Ammonia Test Fell In Tank!

[Basics]

So I'm about a week into my fishless cycle. Just now when doing my ammonia test after getting the reading i drop it into the tank. What should I do?

 

[DD2510]

dropped what? The test or the bottle of ammonia?

 

[Basics]

The test

 

[PDSimon]

The test

So you dropped a test tube with water and ammonia test liquid in the fish tank?

I'd put this in emergency forum... I imagine you'll have to do a full water change. Not sure though so like I said put it in emergency if I were you

 

[Basics]

there are no fish in the tank. Just a fishless cycle. I'll go ask over there.

 

[Assaye]

If some of the chemicals leaked out, do a 100% water change, run activated carbon in the tank for a few days and re-dose with ammonia.

 

[Twinklecaz]

Do you do your test over the tank?

 

[Basics]

Do you do your test over the tank?

yeah. Think I'm gonna change that habit

Well I guess a full change is in order. Man i've beeen trying to get this tank going for aaages.

Nothing has seemed to go right so far. I think I'm going to get a test kit as well.

I have some test but there old. It came with a full sera test kit, but its old and its for salt water. Even though who I bought it from ran a freashwater tank.

Oh well Guess I got to do it right.

 

[Assaye]

Your cycle shouldn't be affected by the water change as long as you re-dose with ammonia. Get a freshwater test kit as well

 

[Basics]

How do I get allll the water out? and someone said that i should throw away the gravel and filter media becuase of the mercury in the test?

 

[IAmATeaf]

How do I get allll the water out? and someone said that i should throw away the gravel and filter media becuase of the mercury in the test?

You'll have to siphon the water out, then use a tub to get the remaining water out by hand.

 

[JoshuaA]

I picked up a gravel siphon for about £5 from p@h and its a rather large one, quite a fast flow rate can empty my 60l one in like 3 minutes I think. I think the issue is whether your filter media may have absorbed or had some of test chemicals cling on to it.

Is Mercury really one of the ingredients? I'm impressed, I played with mercury one day.... was so much fun

 

[Basics]

I picked up a gravel siphon for about £5 from p@h and its a rather large one, quite a fast flow rate can empty my 60l one in like 3 minutes I think. I think the issue is whether your filter media may have absorbed or had some of test chemicals cling on to it.

Is Mercury really one of the ingredients? I'm impressed, I played with mercury one day.... was so much fun

I've got a nice big gravel vac, I was more worried about the last bits of water in the gravel and what not.

What I really would like to know is should i really throw away my gravel? I wanted sand anyways, I guess thats a sign

And yeah on the box it says "contains sodium hydroxide and mercuric iodide". I think the first is bleach. Dont know about the other

Guess I'll have to take it all out and rinse the whole thing out in the bath.

Would like to know about the filter sponge though.

Anyone know for sure?

 

[JoshuaA]

I assume our friendly water conditioner won't neutralise them. Personally I would just put the gravel in my bath or shower unit and run the shower head on the hottest possible and just sift it around a bit for maybe 5 minutes.

I think someone recommended putting carbon in which may or may not absorb the chemicals which may remain in the tank even after cleaning. However I would assume it will be all over the filter casing etc and heater meaning you'd have to strip it down and give it one hell of a scrubbing. If you phone up the manufacturer though and inform them of what has happened they may be able to recommend you a compound to add to your tank to neutralise these chemicals without harming your fish.

 

[waterdrop]

Just do a double water change where you take it down to the substrate twice. The second one dilutes the stuff that was left in the substrate by a lot. I agree that Assaye's suggestion of also doing a round of carbon for a week would be an added precaution.

~~waterdrop~~