How Many Large Water Changes...

[star4]

could I get away with doing? I had an accident yesterday, I left a heater turned on while doing a wc and the plastic heater guard melted and dripped into the water. On the surface was oily patches which I syphoned off and ended up doing a 70% wc. All seems fine in the tank this morning, except for the spare heater I have to keep turning on and off manually because its broken and wont turn off even thought its set at 20C it heated the tank to 28c which has made my oscar really unhappy. I am worried about any toxins in the water from the melted plastic. I have shoved a load of carbon in one of the filters in the hope that it will also help and out of desperation turned on the uv (not that I think the UV will do anything to toxins its just in case).
 
I am going to do another 50% wc today any other suggestions welcomed

 

[bricko]

Hi Star4,
 
Dont bother witht he UV, as you have stated I doubt it will achieve much as it will only break bacteria down, not plastic toxins.
 
I think you have probably done the best you can do, I doubt there is much residual plastic left in the system and the carbon in the filter will deal with that in no time at all.
 
I would concentrate on getting a more reliable heater then just keep an eye on things for a day or two then maybe another 50% WC then.
 
I know its hard to not panic about our fish but it sounds like you are all over this problem.
 
Hope all goes well.
 
Bricko

 

[star4]

The heater malfunction was my fault, I could do with investing in 15 heaters with a cut off facility, guards etc, but the budget will not stretch that far at around £30/heater. I have ordered two new heaters as the ones I do have spare have been donated and none of them work properly

 
Hopefully the carbon and wc will clear it and there will be no problems.

 

[l_l_l]

Hope you've learned your lesson!
You are better paying for a good heater, in the end, you'll be paying less.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'd probably do one more large water change (50+%) just to dilute any toxins further.  The UV should have no real effect, as has been stated.  But the carbon might help.

 

[star4]

Hope you've learned your lesson!
You are better paying for a good heater, in the end, you'll be paying less.

 
Yeah well if I was running a couple of piddling little tanks and not a fish rescue then yes most likely I could invest in good heaters, With well over 1000 water changes a year this is the first time I have done this, a human error due to being so tired not equipment malfunction!
 
I only asked the question on the bloody water changes not the equipment I use! or why it melted that was bloody obvious Typical of some members on here, got no useful knowledge other than to have a dig about equipment or quote some crap they read once other than going on experience.
 
Jeeze!

 

[l_l_l]

Aww I'm sorry you took it this way, I wasn't trying to be rude or anything, just trying to be compationate.
 
If you want my opinion, I'd rehouse the fishes to another cycled aquarium, and clean the other one.