Paint dripped into Tank!

[Ytang]

My wife wanted to paint my office. I keep my tank in my office. I told her to not paint above the fish tank to avoid it dripping and that I would cover that area when I got home. She calls me at work today saying that she dripped paint inside the tank!
I have 180 gallon mixed reef tank and a 20 gallon frag tank attached to the main system. She said the paint dripped into the Frag tank. She called me and within five minutes she turned off the pump to the Frag tank so that it was not mixing as much in to main system but I’m sure some of it still got into the main display.
I plan to change the water and the 20 gallon tank tonight 100%. Any other suggestions on what I should do?

 

[AltitudeAquarium]

What type of paint latex or enamel?

 

[Ytang]

Latex

 

[Ytang]

What type of paint latex or enamel?

It is interior acrylic latex paint

 

[Jon Fishman]

What color?

 

[Ytang]

What color?

Light blue

 

[Waterislife]

Carbon removes toxins

 

[Billdogg]

Just a drip or two? Run some carbon, maybe do a 20% water change, and forget about it.

Although not really suggested, modern house paints are (relatively) safe to eat. Remember good old lead paint? That's why they made it as safe as they could.

If she had dumped the gallon can in, then I'd be worried. Not so much about the tank - more about her

 

[Island Reef 242]

I would add a bunch of extra carbon to help filter out anything left, after the water change. As long as its latex low/no VOC paint you should be fine. if it was enamel or oil based, that would be a bad situation.

 

[Ytang]

It is latex but Not the low Voc kind. I will add carbon when I get home as well as change 20% water

 

[Ytang]

Just a drip or two? Run some carbon, maybe do a 20% water change, and forget about it.

Although not really suggested, modern house paints are (relatively) safe to eat. Remember good old lead paint? That's why they made it as safe as they could.

If she had dumped the gallon can in, then I'd be worried. Not so much about the tank - more about her

Yes, she said it was just 1 drip and it dissolved as soon as it hit the water

 

[Ytang]

This all makes me feel better. I initially thought everything was going to be dead by tomorrow.

 

[AltitudeAquarium]

I agree with the previous responses. If you can add some aeration/flow during the run of extra carbon that will also help.

 

[LadyMac]

What color?

This got me giggling, sorry!

 

[Billdogg]

What color?

Light blue

This got me giggling, sorry!

Most people paint the back of the tank from the outside! At least it was a good color!!!

 

[MnFish1]

It should be fine - I personally would look for any signs of distress in the tank when you get home - if none - add a standard dose of carbon - and forgo the water change - adding a large amount of carbon can cause more problems than a drop of paint.

 

[Ytang]

So I just changed 25 gallons of water(all the RODI I had) and started running some carbon. I hope everything turns out okay. Thanks for all of you guys help!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

So I just changed 25 gallons of water(all the RODI I had) and started running some carbon. I hope everything turns out okay. Thanks for all of you guys help!

Keep us posted. I hope everything turns out ok

 

[Katrina71]

I think it's an excellent opportunity to buy a new coral to compliment the new color! Btw, your wife deserves a hug for turning off the pump.

 

[LadyMac]

How’s the tank today?