Battery Acid in Tank Water

[jacuglietto]

I got back at about 12 last night from a business trip to Boston, and checked on my tank and everything seemed fine. When I woke up this morning, I noticed that my digital thermometer's LCD screen was sitting in the water. apparently, my girlfriend who was taking care of the tank for me while i was gone noticed that the thermometer's screen had lost its suction and fell to the ground, so she put the whole thing back in the water... probe AND SCREEN. when i pulled the thing out, the screen was naturally flooded and the thermometer did not work, plus there was some reddish brown crust on the screen. I am at work, and I'm having her test the water for copper levels right now, but if anyone has any advice on what to do it would be a big help.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

How does the tank look? If it doesn't look bad then do a water change when you get home and keep monitoring it for any signs of a problem. When did this happen?

 

[Domboski]

What size tank do you have? Does anything seem stressed?

 

[jacuglietto]

im relaying this info through my girlfriend, who knows very little about how to take care of an aquarium beyond following feeding instructions.

She ran a copper test for me and reports no traces. ammonia is also at zero.

She said that the fish seemed to look "darker" than normal, and were swimming slightly sideways. this alarmed me at first, but im thinking about it and my lights dont go on until 11, so they may just still be darker from the night's sleep and my tomato clown hasnt swam upright, unless he is feeding, since i brought him home.

my tank is 90 gallons.

also, the green hair algae problem that I was having before I left on monday for my trip seemed to have worsened somewhat.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

What day did she put the whole thing in?

 

[jacuglietto]

she doesnt remember, but by the looks of it, i would estimate tuesday night / wednseday morning

 

[Domboski]

I don't think you have much to worry about in a 90 gallon tank with such a small battery. I'm sure not much leaked out. Do a water change and run some carbon if you can as Chief suggested. If everything looks terrible you'll have to take more drastic action.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I wouldn't worry much at all, just keep an eye on the tank the fish coloration is because they are still waking up and no lights are on. Do a Water Change tonight or tomorrow if you think it's needed. The hair algae problem is something entirely else, you should post your water parameters maybe that will help us help you get rid of it. Do you use RO/DI? Pleasantville has some murky water.

 

[jacuglietto]

ok, i have fresh salt water that is ready to go in, so ill have her do it. nothing seemed catastrophic this morning, but for her to call me at work to say that a fish didnt look good was a big move.

what would be a more drastic action?

and as an aside, last week she accidentally dropped my hydrometer, and I still havent gotten my refractometer in the mail, so i really have no idea where my specific gravity is right now- this is why i should leave my job and take care of this money pit (fish tank) full time.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Don't have her do anything. Wait til the lights come on and the sg of that water needs to be checked before it is put in the tank. That could cause more harm than the thermometer if it is off from the rest of the tank.

 

[jacuglietto]

yes, I use RO/DI water, and my tank has only been up and running for a few months, so I'm not flipping out about the hair algae. This weekend I will start to manually remove some, and cut back on the lighting to begin the treatment of the hair algae.

 

[jacuglietto]

Thank you both for your advice. Ill hold off on any water changes until tonight when I get home and get access to a refractometer.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Cool, let us know how you make out.

 

[Tim]

Also You could put in a polly filter. If there is anything like copper, it will pull it out. Good luck......

 

[Freespool]

same thing happened to my 90gal. i saw dark liquid comming out of the thermo screen into my tank. this was like 6 months ago and everything is fine. didnt even do a water change right away. its just to small to effect 90 gal.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Any updates?