Hydrometer broke in tank!

[seaslug0305]

anyone ever had their hydrometer break in the tank? the bottom of mine just broke off and spilled the little blacks balls..i got most of them out but i know there were some that fell into the sand and got mixed in..is this gonna be a problem?

 

[aarone]

I think they are made of lead....im not sure if lead poses any sort of danger to a tank but it could....be sure and monitor the levels over the next few weeks....and do som more research on the effects of lead in salt water.

 

[doublezero]

IMEO, Lead has a very small solubility in water, over a long period of time it could become a problem but for the short time it was in the tank along with the pH, I don't think it should be a problem, however I don't know what else is in a hydrometer... breaking a glass thermometer would have been much worse..
HTH
#00

 

[aarone]

good thing a chemist stepped in....i was stumped also.

 

[elfdoctors]

Originally posted by DoubleZero
IMEO, Lead has a very small solubility in water, over a long period of time it could become a problem but for the short time it was in the tank along with the pH,
Lead has a MUCH higher solubility in an acidic environment. Since the pH of your tank should be above 8 there should be very little solubility.
However, if an animal swallowed the pellets there may be a problem. The acidic environment of the stomach can cause a rapid dissolution of lead. In our neck of the woods, loons and trumpeter swans will sometimes get get lead poisoning if they swallow lead sinkers (used for fishing). However, I am not sure if anything would swallow the little pellets.

 

[ronipa]

Elf...
"Us medical folks" always find a scenerio where ANYTHING can be harmful in SOME WAY.
Gotta love us :happy:
Roni