How to quickly neutralize bleach?

[robanister]

Hmmm how much bleach and did you have worms? Some sort of plague ... Haha @VintageReefer knows. Outcome please!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

edit.

Hey guys. I made a thought experiment about trying to solve a scenario of how to neutralize bleach quickly if it got into the sump. I wanted to explore different chemistry methods to solve it.

I may have pushed a little too hard. I think it might have been a sensitive and triggering topic. I reported the thread to have it deleted so everyone can be happy.

Thank you.

That actually happened at a public aquarium about 30 years ago.

We kept a 25# bag of sodium thiosulfate to use in case there was a runaway ozone condition on any of our larger systems. It would work for chlorine as well.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

wouldn’t prime minimize some damage?

 

[VintageReefer]

Hmmm how much bleach and did you have worms? Some sort of plague ... Haha @VintageReefer knows. Outcome please!

In this case, @robanister is not asking for a friend hahaha

 

[Staghorn]

Not bleach but windex!!!! Years ago in my first reef tank,(so amazing) I had someone (who will remain unnamed) decide to help out and clean the mirror wall behind the aquarium (which I always cleaned by applying alcohol to a paper towel and wiping by hand). I don’t know how much windex it takes to wipe out a reef tank but it was enough. I still miss that little reef. But the person still lives( evidently windex poisoning takes longer in humans!!!) JK BTW.

 

[Miami Reef]

This will solve the problem


But you can use Vitamin C instead - no NH4 as residue

C₆H₈O₆ + HClO → C₆H₆O₆ + HCl + H₂O

You can´t overdose Vitamin C as I see it - 1) may not be problem

it could serve as a labil DOC source though

Here is one calculation that say that you need around 2.5 mg/L ascorbic acid to neutralise 1mg/L active chlorine

Sincerely Lasse

Wow! I didn’t know this. Thanks Lasse.

Also, that thiosulfate calculator is incredible ! I never knew it existed! I bookmarked your post for future reference.

 

[Miami Reef]

That actually happened at a public aquarium about 30 years ago.

We kept a 25# bag of sodium thiosulfate to use in case there was a runaway ozone condition on any of our larger systems. It would work for chlorine as well.

How would this happen? How can someone accidentally add bleach? That’s insane!

Were there any negative effects? If not, was it because the dose was small relative to the tank size, or because you neutralized it in time?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

How would this happen? How can someone accidentally add bleach?

It wasn’t an accident, it was apparently a disgruntled employee.

 

[Miami Reef]

It wasn’t an accident, it was apparently a disgruntled employee.

Whatttt? I made a follow up question in the same post. I just edited it in, but you responded before I submitted it.

 

[robanister]

In this case, @robanister is not asking for a friend hahaha

Yeah not looking to minimize. But wondered if bleach created gas in the saltwater. I need to bleach I think but am lazy and don't want to drain and fill with tap or ro water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

wouldn’t prime minimize some damage?

Prime does not removed ammonia or bleach. Its a water conditioner and will address low level chlorine and chloromines

 

[vetteguy53081]

That actually happened at a public aquarium about 30 years ago.

We kept a 25# bag of sodium thiosulfate to use in case there was a runaway ozone condition on any of our larger systems. It would work for chlorine as well.

Never thought of this as its used for dyeing clothing, stop bath for photos and even address cyanide poisoning

 

[Matt L]

I’m not sure I’d have enough reaction time to act, unless I saw it happen. The tank could be dead in minutes.

 

[Miami Reef]

Not bleach but windex!!!! Years ago in my first reef tank,(so amazing) I had someone (who will remain unnamed) decide to help out and clean the mirror wall behind the aquarium (which I always cleaned by applying alcohol to a paper towel and wiping by hand). I don’t know how much windex it takes to wipe out a reef tank but it was enough. I still miss that little reef. But the person still lives( evidently windex poisoning takes longer in humans!!!) JK BTW.

Wait, are you saying someone cleaned a mirror beside the tank, and the residue was able to get in the tank through the air?

Or did you have an actual mirror in the tank? Can you explain? The tank sounds interesting. Do you have photos?

I apologize if I’m asking too many questions.

 

[Miami Reef]

I’m not sure I’d have enough reaction time to act, unless I saw it happen. The tank could be dead in minutes.

Hey, Matt!

I edited out the original post from yesterday because I panicked, but it said that you had unlimited resources and money and anything you could possibly need in that moment.

No need to drive or buy anything. Think it, and you got it.

 

[X-37B]

Yea most reefers are not going to have that on the shelf in case it happens.
If you saw the person dump it in you may have time to stop the return pump.
This actually happened to a lfs, Your Reef, Sacramento CA a couple years ago.
John never found out who did it but it killed everything and someone had to dump it into each system.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I can’t wait to see what the old ChatGPT twists this information into, and the questions that arise.

 

[billyocean]

Hmm. If this thread was too triggering I’ll have it deleted. My bad.

Is this a thing? Too triggering? Lol.

 

[twentyleagues]

If I had unlimited funds and supplies shut off sump and use a dechlor on the tank hoping I was in time. Drain sump rinse anything in sump fill sump with rodi and dechlor and drain and refill with saltwater. As for the triggering someones gonna get triggered for sure with unlimited funds i'm gonna find out who.
I didnt know about the vitamin c thats pretty cool. I did know about sodium thiosulfate just using dechlor because its easier to type.

 

[jonelder68]

Not bleach but windex!!!! Years ago in my first reef tank,(so amazing) I had someone (who will remain unnamed) decide to help out and clean the mirror wall behind the aquarium (which I always cleaned by applying alcohol to a paper towel and wiping by hand). I don’t know how much windex it takes to wipe out a reef tank but it was enough. I still miss that little reef. But the person still lives( evidently windex poisoning takes longer in humans!!!) JK BTW.

I had the same thing happen on my first tank My mom thought she was helping out by cleaning the glass. Nuked the tank.