Accidently used harmful sponge in aquarium PLEASE HELP

[steph101]

PLEASE NOTE- I do not have any fish in my tank as I just purchased it a few days ago (thank god)

I read on the net that its good to wipe down your tank before setting it up as it removes any dust/dirt, so i did just that but i didnt know that household sponges from Coles said on the back of the packet "do not use in aquariums" I thought a sponge with no chemicals on it would be fine but it turns out this has been the cause of all my problems (high ph reading of 8.4)

I just want to know how i can fix this before i start cycling my tank. Should i do 100% water change and clean the glass? If so, how do i do this safely? Im freaking out and i dont know what to do! Im just so thankful that i dont have any fish in there yet. I have turned my aquarium off. Please help

 

[aquandrew]

PLEASE NOTE- I do not have any fish in my tank as I just purchased it a few days ago (thank god)



I read on the net that its good to wipe down your tank before setting it up as it removes any dust/dirt, so i did just that but i didnt know that household sponges from Coles said on the back of the packet "do not use in aquariums" I thought a sponge with no chemicals on it would be fine but it turns out this has been the cause of all my problems (high ph reading of 8.4)



I just want to know how i can fix this before i start cycling my tank. Should i do 100% water change and clean the glass? If so, how do i do this safely? Im freaking out and i dont know what to do! Im just so thankful that i dont have any fish in there yet. I have turned my aquarium off. Please help

i would just rinse it out with hot water and unscented bleach then run some extra carbon in the filter to be safe.
its not the sponge that is causing a high ph, IMO, what is the ph of your tap water? run an airstone in a bucket of tap water for 24 hours and then test it, that will be your true ph. what substrate did you use?

 

[steph101]

i would just rinse it out with hot water and unscented bleach then run some extra carbon in the filter to be safe.
its not the sponge that is causing a high ph, IMO, what is the ph of your tap water? run an airstone in a bucket of tap water for 24 hours and then test it, that will be your true ph. what substrate did you use?

I did the 24 hour test and tap ph is 7.4
Ive tested all gravel, decor in water for 24 hours still reads 7.4
So theres nothing left to cause me a high ph but the sponge I used. It must be made out of something im unaware of as it does say on the packet 'do not use in aquariums'

Sent from my GT-I9197 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Mebbid]

I agree. I doubt the sponge would cause high ph. What type of gravel do you have? Can you post a pic?

 

[steph101]

Its from pieces natural shop. It says on the packet ph natural 7.0.

Sent from my GT-I9197 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[NYgiantsRP]

I would just do 3 80% water change 3 days in a row and it should be fine. It would be so diluted I don't think it would make a difference.

 

[Mebbid]

Have you tested your dKH?