mercurybebe

I was just doing a routine water change on all of my tanks and was in the middle of changing my 30g "zen garden" tank. My daughter said "mom, one of these dwarf platies doesn't look good" and I told her I'd look at him in a minute and asked her to take out the thermometer so I could get the water right for re-filling.

She pulled the thermometer out and the bottom part that holds all the grey beads was burst open!!!!

Everything was out of the tank and I FREAKED out. I quickly got all of the fish out of the tank and threw them in my other 2 tanks. But I don't know what to do!?!?!

I am so afraid that they are all poisoned...the dwarf platy does not look good at all. And of course, in my panic to get them out of the bad tank, I didn't even think that they might have poison on their bodies and are now spreading it to my other 2 tanks!!!

Please help, I dont know what to do. Does anyone know what that substance is? Should I get all of the fish out of all of the tanks and break them down and clean them? Or do you think that breaking down and cleaning the original 30g tank is enough? How will I know when that tank is safe enough to put fish back in?

aquarist48

Hello. If it's an aquarium thermometer everything in it is environmentally safe. I've broken them in my tanks before and had no problems.

capekate

I agree with Ken...
broken thermometers seem to happen regularly in the life of fish keeping, especially if you happen to have some boisterous fish lol...
So calm down... all is well! Just vacuum up as much as you can... it will be all right.

Tony G.

oh dear im sorry you are going through this.

mercurybebe

Yes it is. OMG thank you...I have been freaking out thinking I was going to lose all the fish.

capekate

awww.. I understand.. and your right, if you didnt know you would imagine all kinds of things.. when I think of us as kids how scared we got from all the warnings about mercury poisoning if we ever broke a thermometer and all...
which was true for us.. but the aquarium thermometers are made a bit safer... ironic isnt it?

Martinismommy

The fish will be fine.....I've had the same thing happen in my fry tank and they all lived...Settle down and enjoy )

aquarist48

Always glad to help anytime we can

mercurybebe

You guys are the best. I cannot even tell you how RELIEVED I am!

I was sick with worry as I tried to google broken thermometers after posting here. I couldn't find any information and that just made it worse.

Now that I know it isn't toxic, I am breathing HUGE sighs of relief!

My partner just gravel-vacced, refilled, and did it all over again to make sure the tank is okay. She is now filling it back up so it can run overnight.

I am going to leave the fish in the two tanks tonight since I don't want to further stress them out tonight by going after them with a net again...poor guys! I was in such a panic to get them out of the "poisoned water" that my net was flying around their tank like crazy. I am usually much more gentle with them!

Besides, my male platies and guppies are thrilled to be back with the females, even if it is only for a brief night!

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN!!!!

capekate

Glad you are relieved now.. and all is well once again in fishland!
I can imagine how stressed your fish were with trying to net them in a panic.. its not funny I know.. but the picture in my mind is very funny haha.. ( now that all is well.. its ok to laugh about it...)But if I were in your shoes, I would have done the same thing to try to save my lil ones.
Good idea on letting your fishies spend the night relaxing before netting them up again and moving back into the tank... They will enjoy the 'date' night Im sure.. and you may have some fry to contend with after this..

Tony G.

[quote=capekate;635355]Glad you are relieved now.. and all is well once again in fishland!
I can imagine how stressed your fish were with trying to net them in a panic.. its not funny I know.. but the picture in my mind is very funny haha.. [quote]

omg i just pictured you laughing hehehe

i would have panicked. Literally. Thank god we have fishlore huh?

mercurybebe

kate...Oh I have plenty of fry! "Big Daddy" the only male molly is just *thrilled* to be back in the tank with his ladies, too bad they are already quite pregnant with his fry!

The platy boys are also quite happy and there is one platy female who isn't with fry yet! I am guessing she will be after tonight...I will have to call them the "Thermometer Babies"

And yes, it WAS pretty funny looking back on it. Both me and my partner armed with nets chasing the poor fish all over the tank, water flying everywhere, me shrieking about mercury poisoning, etc.

OY these fish will be the death of me yet....

capekate

OHH you are dealing with the platy fry like my sister mare2009 is at the moment lol...
I think that is a riot... the thermometer babies hehehe...
yes.. I can picture the scenerio... hahah.. been there.. done that, but for other reasons... lol... Quite the excitement for one night for sure! and yes... they do get to us dont they?

mercurybebe

I would have NEVER thought I would care for fish like this. My partner was bugging me for 3 years to get a tank and now we have a ton of them!

The fry are just adorable but I can't keep so many of them! Which is why we separated all the male and female livebearers!

We even found another fry while vaccuming the female tank this evening (before all this drama) and he is now in the fry tank bringing the total to 11. I know Mare has a million more than that, I dont know how she manages!!

capekate

Mare had to go out and buy another 29g so that she can separate the males and females. I just saw them today when I stopped over and wowow.. there are a ton of them in the tank, tho she was lucky that a small LFS is willing to take them off her hands as they grow. whew.... But she does love her platy tanks...

bolivianbaby

My goodness, you've been busy mercurybebe

I'm sorry I missed this thread, but I'm glad all is well.

I love that name "Big Daddy"! Now that the "crisis" is over, maybe you and your partner can relax and watch a movie together. Sounds like you've both earned it