HELP! LED Strip fell into tank, cloudy water

Aquageek450 · 12/10/2018, 12:10 PM

I just went home on my lunch break and noticed my tank water was VERY cloudy, I looked in the sump area and my under cabinet stick on LED light had fallen into the sump. It has about 6 single LEDS and is powered by 6 AA Batteries which were submerged. Id guess the fixture fell in after I left for work this morning so it has probably been in the water for about 6 hours or so.

When I removed the light from the water, it was dripping a very dark black water. Do you think this is just from the LEDs blowing out or is it from the batteries?

I put fresh carbon in my reactor and had to leave to go back to work. Everything in the tank seemed fine and the tank was already clearing up since removing the light.

My only concern is that maybe the acid from the batteries got into the water? Is it a big deal if it did? I will do a large water change after work.

asonitez · 12/10/2018, 12:12 PM

Throw in a poly pad to absorb metals and change your carbon aggressively for the next few days. A water change can’t hurt. The solution to pollution is dillution. Good luck.

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billdogg · 12/10/2018, 12:13 PM

Probably no acid - most batteries these days are alkaline. I would do a large water change (however much water you have would be a good start - say up to about 75% total volume, and run lots of carbon changing it every couple days.

and a big +1 to running a polyfilter. There are undoubtedly some heavy metal toxins in the water due to the circuit board and batteries.

12/10/2018, 12:10 PM	#1
Aquageek450 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 289	HELP! LED Strip fell into tank, cloudy water I just went home on my lunch break and noticed my tank water was VERY cloudy, I looked in the sump area and my under cabinet stick on LED light had fallen into the sump. It has about 6 single LEDS and is powered by 6 AA Batteries which were submerged. Id guess the fixture fell in after I left for work this morning so it has probably been in the water for about 6 hours or so. When I removed the light from the water, it was dripping a very dark black water. Do you think this is just from the LEDs blowing out or is it from the batteries? I put fresh carbon in my reactor and had to leave to go back to work. Everything in the tank seemed fine and the tank was already clearing up since removing the light. My only concern is that maybe the acid from the batteries got into the water? Is it a big deal if it did? I will do a large water change after work. __________________ 29Gal DT - Drilled, 700GPH Overflow, MP10WQD, ATI Dimmable Sunpower 4x24, 24" Reefbrite XHO, GHL Doser 2 20Gal Sump - Nyos Quantum 120, Sicce Syncra 2.0, EHEIM Jager 125W, BRS Mini Reactor

12/10/2018, 12:13 PM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Probably no acid - most batteries these days are alkaline. I would do a large water change (however much water you have would be a good start - say up to about 75% total volume, and run lots of carbon changing it every couple days. and a big +1 to running a polyfilter. There are undoubtedly some heavy metal toxins in the water due to the circuit board and batteries. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

12/10/2018, 12:12 PM	#2
asonitez Floodicus Maximus Flooris Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,643	Throw in a poly pad to absorb metals and change your carbon aggressively for the next few days. A water change can’t hurt. The solution to pollution is dillution. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk