HELP! Dropped a screw in my reef!

[Waleedwale1]

So I was changing by biocube bulb and one of the screws that holds the shield up fell in my tank, it's only 29 gallons. I've searched but no luck, what do I do?

 

[edd]

if its magnetic, try a magnet. ck one of the other screws if their magnetic.

 

[Rob&Gab]

Oh boy +1 on the magnet

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

Magnet sift through the sand

 

[Waleedwale1]

Magnated for about 30 minutes, took apart half my rock work, no luck.

 

[mbg75]

Magnet wont work if the screw was stainless

 

[Waleedwale1]

Anything I can do besides that? How will this harm my tank?

 

[Rob&Gab]

did you make sure you didnt drop it behind the tank?

 

[Waleedwale1]

did you make sure you didnt drop it behind the tank?

Yes, I checked there. I was removing the splash guard, and the lights were off when I saw a screw slip and heard a splash, I looked down and saw nothing, tried the magnet thing, checked dead spots and where I think it fell.

 

[Ponyboy]

Screw it
Just watch your reading should be fine

 

[Rob&Gab]

you sure it did not fall into your rock work then? if anything dont worry man it should be fine those screws are really small. but im not too sure if anything will happen dont take my word for it. i never really researched that.

 

[Waleedwale1]

you sure it did not fall into your rock work then? if anything dont worry man it should be fine those screws are really small. but im not too sure if anything will happen dont take my word for it. i never really researched that.

Slight chance it could have gotten behind the huge rock that I have as a center piece, I tried the magnet around it. Not much I can do then I guess, just wait and see.

 

[james1990]

im reading this and all I can think about is how frustrating that must be. try not to pull your hair out im sure its fine. grab a beer you earned it.

 

[ravi197699]

+1, i have dropped small tiny screws in my tanks many time and some i was able to find and some don't. but tank is fine nothing changed.

 

[viplok]

cool, saving few bucks from iron supplement. LOL:wink1:

 

[masterswimmer]

So it's safe to say you have a screw loose?

Russ

 

[reefer4eva]

If your really desperate about getting it out why not use a net and sift the sand thru it.

 

[duromega]

use a fishnet and go thru the sand, that's how I catch my flounders

 

[Waleedwale1]

Thanks guys nothing has happened so far, all LPS and zoas are fully open and inverts are fine as well. The reason I don't want to sift the sand is that it's been undisturbed ever since I started the tank and it's 3 inches deep, don't wanna mess with it now and release anything that's supposed to stay there.

 

[beerfish]

Put a polypad in the tank. It will change colors if it starts to remove pollutants, so you'll know if it's causing problems. As a side benefit, it will help clear up your water.