Oops! (autofeeder accident)

[droog]

I had an accident setting up my new auto-feeder this morning. Fumbled the container and spilled about one full tablespoon full of NLS pellets into my 120g. I figure about 1.5 - 2 weeks worth of my normal daily feeding amount in one go.

The fish had a feast; I scooped what I could from the surface of the water and saw quite a few pellets going down the overflow into my sump.

Should I do anything special to try and clean up? Big water change tonight and again later this week. Or just let it be?

Filtration is carbon dosing, GFO and carbon. GFO is in a reactor, setup last week. I leave for 2 week vacation starting this weekend (hence the auto-feeder!). I do have a CUC.

Kicking myself because I just started a nutrient reduction effort. Currently at N03 ~ 5ppm (Elos) and po4 0.4ppm (Hanna ULR phosphorous) and aiming for 0, and 0.03ppm.

Not sure how bad an accident like this is for my tank and for nutrient levels in general. Any advice?

-droog

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

Go Go Gadget CLEANUP CREW! lol

 

[droog]

So one vote for "do nothing"

-d

 

[billdogg]

A water change wouldn't hurt (never does). Clean up the uneaten food from the sand, and use this opportunity to clean the sump. Really, in a 120, if it's well established, you probably won't notice a thing.

 

[xcdennisx]

I mean if you have a cleanup crew already shouldn't be that bad. I mean your skimmer should do most of the work and if not do a quick water change.

 

[AZBigJohn]

With your water volume, I add my vote to do nothing; I might have tried to gravel-vac the area you dropped the food immediately, but after a few hours, clean-up crew and breakup of the pellet from the water should have dispersed any left-over enough that it wouldn't help. I would think a 10-20% water change would make you feel better, and certainly not hurt, but I do not think that amount of food in that volume of water in an established tank would cause any significant problem other than perhaps a very short spike in ammonia which will be rapidly broken down.

 

[Jeff210]

I vote for sit and watch...water change if you want...

That's the beauty of bigger tanks...an oops is not as detrimental...

 

[droog]

Cool, thanks for the responses everyone. Rather that do nothing I've decided to have a beer and watch the tank tonight, will toast the CUC and wish them a happy Xmas!

-droog

 

[rfgonzo]

I'm not so sure if it's 2 weeks worth of normal feeding I would let it run it's course. CUC can get most of it but I would make sure that my water quality would not change. I would definitely do a WC and check for NO3 & PO4 and have your skimmer wet skim. JMO