One of my lights fell in the tank - water cloudy

[jmgelba]

One of my home made lights came apart and a portion of it dipped into the tank. Unfortunately it was the end the power connector is on and so there's exposed solder, copper, aluminum and about 40W running through it - oh and some conformal coating. It was only in the tank for 30 minutes at the most but the water went very cloudy, the light died and is rusted/corroded. I did an immediate 25% water change, some of the corals picked up slightly but everything except the fish was struggling. This morning the corals look just the same, I've lost a fish but the hermits are making a meal out of him and seem to be doing fine. The other fish look ok too. The water is far less cloudy but its still visible to even a non hobbyists eye. I will do another 25% water change tonight which is the earliest I can do one.

I'm going to assume the dissolved copper means the end for the corals and inverts and I hope it isnt high enough to kill off the remaining fish.

 

[dmw913]

I would get the dead fish out of the water asap - will just continue to degrade water quality. Sorry to hear about the accident. Good luck!

 

[ReefWreak]

If it was in for 30 minutes, it didn't likely dissolve any copper or other heavy metals, at least not likely enough to make a significant difference.

If you're concerned, run some GFO/Carbon, do a water change, and you should be okay.

As far as the fish, definitely remove as recommended ^^

The dead fish and/or other things that may have died would cause cloudy water, not really metals/oxides from the fixture falling.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we use GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt), because the second that light hits the water, it's off, and you're done. Good thing you didn't reach in while it was plugged in!

 

[soulpatch]

Pack up on carbon and GFO. Pull fish and any corals to a hospital tank (this is why we have spare tanks people!!!).

Water change the tank heavily for a couple days and swap out the media frequently. The zapping probably killed most of your pods, smail snails, and other critters living in your rock and water. You will most likely have a mini cycle in the tank and need to watch it over the next week or two.

Please invest the $8 in a GFCI outlet. It easily replaces your current outlet but has the ability to trip itself in instances like this. Sure it will shut everything in your tank down but that is kind of the point when something like this happens.

 

[jmgelba]

The light was DC, not AC mains. 28V at 1400mA. It is electrically isolated from ground and the ac outlet. I also thought I'd sealed it well but obviously not - unless the coating can be broken down by salt water. That's a test I should have done prior to the install.
The water isnt cloudy due to the dead fish however, it was crystal clear when I fed the tank about 30 minutes before I discovered the problem. I dont think feeding did it either, same food, same qty.
There's carbon in the filter already so I will replace that tonight too whilst doing the second water change.

This tank was doing so well too. The corals where shooting out roots all over the place and growing so fast. I even had a tiny octopus that came along in some live rock. I hope he makes it.

 

[soulpatch]

better check the type of octo that was to make sure it will not destroy your tank.

 

[jmgelba]

If it ever shows more than the tip of its arms, I'll let you know. Its tiny right now, I'm guessing its got 2" long arms at the most.

 

[ReefWreak]

octopus or serpent star? Octopuses don't usually hang/show arms out, they're usually out swimming around inspecting (as they're very curious creatures), not staying in the rock being seen.

I think everything will make it, you usually see a downward spiral pretty quickly from something like that.

 

[jmgelba]

I suppose it could be a star. This pic would fit the size and coloring.

 

[ReefWreak]

Yea, that's a serpent star, not an octopus. I have a small one like that too. Cute little guys, and good for the tank.

 

[jmgelba]

I only get to see the tip of its arms or legs but the size and color match that pic. I thought I saw suckers which is why I thought it was an octopus. It manipulates food and items around the opening of its cave as well as an octopus. It stacks items too lol

 

[ReefWreak]

Yea, it'll eat stuff for sure. They're just scavengers. Octopuses are free-swimming, and are much more jelly-like. Starfish are (usually) pretty solid.

But does it pick winning World Cup teams?

 

[homer1475]

Looks like a brittle star to me, not a serpent star.

 

[ReefWreak]

Sorry, yea a brittle star. They're all the same to me. They're either good or bad and that one is good.

 

[jmgelba]

The tank seems to have recovered almost fully. Numbers are all 0's, all corals are now out, the remaining fish look healthy. There's been some die off from the LR and a small brown algae patch has started but there doesn't look to be too much permanent damage.

Now I need to remove the bristle worms as they have eaten 2 of my hermits.

 

[ReefWreak]

Glad almost everything has recovered!

You're sure the bristle worms are killing the hermits, and that it's not A. hermit molt or B. the hermits weren't dead from something else and they're just cleaning up?

bristle worms don't usually actively kill anything, just scavenge for dead stuff and eat it.

 

[jmgelba]

I'm missing 2 out of the 5 and I did see several wrapped around one when I turned the lights on the other morning.
I've been trying to feed a minimal amount so they are all hungry. Its amazing how many come out of the rocks and sand when I do feed the tank. There are usually a dozen or so visible during the day, 50 or so during feeding and I have no idea how many come out when the tank is dark. I couldn't reach one of the fish that didn't make it through this accident, it was 3/4 eaten the next morning and gone by the time I came home from work that day. My neon dottyback hasnt made an impact in their population so I might end up getting a 6 line wrasse and a trap.

 

[jmgelba]

The tank seems to be perfect now. All corals are out fully and look great. Fish are feeding well and look healthy. The small patch of brown algae is now a huge patch of brown algae though.