Accidentally Added Milk to Tank

[Zakary2003]

So I screwed up.

I was acclimating a new pair of clownfish to my tank. When it was time to add them, I needed to replenish the water I removed. I asked my roommate to grab my one gallon jug from the fish closet along with my bucket of salt water.

He grabbed a random jug that was sitting by the door to go out to the trash and I didnt notice. It had a tiny bit of residual milk inside. It wasn't enough to notice when looking at the jug, but it was enough to make the water slightly cloudy and I didn't realize until it was too late. The jug was empty, so it couldn't have been much milk.

What do I do now?

 

[Science/G]

Well things could be worse. At least milk is all natural. It's pH is a little low, slightly below neutral at 6.7-6.9. I don't think it will be much of an issue.

 

[Science/G]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/kid-spilled-one-spoon-of-milk-into-the-tank-help.466170/

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Just do a water change. 20% is fine to help clear it up. I can't think of anything too harsh besides a bacterial bloom maybe.

 

[Science/G]

Check your parameters tomorrow, and maybe perform a little bit of a water change.

 

[FUNGI]

 

[rhitee93]

How large is your tank?

I don't think I would be very concerned if the ratio of milk to tank water is small. Milk is still mostly water. A little bit of a carbon source from the sugars, and some protein and fat that will come out in a skimmer if you have one.

 

[Zakary2003]

How large is your tank?

I don't think I would be very concerned if the ratio of milk to tank water is small. Milk is still mostly water. A little bit of a carbon source from the sugars, and some protein and fat that will come out in a skimmer if you have one.

20 gallons. I added about half a gallon from the contaminated jug

 

[rhitee93]

If the jug was "empty" then you probably only got a few ml of milk. I wouldn't worry about it. Check your levels in the morning to see if they have changed much, but that has got to be less impactful than a day's worth of fish poop.

 

[Dr. D]

This happened to me, and within three weeks my tank looked like this.

 

[Miami Reef]

Some milk is fine. It might contain N & P, but the tank would consume it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2425029
An SPS keeper from Taiwan used to dose milk and honey to his acros. lol

 

[KrisReef]

20 gallons. I added about half a gallon from the contaminated jug

What livestock is in the tank?

I might run carbon or a UV to reduce microbial activities in the water column.

Large milk spills can create anoxia in bodies of water, the splash from the milk jug is likely not going to crash the tank.

 

[Besieged]

Hey, maybe we've found the budget DIY kalkwasser right here :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[JayM]

New way to dose calcium?

Seriously though, milk is almost 90% water. I can't imagine a fraction of an ounce would be of any serious concern.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Haha! So funny story... when I was first starting in the hobby, I had my concoction of fish food in one hand (in a cup with water) and a starbucks peppermint mocha in the other...meant to pour in the food...nope. I poured in a nice dose of caffeine, milk, and sugar... Other than the fish swimming a little faster for the next few hours (jk jk), no harm came to the tank.

TL;DR, I did something worse and everything was fine. :cool:

 

[Dr. D]

I must speak for my wife, who swears that Dunkin Donuts would be fine, but Starbucks fatal.

To me, all coffee tastes like 10w30.

 

[Lucas Savioli]

Well... Milk is around 87% water and the rest is mostly protein, fat, carbohydrates (mostly lactose) and some vitamins and minerals. If you have an skimmer the protein will likely be skimmed out. Fat content depends on type of [cow] milk, some are lighter other fatter (1-2% to 4,5-5%).
I hope that helps somehow...

 

[KrisReef]

New way to dose calcium?

Seriously though, milk is almost 90% water. I can't imagine a fraction of an ounce would be of any serious concern.

All them Bovine hormones and cheese curds might ruin a proper reef.

 

[KrisReef]

I must speak for my wife, who swears that Dunkin Donuts would be fine, but Starbucks fatal.

To me, all coffee tastes like 10w30.

Perhaps you need to do an oil change on your coffee mug?

:thinking-face: :cool:

 

[jsmkmavity]

Just add some oreos to soak up the milk!!!