lead contamination...or not?

[snobanker]

Hey all,

I mixed up a nice 12 gallon batch of WC water on Friday. Its been circulating since then in the 30 gallon container I use. This weekend my oldest son had some friends over and they kept rolling the container around in the downstairs bathroom where I keep it. :doubt: Anyway I am assuming that sometime Saturday or Sunday someone jostled it enough that the glass bottom tip of of the floating thermometer I left in there bumped the side just right and snapped off. Today I went to change the water and I noticed the thermometer was not floating around and I found it on the bottom. Only the glass tip broke off...no mercury got out of the bulb, but a few of the small lead ballast weights in the bottom fell out and I suppose actually all of the ones still in the tube were exposed to salt water too. I removed them and the thermometer and the little piece of glass tip. Do you think these tiny pieces of lead will have contaminated the water? I hate to waste it, but not more than affecting my tank if there is some kind of contamination. What does anyone think? I mean I could obviously scrap it and brew another batch, I just don't want to waste it if it's no big deal......

 

[the mad reefer]

i am not a scientist or a geoligist but i seem to remember that lead poisoning is something that happens over an extended period of time. I would use it. but I am somewhat of a daredevil this comes back to an old saying that my mom taught me a long time ago "when in doubt, throw it out"

 

[mojoreef]

tough call I would probibly toss it.


Mike

 

[snobanker]

well that is the hammer fist opinion from Mojo.........guess I'll toss it and start anew.

 

[NaH2O]

Stan - I wouldn't risk it. I may not have the hammer fist opinion, but I'm pretty good at nagging ....does that count?

*ahem* (had to clear my throat)
Staaannnn.....did you throw out that water yet???? lol let me know tomorrow if the water is still there and I'll nag some more :lol:

 

[wrightme43]

Well I had one with the tip broken off in my first 44g reef for about 3 weeks. No ill effects. Then again I didnt know any better. To my knowledge lead is not a fast corroder in saltwater. If I remember correctly they find lead ballast wieghts from sailing ships on the bottom from the 16,17,1800s. On the flip side it is your reef, and it is precious. Water is relitivly cheap. I bet the next thing you buy will be one of those cool digital temp gauge for hot tubs and pools. Cheap at Lowes, expensive in fish catalog. Thats what I got, and guess what all my glass floaty thermometers were off by a couple of degree one way or the other. HTH Steve

 

[Jiddy]

Test it with a damsel



IM KIDDIN!

 

[snobanker]

Stan - I wouldn't risk it. I may not have the hammer fist opinion, but I'm pretty good at nagging ....does that count?

*ahem* (had to clear my throat)
Staaannnn.....did you throw out that water yet???? lol let me know tomorrow if the water is still there and I'll nag some more :lol:

Gosh I thought I heard my wife for a second there... :badgrin: Lol Nikki

I didn't use the water, but I hate to throw things away so I brought it in to a cryo lab and froze it in case some day I know for sure if I can use it

Steve you should see my water bill..... Oh and the really funny part is I have on of those Lowes digital thermometers and never even thought to use it

And Jiddy I put a Damsel in as you suggested, but after it grew legs and jumped of the tank I had to sick Godzilla on it.