Plaster from the ceiling fell in my tank!

[allsmilze]

Question for the experts; So I'm trying to switch out the bulb my Coralife - HQI HALIDE PENDANT LIGHT and when I removed it from the ceiling a quarter sized piece of the plaster fell into the tank right in between my live rock making it impossible to locate without moving the rock. In addition to that, debris in the form of powder was floating all over the surface.. I know I should have taken precautions and covered the top of the tank with cardboard or something but I never imaged that would happen. Will that harm my fish & coral? What should I do? Should I try to move the rock to remove the piece??? Helpppppppp!!!!

 

[kidninja]

imo i would turn off all your flow, try to get the piece out, then do a water change

 

[SaltyFlip]

imo i would turn off all your flow, try to get the piece out, then do a water change

+1, I don't really know what's in plaster but I can just imagine it can't be all that good. Try your best to reach it.

 

[Vic8361]

get it out

 

[allsmilze]

Can't find it, thats done! it probably got buried somewhere in the live sand... I moved the rock around and now the water is cloudy cant see anything in there at this point... I'm screwed.. any other suggestions? This really sucks...

 

[smoq]

if you can't get it you probably dosed some calcium and alkalinity buffer to your tank But seriously, try to get it out if it's a large piece.

 

[noodleman]

if it was pure plaster you'll be ok. Plaster is insoluble once it sets initially and besides its made of calcium sulfate, so check your levels. Doing a water change and carbon won't hurt neither

 

[jadakiss]

water change!

 

[brick-brothers]

Wow, that happen to me this morning. The upstairs apt heater was leaking and my ceiling cave in and all that water and plaster fell into my bucket that I was mixing salt in. It sucks. GL with that.


On My IPhone

 

[allsmilze]

brick-brothers, what a coincidence...lol Well, I went through hell but I got the piece out.
that was a mission. now lets just hope nothing is affected by it. thanks guys for all your help

 

[Arati]

big water change and add a poly filter for a few days, imo

 

[James]

Large Water chAnge and carbon are your friends right now.

 

[Paul B]

Forget about it. Plaster will not hurt anything. I fed plaster of paris mixed with bananas to my fish including my moorish Idol for years.
I am not sure what type of paint you had on your plaster but even that would not be water soluble. Take out the big piece, have a nice glass of wine and go out to dinner.
If you add buffers to your tank for anything, it is made out of plaster.

 

[allsmilze]

Thanx guys, water change already done and I added poly filter and chemi pure lmao... @Paul B,, I'm afraid to ask why were you feeding your fish plaster

 

[Paul B]

@Paul B,, I'm afraid to ask why were you feeding your fish plaster

Simple answer, it adds calcium to their diet. I had that moorish Idol for 5 years which is not great for a fish but for a moorish Idol, it is almost a record.

 

[allsmilze]

damn thats cool, yeah moorish are definitely a hard fish to keep, I was always curious about buying one but scared because I know I wont be able to keep him alive...btw I thought u were joking about the plaster. And still I'm asking myself, Plaster??? lol

 

[CHEMCHEF]

He's not joking. PaulB is Unconventional to say the least.