HELP - Windex in my tank - Aquarium Advice

ixisnowixi · 03-05-2010, 11:26 PM

i just set up a small salt water system tonight, no fish in it, and used every thing the guy at the store told me to use. well i accidently dunked a portion of a paper towel with windex into the tank (yes im that guy) do i need to completely dump the tank or can it be filtered out over time? what do i do? i added aqueon water conditioner already. what do i do now? is my filtered screwed also?

AMDPhenomX4 · 03-05-2010, 11:31 PM

Why risk it? Theirs nothing alive to care for. I would dump it.

Windex most likely has soaps and other chemicals you wouldn't put in an aquarium.

Based on the 2-Butoxyethanol being rated Class 6.1 Poisonous substances on the UN hazard codes, I would dump it.

**neilanh** · 03-05-2010, 11:32 PM

Since there's nothing in the tank, don't panic just yet.

I know windex is an ammonia based product, so if you had inhabitants it would definately be an issue. I'm just not sure what else is in there to be worried about.

On the other hand, you just set it up, nothing would be lost to dump all the water and restart. no risk that way.

Hopefully someone has some experience and can help you.

Welcome to AA! I'm going to update your thread title to be a bit more specific.

ixisnowixi · 03-06-2010, 12:34 AM

i just changed all the water and did a reset what a waste of salt, just glad i didnt dump the seashell flooring in yet

Zer0 · 03-06-2010, 12:46 AM

Sea shell flooring?? Do you mean crushed coral? Or crushed shells, or.. what? Do you plan to at least have some sand?

In the event that you plan to have just crushed coral and no sand, may i give you a warning?

Crushed coral, and "seashell flooring", due to their rigid shapes, will make small openings like cracks and crevices where waste and detritus will easily fall in to and will be out of your reach when you go to clean the bottom of the tank, which you will inevitably have to do when waste builds up. Your clean up crew will take care of most of the waste and detritus, but won't be able to get it all and any of it that has fallen through those tiny openings that the crushed coral so graciously provide, will cause excess nitrates in your tank, which will lead to bad water quality. What you would want is a sandbed since waste and detritus will collect at the surface instead of falling through tiny openings and will be easier for you and your clean up crew to get to.

In my opinion, i say ditch the crushed coral or the seashells, and just put a nice clean sandbed made from DRY aragonite. In a small tank, you will need all the help you can get to keep your water quality clean, and crushed coral or seashells certainly won't help you at all.

ixisnowixi · 03-06-2010, 11:26 AM

im pretty new so when u say clean up crew, go into detail, i have no plans at the moment to be setting up a reef system. i will only be doing fish until i certainly understand a salt water tank. also i will only be doing 2 clown fish.

Zer0 · 03-06-2010, 11:54 AM

Clean up crew and crushed coral don't really have much to do with reef, but a clean up crew consists of snails, hermit crabs, other crabs, and other inverts that will eat the waste that is produced from fish, or non-eaten food when you feed your fish.

What size tank do you have?

cagey · 03-06-2010, 01:15 PM

CRABS and fish don"t mix in an aquarium. Nix crabs with fish. ANY crab. Hermits will kill snails just for HAHA's. Just the facts, noting but the facts.

**melosu58** · 03-06-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cagey

CRABS and fish don"t mix in an aquarium. Nix crabs with fish. ANY crab. Hermits will kill snails just for HAHA's. Just the facts, noting but the facts.

I cant really agree with this. Yes some have had problems but alot have not. I have had several crabs in my tank over the last 12 yrs and never lost a fish to crabs. I have had Salleylightfoot crabs and emerald crabs and many small hermits and never had a problem. Not all crabs are bad.

ryshark · 03-06-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melosu58

I cant really agree with this. Yes some have had problems but alot have not. I have had several crabs in my tank over the last 12 yrs and never lost a fish to crabs. I have had Salleylightfoot crabs and emerald crabs and many small hermits and never had a problem. Not all crabs are bad.

I agree with this... although they have killed off some snail, they have not attacked fish yet in my tank. It is possible for them to attach fish if they get really hungry, but I don't think it is common. I have emerald crabs, mexican red leg hermit crabs and scarlet hermit crabs.