Laundry water got in water change bin! WHAT TO DO?!

[javajoe]

Oh no!
My wife just went downstairs and noticed that the drain from the washing machine was clogged with lint and spraying across the basement. Unfortunately, my water change tub with 30 gallons of DI water mixed with salt all ready to go was directly in the line of fire. She had done a load of laundry earlier and noticed water on the floor- thought i had done it.
SO-- here is the question. Do I dump the water and start over? At the MOST about 2 teaspoons may have gotten in. She did not use bleach on either load, just laundry detergent. ("All, Free and Clear" if it matters ) It was just sprinkling in a little- she stood in the way and blocked it, and thinks maybe 20 drops got in before she stopped it, but there was a whole other load of laundry that she did before and we really have no way of knowing how much got it.
I would test the water, but I cannot recall seeing a test for soap at the LFS.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
I don't want to dump it unless i have to- i really was needing to do a large water change tonight to take care of some alge issue we are having (see my other post from earlier today about 'how many snails and hermits')

 

[predator]

Whay risk it?Laundry detergent has some pretty nasty stuff in it.

 

[javajoe]

I don't want to 'risk' it, that is why I am asking. I AM afraid it will be bad, but if it is harmless (being a small amount- 2 teaspoons i most likely a very over exagerated estimate), I don't really want to throw out 30 gallons of water, as I am out of salt, and I need to buy a new cartidge for my DI filter before i can make more water. I also do not have the free time to do a water change again until at least next week, and tonight was the night i set aside to do it.

 

[dad]

ok, it seems you are in a delema,lol
Do Not risk using the water!!
even a drop of soapy water in any tank could be fatal to some things.
I'll look at your other post in a few and add a second reply.

 

[adrian]

I think it would be much safer to skip the water change until next week and dump the water, just to be on the safe side, it dosnt take much of a harmfull chemical to crash your tank. HTH

 

[kelly]

Dump it and start again. Soap can be deadly in a saltwater tank. You should not even use it to clean a tank before using it. I wish you the best of luck. Rinse your change tub several times before adding more water.

 

[dad]

OK I read your other post.
Like I said: (and others) get rid of the water.
As far as your algae problem goes; I would start by cutting back on you lights to 6 hrs a day.
If your tank gets sunlight during the day, this can also cause this.
Go slow. Do nothing drastic!lol
Get a couple of emerald crabs(you'll thank me).
I do not beleive in scubbing your rocks!
AS statted below, if you do you need to do it outside your tank. This means you will desturb the tank and could put stress on fish etc.
I'm not a big beleiver in water changes either. Or at least not for your problem?!?
Alot of people get a algae problem but with time it usually goes away when the tank matures.
So do not stress out over the water change.
HTH,

 

[joe5_15]

just think of how much uve spent on ur tank and then think about how much it will taketo buy some more dont risk it

 

[fshhub]

IMO, CHANGE IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i would even get a new bin, detergent is the last(or almost the last) thing you want in your system, no matter how small the amount
HTH
and i think joe said it best, if he'd of finished with your love for your little buddies in there

 

[nm reef]

Tell ya what.......I would not risk the addition of anything in my reef that had the potential to cause massive problems....and from what I've read....there is potential for damage....personally I'd go buy some ro/di or wait until I had enough to replace what is now damaged goods......bummer....damn ol murphys law huh.....

 

[whipple]

wiegh the difference __30 gals of premix water to possibly your whole tank? ___ And im with fshhub i would even get a new bin.

 

[javajoe]

Thanks everybody--- water is going down the drain.....
I am just really glad my wife saw it happen! we never would have known!

 

[ebeckels]

good idea...although it might have worked...it's not worth the risk!!

 

[vkesu]

Painful to dump all that water, but necessary! ...We've had similar problem here before. Much cheaper for salt and water than restocking your entire tank. Your fish will love you!