Coffee Grounds In Aquarium Help Plz

[AbraCadaver]

okay so, apparently my 3 year old son got up this morning and decided to use my step ladder to grab my bag of coffee, and thought it was a good idea to “feed the fish” and dumped about maybe a quarter cup coffee grounds in my 60 gallontank. I’ve been removing coffee all day, and water with an airline hose... so it’s taking a while. I guess my question is,
#1. Will it kill my fish?
#2. How big of a water change should I do based off water/coffee amount...
#3. Would adding a carbon filter for a few hours help?
P.S yes fish are currently removed aside from loaches, shrimp, and a fast shark I can’t catch.

 

[CCinBama]

I cannot say for certain, but I would assume running carbon and floss (I would remove bio media) would help, but a WC is always the best solution. But I am dying to know...why are you draining a 60 gallonwith a airline hose?

 

[AbraCadaver]

I cannot say for certain, but I would assume running carbon and floss (I would remove bio media) would help, but a WC is always the best solution. But I am dying to know...why are you draining a 60 gallonwith a airline hose?

Lol, well right now I’m using the airline hose to clean coffee ground and remove a little water. I just find that with my driftwood and such, using an airline hose gives me better range to clean up hard to reach areas, and it’s actually easier to clean my plants with it as well without all that pressure pulling at them. I use a water hose for water changes, when I need a big water change.
Also, I have 4 kids so sometimes I have to walk away and the airline hose is sometimes a better option for small water changes, because it won’t drain fast or suck up any fish
I’m still cleaning coffee out. omg.

 

[Wintermagic]

Oh my... My first thought went to botanicals and tannins. Though I'm not sure coffee was the right choice. Lol

I'm so sorry I think I would be panicking if that happened to me.

Watch your ph. Coffee grounds are acidic. Watch your nitrogen. When composting them they are a great nitrogen source. I'm still looking for more info.

 

[AbraCadaver]

Watch your ph. Coffee grounds are acidic. Watch your nitrogen. When compositing then the are a great nitrogen source. I'm still looking for more info.

I actually googled it, and I’m surprised at how many things pop up where people accidentally spill coffee in their tank... lol.
I still don’t have all the grounds out, and it did tannin my water. Had it been one of my smaller tanks, the issue wouldn’t be so bad. My 60 gallonis deep and on a stand, so I have to use a foot stool to clean the bottom... not to mention, I have sand substrate... so getting it out of the sand is pretty impossible. Lol. I’ve been taking my hand and gently waving at it to move it so it settles on my bigger rocks to clean it. I have a feeling this will take a while

 

[Wintermagic]

I actually googled it, and I’m surprised at how many things pop up where people accidentally spill coffee in their tank... lol.
I still don’t have all the grounds out, and it did tannin my water. Had it been one of my smaller tanks, the issue wouldn’t be so bad. My 60 gallonis deep and on a stand, so I have to use a foot stool to clean the bottom... not to mention, I have sand substrate... so getting it out of the sand is pretty impossible. Lol. I’ve been taking my hand and gently waving at it to move it so it settles on my bigger rocks to clean it. I have a feeling this will take a while

I surprised how much came up too.

 

[coralbandit]

What kind of fish do you have in the tank ?

 

[Wintermagic]

I kept looking at my 75G wondering how I would have handled it. The airline as siphon was brilliant.

 

[AbraCadaver]

What kind of fish do you have in the tank ?

I have some khulI loaches, 2 male guppy, a rainbow shark, some cherry shrimp, multiple breed snails, but mostly Betta fish.
Yeah, I’d love to take credit for the air hose siphon but I follow simply Betta on YouTube and that’s actually how she cleans her Betta fry tanks to reduce risk of sucking up fry, now I use that method on all my tanks just to clean them up. I was able to get coffee out of small cracks I couldn’t get otherwise. There’s still coffee in the sand, and I’m running a carbon filter to hopefully rid of caffeine that leaked, because my water is brown so it’s inevitable. Huge water changes distress my fish too much, and my ecosystem. So I figure... clean up what I can, and use carbon to filter out the nasty. Keep testing my PH. Though, I have sand/crushed coral mixed substrate as a PH balancer. Should be fine. It’ll eat at the coral faster but... I can add more.

Coffee being stirred up on rocks again, I’ll clean more today. Do another small water change.

 

[angelcraze]

I don't know what kind of effect the caffeine has on the fish, but watching the acid levels was good advice.

I just have to say that large water changes aren't as bad as you may think. The issue starts when you do a large water change out of the blue. I change 50% min water in all my tanks weekly. There's next to no beneficial bacteria in the water. The only thing you will remove and dilute is toxins and organic waste. Don't forget fresh water adds minerals that the fish need and reduces TDS and fish hormone buildup.

 

[AbraCadaver]

I don't know what kind of effect the caffeine has on the fish, but watching the acid levels was good advice.

I just have to say that large water changes aren't as bad as you may think. The issue starts when you do a large water change out of the blue. I change 50% min water in all my tanks weekly. There's next to no beneficial bacteria in the water. The only thing you will remove and dilute is toxins and organic waste. Don't forget fresh water adds minerals that the fish need and reduces TDS and fish hormone buildup.

I usually do a 50% change once a month, 30% weekly. I did a big one about a week ago. Water changes don’t really bug my Betta fish, they’re pretty hearty. My puffers tho... they only get changes once a month, but I check the water twice a week and top off the tank every week.if the water tests fine, I don’t mess with it.
But yeah, surprisingly the acid is fine. My PH didn’t even move. I keep coral in my tanks tho to keep my PH level, helps reduce drops and it actually didn’t even raise my PH when I added the coral. Stays at 7.4 ish. I’ve removed most the coffee, water is still brown and I ran carbon for 24 hours... fish seem fine. I actually fancy the way it colored my water though

 

[angelcraze]

If you do 50% WCs monthly, then a large emergency water change shouldn't be a problem.

I'm glad it doesn't seem to have any negative impact on your fishes. I also like a tannin effect in my tanks, so I use leaves in the filter. Mostly IAL leaves or sometimes dried leaves from the yard that I collect after they drop from the tree in the fall.

Do you have a TDS meter? The one I bought can be found at Amazon for $15. I'm not saying it's not enough water for your puffers, but an fyI that topping off adds to the TDS. Puffers don't like high TDS either. I think they are best with TDS under 250ppm.

Just something to check out.

 

[Elkwatcher]

Apart from all the good information.... kids do the darndest things. Pat him on the head and tell him never to do that again! You sound like a great Mom!

 

[CandyCane701]

Oh wow. Kids are something. One of mine recently threw a tater tot into one of my tanks. I'm thankful it wasn't as bad as the coffee grounds. Good luck!

 

[Wintermagic]

I usually do a 50% change once a month, 30% weekly. I did a big one about a week ago. Water changes don’t really bug my Betta fish, they’re pretty hearty. My puffers tho... they only get changes once a month, but I check the water twice a week and top off the tank every week.if the water tests fine, I don’t mess with it.
But yeah, surprisingly the acid is fine. My PH didn’t even move. I keep coral in my tanks tho to keep my PH level, helps reduce drops and it actually didn’t even raise my PH when I added the coral. Stays at 7.4 ish. I’ve removed most the coffee, water is still brown and I ran carbon for 24 hours... fish seem fine. I actually fancy the way it colored my water though

I'm glad the ph seems stable. Hopefully the ammonia stays down too. One of the research papers I read said caffiene caused ammonia to spike. It got rather technical into the How and why just knowing it can is good enough to watch for it.

I do like how it tinted your water.

 

[AbraCadaver]

If you do 50% WCs monthly, then a large emergency water change shouldn't be a problem.

I'm glad it doesn't seem to have any negative impact on your fishes. I also like a tannin effect in my tanks, so I use leaves in the filter. Mostly IAL leaves or sometimes dried leaves from the yard that I collect after they drop from the tree in the fall.

Do you have a TDS meter? The one I bought can be found at Amazon for $15. I'm not saying it's not enough water for your puffers, but an fyI that topping off adds to the TDS. Puffers don't like high TDS either. I think they are best with TDS under 250ppm.

Just something to check out.

Uhhh, no I don’t have one. Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll look into it.
I have pea puffers, so they’re a little different than others but they’re pretty... particular. But use half and half tap and distilled water usually. With my big water changes I do tap with conditioner, and then when I top off I use distilled water and with smaller water changes when I clean up my tanks, I use distilled water, in my 60 it ends up being like 2 gallons distilled water. The metro is worth looking into, for sure. But minerals are important for the fish and plants, plus I use salt (small amounts) in the tank so that’ll raise the TDS anyway too. In my big tank I usually don’t use carbon, which from my understanding raises the TDS, by turning minerals and solids that pass through, into dissolved solids. So yeah my TDS is probably higher in my big tank right now. Because when the coffee was put it, it definitely ate at the coral which is why my PH didn’t change... and that stuff is full of calcium. But that’s good for my shrimp and snails tho too.lol.
Does the meter tell you exactly what’s in the water?
Sorry, I don’t know much about the TDS thing, should be fine as long as these TDS are beneficial and will be used, right? Like, calcium for my plants and snails?

 

[WTFish?]

I’m just thinking of caffeinated fish, lol. Oh the energy, or was it decaf?
Sorry that happened, hope all is ok!

 

[angelcraze]

Ahhh no a TDS meter won't differentiate between dissolved solids. So you are right, salt will add to it. I only use salt when I have to treat my fish, so Idk how much it would raise TDS. But good on you for topping off with distilled, you won't be adding TDS that way.

Because I don't add anything except water conditioner and leaves to my tanks, I trust in my TDS to monitor water params for my softwater fish. Your probably fine, but if you can get a TDS meter anyway, I find they are helpful. Up to you! Here's a link to the one I have in case you want it

Oops the price went up a bit, but there are other similar styles at the 15$ price point.

 

[AbraCadaver]

Apart from all the good information.... kids do the darndest things. Pat him on the head and tell him never to do that again! You sound like a great Mom!

My son actually loves the fish as much as I do... which is why he tried to feed them while mommy was asleep. I just sat him down and explained that he could only feed them with mommy, because if he puts strange things in there it could make the fish sick. He seemed to understand so I’m hoping he doesn’t try it again. I didn’t even think he could reach with my step ladder. Guess I’ll have to put it up better from now on lol.

Ahhh no a TDS meter won't differentiate between dissolved solids. So you are right, salt will add to it. I only use salt when I have to treat my fish, so Idk how much it would raise TDS. But good on you for topping off with distilled, you won't be adding TDS that way.

Because I don't add anything except water conditioner and leaves to my tanks, I trust in my TDS to monitor water params for my softwater fish. Your probably fine, but if you can get a TDS meter anyway, I find they are helpful. Up to you! Here's a link to the one I have in case you want it

Oops the price went up a bit, but there are other similar styles at the 15$ price point.

Awesome, I’ll definitely be getting one maybe I’ll test my conditioned tap water before a change, then my tank water to see what difference the salt makes. My puffer tank doesn’t have salt, pea puffers, from my understanding, don’t like salt. I keep epsom salt in there cuz I think it helps with the Bettas constipation. It may or may not, I just personally see a difference. But yeah, I have no idea what the TDS is in my tap water... I read a little about the whole thing and figured that distilled water would help lower keeping it low since I do use salts as well.

I’m just thinking of caffeinated fish, lol. Oh the energy, or was it decaf?
Sorry that happened, hope all is ok!

It was morning boost brew. I’m hoping the carbon filter kinda, took care of the caffeine in the water.
Thanks! I mean, it seems to be fine so far. The fish aren’t doing cartwheels ‍♀️ or anything lol

Oh wow. Kids are something. One of mine recently threw a tater tot into one of my tanks. I'm thankful it wasn't as bad as the coffee grounds. Good luck!

Lol, a tater tot?
Here fish, have some of my food.
That’s so cute XD
As soon as my step daughter moves into the bigger bedroom upstairs, I’m turning her old room into my fish room. Everything but my 60 in my living room will be up there, hopefully eliminate the risk of anything weird ending up in my tanks!
Oh how I love the idea of a fish room with a single swivel chair in the middle so I can just sit and watch my fish. My fish cave... yeah.

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Wow, I'm not sure if you guys all have crazy kids or I'm just REALLY lucky... *knock on wood*

 

[AbraCadaver]

Wow, I'm not sure if you guys all have crazy kids or I'm just REALLY lucky... *knock on wood*

Lol, I mean my kids are good kids, my son just thought they were hungry and the coffee looks like the uh, fry food I have and I guess he thought he would feed them

I'm glad the ph seems stable. Hopefully the ammonia stays down too. One of the research papers I read said caffiene caused ammonia to spike. It got rather technical into the How and why just knowing it can is good enough to watch for it.

I do like how it tinted your water.

No spikes of any sort yet. I know that coffee rots and molds easily, but I got most the coffee out and am running 3 filters so hopefully... it doesn’t. And I hope to god it doesn’t screw with my bio filtration.

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Lol, I mean my kids are good kids, my son just thought they were hungry and the coffee looks like the uh, fry food I have and I guess he thought he would feed them

My daughter has a tank in her room and I let her do the feeding at bedtime. She's never tried feeding on her own, but she's also not a furniture climber. Wanting to feed the fish is still adorable though!

 

[AbraCadaver]

My daughter has a tank in her room and I let her do the feeding at bedtime. She's never tried feeding on her own, but she's also not a furniture climber. Wanting to feed the fish is still adorable though!

Oh, my son is all about both lol!
My daughters, not so much. They love to feed the fry and puffers brine shrimp with a medicine dropper with me, but otherwise... nope. My daughters are 7&5 though, so they kinda know not to do it where is Legend, my son, is in the terrible 3s, lol. Wants to do everything alone and Into all kinds of things, always. Lol

 

[angelcraze]

Lol, I mean my kids are good kids, my son just thought they were hungry and the coffee looks like the uh, fry food I have and I guess he thought he would feed them

Now that everything worked out I can admit I was laughing the whole time. I was thinking how he thought the fish needed coffee in the morning hahaha. What impressed me was a 3 year old retrieving, carrying and setting up a latter to reach coffee. I never would have thought!

Hmm maybe green tea is good for the tank....

 

[Swlws]

reminds me of a few months back when my 2 year old daughter gave her cup of apple juice to the fish before bed it was my quarantine with six new panda cory's in... it sadly didn't go well for 5 of them but I'm hopeful for your situation as coffee grinds aren't the worst and you also acted so quickly.

 

[dalton12]

I’m just thinking of caffeinated fish, lol. Oh the energy, or was it decaf?
Sorry that happened, hope all is ok!

Imagine tiger barbs with the caffeine lol

 

[AbraCadaver]

Now that everything worked out I can admit I was laughing the whole time. I was thinking how he thought the fish needed coffee in the morning hahaha. What impressed me was a 3 year old retrieving, carrying and setting up a latter to reach coffee. I never would have thought!

Hmm maybe green tea is good for the tank....

He’s a smart and determined cookie when he wants to do something, lol.
He was so quiet about it too! I was upset when it happened and was in a panic but now I can’t help but think it’s funny.
This is what my fry food looks like, so I bet he thought he was feeding them this

Oh my

reminds me of a few months back when my 2 year old daughter gave her cup of apple juice to the fish before bed it was my quarantine with six new panda cory's in... it sadly didn't go well for 5 of them but I'm hopeful for your situation as coffee grinds aren't the worst and you also acted so quickly.

oh my! Being a fish keeper and a mom is tricky sometimes lol. I’m sorry to hear about your loss! Never fun having fish die
Kids do the darndest things though

 

[Fishcat]

Imagine caffeinated snails.

 

[AbraCadaver]

Imagine caffeinated snails.

Lol! To be honest, my mystery snails are already all over the place. They climb all the way to the top and jump off.. like, glide to the other side of the tank. It’s funny to watch

 

[ETNsilverstar]

Oh, my son is all about both lol!
My daughters, not so much. They love to feed the fry and puffers brine shrimp with a medicine dropper with me, but otherwise... nope. My daughters are 7&5 though, so they kinda know not to do it where is Legend, my son, is in the terrible 3s, lol. Wants to do everything alone and Into all kinds of things, always. Lol

I feel your pain with the 3s...my daughter is 3 too. Such an adorable but troublesome age! lol