Every aquarists worst nightmare has been realized!

[crossxfire2]

A few days ago, I was removing my power compact lighting unit so I could clean it, and it slipped out of my hands and fell into the aquarium!!!! I have been waiting for it to dry for the last few days, and I keep trying it out (plugging it in) but I think it is wasted. WHAT SHOULD A PERSON DO WHO HAS ALMOST NO MONEY?! I DO have an extra regluar white fluorescent light which I have been using along with the pc's. I am pretty sure the live rock will die in about 3 or 4 weeks, am i correct? Is there anything to do? Or am I pretty much only left with the option of buying another one? If so, that just gives me the excuse to get a better one!

[RayAllen]

Trust me when I say that is not the worst thing that can happen. The LR wont die- it was never actually alive the organisms inside are what make it LR. You may loose some algae but nothing terrible. My main concern would be for any corals you may have. Good Luck

[loans_n_fishes]

I will be going out of town EARLY tomorrow for a funeral, but I have an old PC light you can have free. As I remember, only one of the bulbs lights. I'll have to see...it's been a while. It's pretty rough, but maybe it could give you some extra light in the meantime? LMK

[crossxfire2]

that would be excellent! yes, my phone number is 512-563-4387.

[Bill S]

Well it might be too late. But, it's worth a try. Open it up as best you can. Oh yeah, make sure it isn't plugged in first. Rinse it in the tub - oh what the heck, IMMERSE IT in the tub or hose it down with the hose. Then rinse it REAL well with RO/DI water. Shake it out, dry it out, as best you can.

Next step would normally be to put it in the oven, but it's probably too big? You want to put it in there overnight, at the LOWEST setting. If it's too big, put it out in the hot sun - the hotter the better - for 2 days.

Then plug it in. If you hadn't already plugged it in before AND if you had rinsed it right awya, I'd have given it a 90% chance of survival. Cell phones and freshwater, about 90%. Cell phones and saltwater, about 60% survival rate. Key to them is getting the battery out quickly and the phone into fresh clean water right away.

I've dropped several fixtures into the water, no big deal. In fact, my 48" T5s have been dunked once, and I've rinsed them out twice in fresh water.

[crossxfire2]

is this the method that you used on your t-5's?

[crossxfire2]

ok, so the fans work, but the lights don't. AHH!

[crossxfire2]

one more question. don't electronics get ruined if they get wet?

[Bill S]

Yes, the sunlight method on the T5s. I have a fuge light that's a plain old flourescent that's be underwater at least a half dozen times...

[Bill S]

No, electronics do NOT necessarily get ruined. Plain old flashlights work fine, in a pool. The problem is that SALT WATER tends to create problems, because it conducts electricity much better than fresh. With salt water, the key is to NOT turn it on until you are SURE that all salt is gone. That's why I dunk them in fresh water. The RO/DI leaves no residue when it dries.

[crossxfire2]

oh ok. Thank you so much. The tub is being filled!!! NOw, what if I accidently turned it on and herd a pop? (what if)

[Bill S]

Ah. A HYPOTHETICAL question! The pop MAY have been a bulb. The connectors are close on PCs. Do the whole rinse, dry out thing, and see if you can then borrow a bulb to try (once it's clean AND dry, you shouldn't hurt a bulb). Now that I think about it, about a month ago I took a 48" PC fixture I have on my big fuge, and opened it up and dunked it to get rid of the salt creep. I let it dry for about 2 days. Never even considered that it might not function again, just assumed it would.

[crossxfire2]

oh really? wow. I do have somewhat fresh pc bulbs, so I will use them to test. (in case i hear a pop) The rinse is done. hmm, What about using the hair dryer to dry it for a while? hell naw?

[crossxfire2]

I"m sorry for posting a million times, but are the bulbs ruined (if they didn't pop?) Baiscally, can pc bulbs be ruined by being dunked?

[Bill S]

Bulbs may or may not be ok.

The secret to this project, like most thing with SW, is patience. Hair dryer will help, but do yourself a favor. Put it outside in the HOT sun tomorrow - on top of something black, if you can.

[crossxfire2]

ok. Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it!