Should I be worried?

[solidconceptgroup]

Last night after I did a water change I was messing around with my light fixture, when one of my fluorescent bulbs fell and broke on top of my tank...That ish was mess!!! I cleaned up as much of the broken glass that fell in the tank...

My concern is will the broken fluorescent glass that fell inside the tank effect my water? I noticed when the bulb broke a bunch of powder, that was inside of the bulb went inside my tank as well...

Has anyone ever had this issue? Should I be worried?

 

[epond83]

The powder is phosphor, not sure how harmful it is but i would probably do as big of a water change as you can.

 

[solidconceptgroup]

I had just done a 50% water change right before the accident...after I cleaned out the broken pieces I took out another 15-20%....

I haven't checked my levels, but I doubt they will tell me if the phosphor affected anything...

 

[boldtogether]

I would definatly change more water and vac the gravel. If a fish swallows the glass its R.I.P.
Never broke a flourescent but I did experience an incadescent explode into a Piranha tank I had. I found glass in the substrate for months after...fortunatly Piranha arent bottom feeders. But some fish are. I would treat this incident as a major and transfer fish, drain tank and at least sift the substrate. I know the stuff inside a flour. is toxic, just not sure how toxic. Better safe than....

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

I would definatly change more water and vac the gravel. If a fish swallows the glass its R.I.P.
Never broke a flourescent but I did experience an incadescent explode into a Piranha tank I had. I found glass in the substrate for months after...fortunatly Piranha arent bottom feeders. But some fish are. I would treat this incident as a major and transfer fish, drain tank and at least sift the substrate. I know the stuff inside a flour. is toxic, just not sure how toxic. Better safe than....

there is stuff inside a flourescent tube that is toxic (mercury vapor) however this powder is probably not it's just a phosphor.



Heres an idea get a blacklight (or anything that gives off only UV) and shine it on your tank (perhaps it would be best to remove your fish before this) this will make the phosphor "glow" and perhaps help you locate some of it.

This is how flourescents work btw mercury vapor emits light in one region (when it becomes ionized) and thats UV. The UV strikes the phosphor and produces visible light.


DO a very large water change (do like several 90% changes with gravel vacs). Assuming you get the glass out i doubt the phosphor will do much.