Will a teensy amount of graphite hurt my tank.

[zanemoseley]

Ok well I was in a pinch and I had to have something to unclog my antisyphon hole on my spraybar and I was going to use the metal tip on my mechanical pencil but forgot to retract the graphite first so I accidentily broke off maybe a 0.5mm long piece of the very fine lead off into my spraybar which goes to my tank, my guess it that it won't hurt my tank but I wanted some other opinions. I'm glad they don't use lead anymore in pencils because I'm guessing lead would be tons worse for the tank.
FYI I later poked the hole out with a small nail so its free and clear.

 

[cprdnick]

Is the graphite still in your tank? I'm not sure how it will affect your system, but it could leach some harmful elements into the water column. If it's still in there, find it and remove it. Then do a water change just to be safe. This is why it is recommended to maintain your tank and components with sterile tools.

 

[zanemoseley]

ya its still in there but as I said its a minute piece of graphite, probably about .5 mm long and its the skinniest lead they make, maybe bang will post, he seems to know a lot about different trace elements in water

 

[bang guy]

It's harmless.

 

[j-cal]

it really cant leqach anything....graphite is just carbon

 

[zanemoseley]

thanks guys, that makes me feel better

 

[beaslbob]

hey wait a minute!!!!!!!!
the fish might use that to draw up a plan of escape or design a new hood