Iron waffle

My aquarium thermometer broke (floating), the little silver balls are all over the tank. Is this harmful? fortunately, it's an empty tank.

Nate McFin

That is most likely mercury which is highly toxic to both animals and people. DO NOT try to deal with it without research!
EDIT-
Here is a link to clean up and info.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/hgcleanup.pdf

pepetj

It is possible that the little silver balls are just stainless steel balls that act as weight to keep the unit vertically aligned.

If the unit you have measured the temp with a red liquid column, then it's likely to be red dyed alcohol.

If the reading column was metallic colored, then you likely had a mercury thermometer.

BTW thanks Nate, I had no idea mercury was so dangerous. Useful info in that link.

I used to play with mercuy as a kid in the 1970's (a pretty dumb thing to do, I realize) I remember braking a few fever-thermometers and use the mercury to "disappear" a gold ring I found as a kid (go figure this meant more than money to me at the time).

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Iron waffle

Thanks pepe and nate. Fortunately, the liquid was red and i know it's was alcohol based. I was curious as to what the little balls were (lead weights?) but it can't be mercury because it would be liquid at room temp?

aquarist48

Hello. I agree with the above. You don't have anything to worry about IMO. As long as it's a thermometer made for aquariums, no problem.