will get out who did it. I would call the cops and have him charged and arrested for destruction of property, oh…and fired. Hope some of his buddies feel like bailing him out.....not.

[tami1024]

If some "Schmuck" did that to my tanks, I would be throughly p#$%& off. I may even consider revenge for something like that! A stunt like that is childish and immature.

[fittiger]

Originally posted by FishAreFriends2
I have no clue, but he spends a lot of time looking and making his tank look good at work. So he probably got one of his workers mad.

He has no clue who did it.

How does he know then paint thinner was poured in it?

If the person who did this is discovered, I'm sure with a good lawyer they could be convicted of animal cruelty

"Cal Penal Code 596-597

Cruelty to animals is defined as “Maliciously and intentionally mains, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal; or overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal or causes or procures any animal to be so treated.� Animals shall be seized and impounded and ownership forfeited. These crimes may be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, with punishment of a fine up to $20,000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year. If a defendant is granted probation for a conviction, the defendant must pay for and successfully complete counseling as determined by the court. It is also a misdemeanor to “Carry or causes to be carried in or upon any vehicle or otherwise any domestic animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.� Exemptions are made for farming, hunting and research"


and malicious destruction of property

California Penal Code Section 594

(a) Every person who maliciously commits any of the following
acts with respect to any real or personal property not his or her
own, in cases other than those specified by state law, is guilty of
vandalism:
(1) Defaces with graffiti or other inscribed material.
(2) Damages.
(3) Destroys.
Whenever a person violates this subdivision with respect to real
property, vehicles, signs, fixtures, furnishings, or property
belonging to any public entity, as defined by Section 811.2 of the
Government Code, or the federal government, it shall be a permissive
inference that the person neither owned the property nor had the
permission of the owner to deface, damage, or destroy the property.
(b) (1) If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is
four hundred dollars ($400) or more, vandalism is punishable by
imprisonment in the state prison or in a county jail not exceeding
one year, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars
($10,000), or if the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, by a fine of not more than
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine and
imprisonment.
(2) (A) If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is
less than four hundred dollars ($400), vandalism is punishable by
imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine
and imprisonment.
(B) If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is less
than four hundred dollars ($400), and the defendant has been
previously convicted of vandalism or affixing graffiti or other
inscribed material under Section 594, 594.3, 594.4, 640.5, 640.6, or
640.7, vandalism is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for
not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five thousand
dollars ($5,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(c) Upon conviction of any person under this section for acts of
vandalism consisting of defacing property with graffiti or other
inscribed materials, the court may, in addition to any punishment
imposed under subdivision (b), order the defendant to clean up,
repair, or replace the damaged property himself or herself, or order
the defendant, and his or her parents or guardians if the defendant
is a minor, to keep the damaged property or another specified
property in the community free of graffiti for up to one year.
Participation of a parent or guardian is not required under this
subdivision if the court deems this participation to be detrimental
to the defendant, or if the parent or guardian is a single parent who
must care for young children.
(d) If a minor is personally unable to pay a fine levied for acts
prohibited by this section, the parent of that minor shall be liable
for payment of the fine. A court may waive payment of the fine, or
any part thereof, by the parent upon a finding of good cause.
(e) As used in this section, the term "graffiti or other inscribed
material" includes any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, mark,
or design, that is written, marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or
painted on real or personal property.
(f) The court may order any person ordered to perform community
service or graffiti removal pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision
(c) to undergo counseling.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2002.



and even worse if a felony charge is determined for the animal cruelty:

California Penal Code Section 12022.6

(a) When any person takes, damages, or destroys any
property in the commission or attempted commission of a felony, with
the intent to cause that taking, damage, or destruction, the court
shall impose an additional term as follows:
(1) If the loss exceeds sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000), the
court, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed for
the felony or attempted felony of which the defendant has been
convicted, shall impose an additional term of one year.
(2) If the loss exceeds two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000),
the court, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed
for the felony or attempted felony of which the defendant has been
convicted, shall impose an additional term of two years.
(3) If the loss exceeds one million three hundred thousand dollars
($1,300,000), the court, in addition and consecutive to the
punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which the
defendant has been convicted, shall impose an additional term of
three years.
(4) If the loss exceeds three million two hundred thousand dollars
($3,200,000), the court, in addition and consecutive to the
punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which the
defendant has been convicted, shall impose an additional term of
four years.
(b) In any accusatory pleading involving multiple charges of
taking, damage, or destruction, the additional terms provided in this
section may be imposed if the aggregate losses to the victims from
all felonies exceed the amounts specified in this section and arise
from a common scheme or plan. All pleadings under this section shall
remain subject to the rules of joinder and severance stated in
Section 954.
(c) The additional terms provided in this section shall not be
imposed unless the facts of the taking, damage, or destruction in
excess of the amounts provided in this section are charged in the
accusatory pleading and admitted or found to be true by the trier of
fact.
(d) This section applies to, but is not limited to, property
taken, damaged, or destroyed in violation of Section 502 or
subdivision (b) of Section 502.7. This section shall also apply to
applicable prosecutions for a violation of Section 350, 653h, 653s,
or 653w.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "loss" has the
following meanings:
(1) When counterfeit items of computer software are manufactured
or possessed for sale, the "loss" from the counterfeiting of those
items shall be equivalent to the retail price or fair market value of
the true items that are counterfeited.
(2) When counterfeited but unassembled components of computer
software packages are recovered, including, but not limited to,
counterfeited computer diskettes, instruction manuals, or licensing
envelopes, the "loss" from the counterfeiting of those components of
computer software packages shall be equivalent to the retail price or
fair market value of the number of completed computer software
packages that could have been made from those components.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of
this section be reviewed within 10 years to consider the effects of
inflation on the additional terms imposed. For that reason this
section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018, and as of
that date is repealed unless a later enacted statute, which is
enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

[edwing206]

Originally posted by matthewscars
New tank? He needs a new job that isn't full of immature idiots.

Or seeing how he's the boss, fire all those immature idiots.

[jiperalta]

assuming it was some type of paint thinner/mineral spirits, a couple of days in the sun and a big bag of carbon in the water the first few days should be plenty for the rocks

[aquaman67]

That's terrible.

When he sets the tank up again (and I hope he does) remember that video cameras are cheap...

[ToxicPoison]

This whole thing sounds sketchy..

You say the tank was spiked with paint thinner and he watched everything die before his eyes.. Then you say he has no idea who did it? If he didn't see it done, how does he know it was paint thinner? And how did someone spike the tank and get away quick enough, in order for your friend to see everything die in an instant, but not see the person who did it?

I'm not trying to call you a liar or anything, but something about this story doesn't smell right (and it's not the paint thinner! )

[kookerson]

Originally posted by fittiger
How does he know then paint thinner was poured in it?

If the person who did this is discovered, I'm sure with a good lawyer they could be convicted of animal cruelty

"Cal Penal Code 596-597

Cruelty to animals is defined as “Maliciously and intentionally mains, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal; or overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal or causes or procures any animal to be so treated.� Animals shall be seized and impounded and ownership forfeited. These crimes may be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony, with punishment of a fine up to $20,000 and/or imprisonment up to 1 year. If a defendant is granted probation for a conviction, the defendant must pay for and successfully complete counseling as determined by the court. It is also a misdemeanor to “Carry or causes to be carried in or upon any vehicle or otherwise any domestic animal in a cruel or inhumane manner.� Exemptions are made for farming, hunting and research"


and malicious destruction of property

California Penal Code Section 594

(a) Every person who maliciously commits any of the following
acts with respect to any real or personal property not his or her
own, in cases other than those specified by state law, is guilty of
vandalism:
(1) Defaces with graffiti or other inscribed material.
(2) Damages.
(3) Destroys.
Whenever a person violates this subdivision with respect to real
property, vehicles, signs, fixtures, furnishings, or property
belonging to any public entity, as defined by Section 811.2 of the
Government Code, or the federal government, it shall be a permissive
inference that the person neither owned the property nor had the
permission of the owner to deface, damage, or destroy the property.
(b) (1) If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is
four hundred dollars ($400) or more, vandalism is punishable by
imprisonment in the state prison or in a county jail not exceeding
one year, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars
($10,000), or if the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, by a fine of not more than
fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine and
imprisonment.
(2) (A) If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is
less than four hundred dollars ($400), vandalism is punishable by
imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by a fine of
not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine
and imprisonment.
(B) If the amount of defacement, damage, or destruction is less
than four hundred dollars ($400), and the defendant has been
previously convicted of vandalism or affixing graffiti or other
inscribed material under Section 594, 594.3, 594.4, 640.5, 640.6, or
640.7, vandalism is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for
not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than five thousand
dollars ($5,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(c) Upon conviction of any person under this section for acts of
vandalism consisting of defacing property with graffiti or other
inscribed materials, the court may, in addition to any punishment
imposed under subdivision (b), order the defendant to clean up,
repair, or replace the damaged property himself or herself, or order
the defendant, and his or her parents or guardians if the defendant
is a minor, to keep the damaged property or another specified
property in the community free of graffiti for up to one year.
Participation of a parent or guardian is not required under this
subdivision if the court deems this participation to be detrimental
to the defendant, or if the parent or guardian is a single parent who
must care for young children.
(d) If a minor is personally unable to pay a fine levied for acts
prohibited by this section, the parent of that minor shall be liable
for payment of the fine. A court may waive payment of the fine, or
any part thereof, by the parent upon a finding of good cause.
(e) As used in this section, the term "graffiti or other inscribed
material" includes any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, mark,
or design, that is written, marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or
painted on real or personal property.
(f) The court may order any person ordered to perform community
service or graffiti removal pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision
(c) to undergo counseling.
(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2002.



and even worse if a felony charge is determined for the animal cruelty:

California Penal Code Section 12022.6

(a) When any person takes, damages, or destroys any
property in the commission or attempted commission of a felony, with
the intent to cause that taking, damage, or destruction, the court
shall impose an additional term as follows:
(1) If the loss exceeds sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000), the
court, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed for
the felony or attempted felony of which the defendant has been
convicted, shall impose an additional term of one year.
(2) If the loss exceeds two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000),
the court, in addition and consecutive to the punishment prescribed
for the felony or attempted felony of which the defendant has been
convicted, shall impose an additional term of two years.
(3) If the loss exceeds one million three hundred thousand dollars
($1,300,000), the court, in addition and consecutive to the
punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which the
defendant has been convicted, shall impose an additional term of
three years.
(4) If the loss exceeds three million two hundred thousand dollars
($3,200,000), the court, in addition and consecutive to the
punishment prescribed for the felony or attempted felony of which the
defendant has been convicted, shall impose an additional term of
four years.
(b) In any accusatory pleading involving multiple charges of
taking, damage, or destruction, the additional terms provided in this
section may be imposed if the aggregate losses to the victims from
all felonies exceed the amounts specified in this section and arise
from a common scheme or plan. All pleadings under this section shall
remain subject to the rules of joinder and severance stated in
Section 954.
(c) The additional terms provided in this section shall not be
imposed unless the facts of the taking, damage, or destruction in
excess of the amounts provided in this section are charged in the
accusatory pleading and admitted or found to be true by the trier of
fact.
(d) This section applies to, but is not limited to, property
taken, damaged, or destroyed in violation of Section 502 or
subdivision (b) of Section 502.7. This section shall also apply to
applicable prosecutions for a violation of Section 350, 653h, 653s,
or 653w.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "loss" has the
following meanings:
(1) When counterfeit items of computer software are manufactured
or possessed for sale, the "loss" from the counterfeiting of those
items shall be equivalent to the retail price or fair market value of
the true items that are counterfeited.
(2) When counterfeited but unassembled components of computer
software packages are recovered, including, but not limited to,
counterfeited computer diskettes, instruction manuals, or licensing
envelopes, the "loss" from the counterfeiting of those components of
computer software packages shall be equivalent to the retail price or
fair market value of the number of completed computer software
packages that could have been made from those components.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of
this section be reviewed within 10 years to consider the effects of
inflation on the additional terms imposed. For that reason this
section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018, and as of
that date is repealed unless a later enacted statute, which is
enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

Im not going to lie, but I was too lazy to read this whole thing, But I do have something interesting involving torture to fish. About a year ago, I went into a fish store located in southern california (ATA), and saw that these wonderful people were kind enough to put three, 4' sharks into a sump that was about 4 feet by 5 feet. I tried to report them, thinking that this is an obvious case of animal cuelty, but FEMA and the SPCA both told me that fish didnt fall into the category.........took me about 2 weeks of emailing and phone calling to find out that my plight was useless, I even called local Aquariums for help. I have been told, also, that this isnt there only offense, but have a long rap sheet......just my two cents.

[stagefright13]

That's the worst thing I've ever heard practically! The rock and sand is junk. Paint thinner doesn't mix with water but the pumps and skimmer probably made an emulsion out of it (Like Salad dressing does when mixed) So NOTHING in the tank didn't get hit by it.

And silicone is not good to seal against lacquer thinner, mineral spirits or gasoline. But it will seal against alcohol and methanol. Hopefully he drained the tank quickly and flushed it. I hate to say it but that's a total loss. I would be iffy about even the silicone absorbed some and may weaken it. I guess it probably depends on how much was in there and how fast it was drained.

Hope that idiot catches on fire some day. But just after he gets busted and pays for it. Poor guy I feel bad. And what did those animals do to the IDIOT!!??

You would be able to smell paint thinner in the tank a mile away. And he easily could have went to go get lunch and come back to disaster.

[craab]

sounds like it is time to bring in a professional polygraph examiner. That tank could be considered property of the business and somebody intentionall damaged it.

Take the polygraph or resign, give them the choice. or dont...