mantis broke mercury thermometer-help!

[sabazerehi]

my mantis broke the thermometer in the tank with the little mercury balls in it (i know i'm an idiot for even putting one in with a mantis), now i can't find any of the little balls in the tank, do they dissolve? what should i do? water change, change the sand, and will he be ok?? thanks!

 

[JDS]

Unless it's a real old thermometer I don't think it's mercury. As far as I know they haven't used mercury in thermometers in a longtime.

 

[sabazerehi]

really because that would be such a relief? i don't i know i just remember reading a while ago about the same thing happening to someone else and they said it was mercury.
this is the kind of thermometer it is
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3744+3921&pcatid=3921

 

[JDS]

Come to think of it you must be talking about those led pellets at the bottom of a thermometer I don't think that I would be overly concerned about it. It's really not that larger of quantity.

 

[JDS]

Yup those are led pellets.

 

[sabazerehi]

sorry that's whatt i meant then, so i shouldn't be concerned? it's only a 10g tank

 

[davjbeas]

That is not a mercury thermometer.
The red fluid is red dyed alcohol.
If it was mercury then the red liquid would look silver.
You should be fine.

David

 

[Mappelbaum37]

Just to make sure why dont you call drsfostersmith about that product you brought us the link from and ask them if it is made of mercury?

 

[Hormigaquatica]

They are not made from mercury. They are made with alcohol (probably ethanol). There really isnt much to worry about. If youre really concerned, do a water change on the system and throw in a poly filter or something, but the tank (and mantis) will be fine.

 

[Otto2]

If you have a magnet cleaner you can use that to get all the lead out of the tank. Just make sure that you get all the balls of it before you clean the glass.

 

[blufish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12405292#post12405292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scottdwh
If you have a magnet cleaner you can use that to get all the lead out of the tank. Just make sure that you get all the balls of it before you clean the glass.

Lead is not magnetic, so that method won't work.

Lead will probably oxidize and this will slow down the leaching, but if it was my tank, I would try to get as much lead out as possible.

 

[tufacody]

Get the lead out!

 

[Otto2]

I think thermometers have something else beside lead in them then. I broke my thermometer inside my tank and all the black balls got stuck on my magnet cleaner.

 

[dsoz]

If they stuck to a magnet, then they are iron (most likely), nickel (not likely), or cobalt (also not likely).

If not removed, they will rust and leave a brown spot.

dsoz

 

[downhillbiker]

i would also get them out. why couldnt you just get a net and scoop out the balls and the sand...one big scoop. i think you should be able to get them. as long as they are still in one general location.

as a general rule, foreign material should never be in the tank, just a good practice. if you arent sure, get it out. it is always better to get it out early and not wait for whatever it is to spread and get blown around everywhere in your tank.

 

[yousmellsfishy]

Keep an eye on your mantis. With the release of the ethanol from the thermometer, he's likely to loose all his inhibitions. :dance:

 

[sabazerehi]

the problem is i can't find any of the metal balls, i looked but my mantis is constantly kicking around sand so i can't find anything now