Pet Forum / Aquaria / Marine Reef / May 2005

Panic Now!

The problem you'll have is the UV that the glass was filtering out frying
your fish and corals. They'll die in a week if you don't turn the light off
and replace the glass.

I wouldn't worry about the glass in the tank, just fish it out when you can
see it.

As for any "other stuff", well if you can see it get it out otherwise you'll
just have to hope it was non toxic. Personally I don't think the odd copper
screw is going to dissolve and cause problems that water changes and use of
a polyfilter won't deal with so don't lose sleep over trivia.

UV is the problem that you need to fix now.

Mark

MSDS Shhet on Lamps:
http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/environmental
/downloads/msd/msds_metal_halide_lamps.pdf

Another:
http://www.nofs.navy.mil/about_NOFS/staff/cbl/LPSnet/MH-MSDS.pdf

Looks like the Arc Elements are Stainless Steel and Nickel Iron.
The gas is a Mercury/Iodine vapor.

Could not hurt to do a water change and run a bag of SeaChem Cuprisorb and
see if it gets anything. It changes color as it sucks-up heavy metals...

"Seachem CupriSorbT Filter Media is a powerful adsorbent of copper and heavy
metals. It rapidly removes all types of copper, remaining effective until it
turns a deep blue-black color. When in continuous use, it gradually pulls
out precipitated copper and permits invertebrate culture in tanks previously
treated with copper. A 100 mL bag is adequate for up to 60 gallons and
removes over 3,000 mg of copper or 12 ppm in 60 gallons. It may be
regenerated repeatedly. Marine or freshwater use."

The mercury could be bad, but we are talking minute amounts here. I would
think that the nickel/iron and SS would be harmless enough.

CW