Holy bad luck... exploding thermometer..

[mpmistr]

So I ran a water test, and my nitrates were a little higher than usual at 20ppm. They usually register at 5ppm so I decided to do a PWC. That went fine but I got to thinking maybe I should adjust the spray bar on my canister filter a bit, I've had it pointed towards the back of the glass but I was thinking perhaps I should turn it to get some more flow going in the tank for better filtration.

Anyways, as you have probably guessed the thermometer for my tank was next to it and somehow I managed to break the %!@#$ thing and it cut my finger and a bunch of little metal balls came out.

I looked up the thermometer online, it's just a cheapo Top Fin model, no mercury.. tested out the little metal beads, they attracted a magnet so they're not lead. I believe they keep alcohol in the new ones?

I am going to do a 50% water change and leave the frogs in.. is this wise? Should I move the frogs? I figured if it's just alcohol a 50% water change should dilute it. It's a 40 gallon tank.

I'm open to suggestions.

[GrifTheGreat]

So I ran a water test, and my nitrates were a little higher than usual at 20ppm. They usually register at 5ppm so I decided to do a PWC. That went fine but I got to thinking maybe I should adjust the spray bar on my canister filter a bit, I've had it pointed towards the back of the glass but I was thinking perhaps I should turn it to get some more flow going in the tank for better filtration.

Anyways, as you have probably guessed the thermometer for my tank was next to it and somehow I managed to break the %!@#$ thing and it cut my finger and a bunch of little metal balls came out.

I looked up the thermometer online, it's just a cheapo Top Fin model, no mercury.. tested out the little metal beads, they attracted a magnet so they're not lead. I believe they keep alcohol in the new ones?

I am going to do a 50% water change and leave the frogs in.. is this wise? Should I move the frogs? I figured if it's just alcohol a 50% water change should dilute it. It's a 40 gallon tank.

I'm open to suggestions.

Any alcohol is bad. If there was any in there I would have changed it entirly to be safe.

[mpmistr]

I decided on doing a 75% water change. I will do a 50% tomorrow again. I am hoping that is enough.

[Sunshine]

Good luck! I hope your froggies will be ok

[mpmistr]

Good luck! I hope your froggies will be ok

Thanks!

I've been engaging in some serious Google-Fu since the mishap and apparently this brand of aquarium thermometer is pretty much aquarium safe if it breaks (and it apparently breaks easily since there's a lot of google results on it lol..)

The liquid inside is alcohol or glycerin based.. I imagine with a 75% water change and the fact the liquid was more than likely not pure alcohol. The amount in it is probably negligible compared to the 40+ gallons of water in the tank. This is the part I'm really worried about but I am hoping the water change diluted it and it's harmless.

The little metal balls did fall out too but I picked those up with a magnet.. broken glass cut my hand, oh well.

I have to admit I am kind of bummed out right now but I think it will be alright.

EDIT: Yanno what? I may be freaking out over nothing. I just looked at the broken thermometer, the red liquid part never broke, just the part that held the little stainless steel balls to weigh it down. Ahhh.. I can sleep tonight.

[Sunshine]

Did you get the glass pieces out so the froggies don't hurt themselves? I'm glad the liquid part didn't break!!! That is a good thing

[mpmistr]

yeah the glass is all picked up, luckily most of it was lodged in my hand, ouch

[Bruce]

Ouch indeed! Hope it isn't too bad, and glad the frogs are safe. Maybe it's time for digital

[mpmistr]

Ouch indeed! Hope it isn't too bad, and glad the frogs are safe. Maybe it's time for digital

Where were you with your awesome advice 3 hours ago Bruce!?!?

[Bruce]

Where were you with your awesome advice 3 hours ago Bruce!?!?

Lol!! Probably replacing a battery for one of my digital thermometer/hygometers

[rodsboys]

I've had this happen a few times over the years. I never had any problems and I was less diligent than you are. However I never had this happen in an amphibian set up. They are more sensitive to chemicals than most creatures. I am sure you will be perfectly fine with all of the diligence you put into this. Your frogs are probably more upset that you were in the tank so long. lol
And yes it is time to go digital. You can do something pretty decent on Ebay shipped for 5-10 bucks.

[rodsboys]

I have had this one, avoid it. It is only worth the price. Digital LCD Fish Tank Aquarium Water Terrarium Thermometer Free Batteries New | eBay

I am currently running this one and love it:
Indoor Outdoor Terrarium Fish Tank Digital Thermometer with Clock 2 Thermometers | eBay

[mpmistr]

Considering the amount of glass in my hand, I think I will be getting a digital. I wasn't overly happy about having an open cut in aquarium water either, needed to say I soaked my hand in hydrogen peroxide for quite a time.. heh.

You're right, the frogs were noticeably annoyed with me and hid a very long time. Took them a while to calm down.

Good news is I got my nitrates back to 5ppm! Not sure why they got so high, I think with all the dwarf water lettuce floating in my tank my frogs are getting pretty bad at finding their reptomin sticks, I try to clean it up after a feeding but I guess I missed some. I think they ate all the glass shrimp in the tank, I usually rely on those buggers to clean the tank up. I don't see that many in the tank any more, I guess I'll get a new cleaning crew lol..

[deranged chipmunk]

You were lucky after my first one broke (my own dumb fault...lol) i went digital. Now every tank i run is digital

[Bruce]

Glad to hear all is well, minus your cuts, but you cleaned it out well and should heal quickly

[mpmistr]

I'm still kind of curious as to how my nitrates spiked up so much.. I know 20ppm isn't lethal but it may have been more, the API kit is kind of weird it's different shades of orange and I always have trouble reading it. It was a pretty deep orange, I usually get a pale orange color and I usually test my water weekly.

I do 25% weekly water changes (two 5.7 gallon buckets so closer to 30% probably). Only reason i tested my water last night was because I noticed the dwarf water lettuce had pretty much taken over the top of my tank and I was getting some springtails on the surface of my water (little jumping bugs).

I really figured that the dwarf water lettuce explosion would reduce nitrates, maybe a ghost shrimp died somewhere I can't see? I figure the frogs would eat any shrimp that croaked though, no pun intended.

[rodsboys]

Maybe there was a giant poo somewhere?????

[mpmistr]

Maybe there was a giant poo somewhere?????

I've started feeding my frogs 1 nightcrawler each rather than cutting 2 into 3 pieces and feeding them each 2 pcs, they each get 1 worm every other day. Maybe I should feed them less, it could very well be extra poop.

Still though it's a planted tank full of fast growing nitrate suckers, over filtered with an eheim 2217 canister, and with only 3 frogs in a 40B, understocked. Soooo idk.

[rodsboys]

I feed about twice a week now. Either Retpomin or some cut up raw shrimp. I do worms too, but I do not replentish too often as the wife hates them being in the fridge.
If I feed anymore than that they just pork on the weight. They are chunky enough as is.