PLEASE HELP!

[longislandfish]

I was cleaning my fish tank yesterday and i broke my glass thermometer. The red part did not break, just the little grey metal ball part. All those little grey metal looking balls fell into the substrate and i cant get them out.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3744+3921&pcatid=3921

THE link shows a picture of the thermometer I had.

My question is

What are those little Grey balls?
Will they become dangerous for the fish?
right now they are under the substrate in a corner (not where fish can eat them) will they be ok there?

please help/

thanks

-tom

 

[Fishes33]

Id think they are called Mecury, they can kill your fish and you! :O

 

[longislandfish]

i thought it might be. But isnt mercury liquid? these are just little grey balls. does anyone know for sure?

 

[Newt]

It's not mercury. They are lead and they are harmless in a freshwater tank. Just make sure the glass shards are picked up out of the gravel because that is what can hurt your fish.

 

[Fishes33]

It's not mercury. They are lead and they are harmless in a freshwater tank. Just make sure the glass shards are picked up out of the gravel because that is what can hurt your fish.

you learn something new everyday ^^

i thought it might be. But isnt mercury liquid? these are just little grey balls. does anyone know for sure?

mecury can be solid but thats under -38.38 celsius .. so I dont know

 

[longislandfish]

Thanks for the help guys. I did not think it was mercury because i always thought it was liquid only. I did pick up the glass shards and i will leave the lead balls buried under the 4 inches of substrate i have. Thank you, what a relief. the last thing i wanted was a slow poisoning of all my fish.

-tom

 

[IKeepPacu]

if it concerns you, take a net and scoop out the substrate from the corner you know its in. losing some gravel is better than worrying.

personally, i think your fine if its just lead balls.

 

[Toodleypops]

yeah you should be fine. no worries!... well as long as all visible shards/debris is cleaned and you have a new heater lol duh

 

[andyjs]

Yeah, there really isn't much danger of having mercury in a thermometer these days unless that thing is old. I believe these days they use alcohol or something like that that's dyed red, hence the red and not silvery liquid inside modern thermometers

 

[imcrystal]

mercury is the red part that tells what the temp is.. & it would def kill your fish.. but sounds like your safe!! =)