Smashed thermometer

[dmaccy]

As it says in the title I had a smashed thermometer. It was in my hospital tank where I had one albino bronze corydoras. I was moving the thermometer and it smashed in my hands sending glass everywhere, bits inside and outside the tank
I decided to catch the cory and move it back into the main tank. (Not ideal as it has very little anal fin left and needs time to regrow).

Do people think I have done the best thing moving the cory back into the main tank? I'm also worried a small amount of glass may have got into the net when I caught the fish, although noticed or felt nothing. Best option here to look at the tank? Has anyone any other ideas how to ensure no glass came across?

 

[Rocky998]

I'm not so worried about the glass as I am about the mercury that has leeched into the water... I honestly think you made the best decision possible... You couldnt keep him in the hospital tank to risk him getting worse.

 

[Naughts]

Mercury is a banned substance. Unless it was very old, and had a grey metal liquid in the tube, it will be harmless.
The tank will need to be drained to clean out the glass so it was the right decision to move the fish.

 

[Rocky998]

Mercury is a banned substance. Unless it was very old, and had a grey metal liquid in the tube, it will be harmless.
The tank will need to be drained to clean out the glass so it was the right decision to move the fish.

I always thought thats what was in thermometers.

 

[Naughts]

I always thought thats what was in thermometers.

Yes it used to be. Now they use alcohol, petroleum or galinstan,

 

[Rocky998]

Yes it used to be. Now they use alcohol, petroleum or galinstan,

Ohhh.... Hm, interesting... Learn something every day I guess

 

[Essjay]

If the liquid in the thermometer is red, it's not mercury - that's shiny silver metallic. All my aquarium thermometers have had red liquid but I don't know what that is.

I do have an old medical thermometer which contains mercury though

 

[Essjay]

Moving the fish out was the best thing, not only for the glass but for the liquid in the thermometer. Be very careful cleaning the tank as you don't want glass splinters in your skin.

 

[dmaccy]

Moving the fish out was the best thing, not only for the glass but for the liquid in the thermometer. Be very careful cleaning the tank as you don't want glass splinters in your skin.

Already got the glass cuts from when it broke

 

[Essjay]

Ouch

 

[StandbySetting]

Modern thermometers contain alcohol, in small concentrations harmless. Mercury is insoluble in water so again harmless. Do not worry

 

[Oblio]

Modern thermometers contain alcohol, in small concentrations harmless. Mercury is insoluble in water so again harmless. Do not worry

I believe it is harmless to humans if not swallowed. I would worry about the Corys possibly filtering it while eating.

At high temps, inhaled elemental mercury vapor or organic mercury compounds in any form are a real hazard. This is not an issue with the OP as described, but is important to note.