Please no jokes...I just straight up dropped a turned on florescent light fixture into my refugium...I was immediately hands off...and there was a grounding probe...didn't shock the fish...but when I got it out (after turning everything off) I noticed the bulb was broken...ehehe, I know there's a tiny bit of mercury in those puppies...could that have leached out and will it rock my tank?
Uh oh!!!
- Thread starter zacharytrimble
- Start date
Now before you get all mad at my joshing around, let me ask you a few questions.
How big is the system in gallons?
What size bulb was it?
Did it break into pieces and all get wet or did it just crack and some water get in? (from busting them as a kid that seems highly unlikely)
How big is the system in gallons?
What size bulb was it?
Did it break into pieces and all get wet or did it just crack and some water get in? (from busting them as a kid that seems highly unlikely)
zacharytrimble":xjklurne said:
Hey Man did the bulb smash or just no longer work? If it smashed open (which I highly doubt) - the worst of it is going to be picking out the glass. I know people that smashed them and spent hours plucking out the glass (6 foot VHO's !) no adverse reactions to the tank. The gasses are vapors - not liquid and should then de-gas from your tank harmlessly. Sounds like you did a water change already, no worries man.
Mercury vapors are a BIG topic right now as global warming is drying out old growth forest and peat bogs. As they dry out, and catch fire lots of mercury is being release into the air from the way people in the 1920's and up (even past) burned high sulfur coal for heat and the fuel factories used back then. Not good. Mercury in vapor form is quite deadly.
zacharytrimble
Since noone has said this...
:welcome:
Sorry you had that happen! Since I've never heard of anyone else having that issue I did a little quick research and I didn't turn up a whole heck of a lot, sorry. I did find this info Wiki, how old was the bulb?
If it was older perhaps the amount of mercury left in it was on the low end. The only thing I can think to do is run activated carbon in the tank which may or may not help and keep a close watch on the livestock. Also maybe prepare enough water to do a huge change if it is needed.
How is the tank looking now?
Since noone has said this...
:welcome:
Sorry you had that happen! Since I've never heard of anyone else having that issue I did a little quick research and I didn't turn up a whole heck of a lot, sorry. I did find this info Wiki, how old was the bulb?
If it was older perhaps the amount of mercury left in it was on the low end. The only thing I can think to do is run activated carbon in the tank which may or may not help and keep a close watch on the livestock. Also maybe prepare enough water to do a huge change if it is needed.
How is the tank looking now?
Well...it was what I read in Time. The New York Times had an article on it as well. Maybe the coal was an issue not related directly to the mercury but to additonal pollution however the factories were directly related to mercury. Actually, I think high sulfer coal does have mercury in it along with a mulitude of other things. I'll reread the the Time article. I have a hate for coal because my uncle owns a high sulfur coal mine. We fight constantly. ANYWAY..
O.K., it is definitely from coal and gasoline. Coal fired plants put tons of it into the air. As well as millions of people way back when heating with coal. Hmmm...lawdawg corrected. Unusual, and such a pretty girl. Let's see, do I get a feather for that. I ain't even squat.
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