Brass in Vortechs?!!??!!

[jbaur]

Hello. I recently was doing some maintenance on my tank and cleaning up my wet sides. I have one that's habitually difficult to disassemble* and as a result the foam got damaged. When I went to swap out my dirty power head I noticed a small speck of what looked like brass underneath it, when I scraped it further here's what I found...

*Edited, changed remove to disassemble

 

[NanoSteam]

This is new to me, following along to see what others say but I assume normally it's not an issue and is sealed.

 

[jbaur]

This is new to me, following along to see what others say but I assume normally it's not an issue and is sealed.

Until it's not. Rust...

 

[Reef Jedi]

Yes these have metal in them (magnet) and have been known to leach especially on older and long term use models. This looks like the sealed backing is gone exposing the internal magnet to the saltwater. They are known to swell the magnet and leach. I personally would advise replacing that wet side before it causes you some issues.

This topic has also been discussed many times on R2R. A quick search will also pull up more on the topic. Vortechs are great until they are not. But nice thing is a quick swap of wet sides and all is good again.

 

[NanoSteam]

That begs the question then... OP do you happen to use vinegar to clean these?

 

[Reef Jedi]

That begs the question then... OP do you happen to use vinegar to clean these?

Good question! That would degrade them faster!

 

[Reef Jedi]

Here’s some lite reading material lol

Beware of Vinegar - The Pump Killer

I have posted bits and piece of my vinegar story over the past three years, and I thought it would be beneficial if one post contained all that I've learn. You'll be surprised! This story will contain three parts; my history with vinegar, the cause and simplified chemistry what's happening...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[jbaur]

It's pretty much around everything, my camera sucks

Until it's not. Rust...

Yes these have metal in them (magnet) and have been known to leach especially on older and long term use models. This looks like the sealed backing is gone exposing the internal magnet to the saltwater. They are known to swell the magnet and leach. I personally would advise replacing that wet side before it causes you some issues.

This topic has also been discussed many times on R2R. A quick search will also pull up more on the topic. Vortechs are great until they are not. But nice thing is a quick swap of wet sides and all is good again.

This isn't the magnet, this is the bushing and only protected by cellular adhesive backed foam. The fact that there's rust means the zinc portion of the brass has corroded, if the zinc has corroded so has likely the copper.

 

[jbaur]

Here’s some lite reading material lol

Beware of Vinegar - The Pump Killer

I have posted bits and piece of my vinegar story over the past three years, and I thought it would be beneficial if one post contained all that I've learn. You'll be surprised! This story will contain three parts; my history with vinegar, the cause and simplified chemistry what's happening...

www.reef2reef.com

Look at the pics, it's not the magnet

 

[jbaur]

Here’s some lite reading material lol

Beware of Vinegar - The Pump Killer

I have posted bits and piece of my vinegar story over the past three years, and I thought it would be beneficial if one post contained all that I've learn. You'll be surprised! This story will contain three parts; my history with vinegar, the cause and simplified chemistry what's happening...

www.reef2reef.com

That's also a gen 1 wetside, this is a gen 2... Currently sold

 

[painter1982]

Hello. I recently was doing some maintenance on my tank and cleaning up my wet sides. I have one that's habitually difficult to disassemble* and as a result the foam got damaged. When I went to swap out my dirty power head I noticed a small speck of what looked like brass underneath it, when I scraped it further here's what I found...

*Edited, changed remove to disassemble

It looks to me like it’s the base to the post that the ceramic shaft sits on.

 

[jbaur]

It looks to me like it’s the base to the post that the ceramic shaft sits on.

Yes... Why would they make that brass?

 

[jbaur]

I didn't expect to see this, but I was ticked when I did. I have an old tank, unls system, heavy fish stock. No skimmer, I'll occasionally run gfo to reduce phosphates. I dose nitrate to keep away from dinos. I've done triton icp tests. All looks good according to them (which is probably another story).

I should be able to go without water changes, but my tank goes to crap when I don't.

After seeing the brass and rust behind the foam backing of my vortech wetside I'm convinced it's at least partially, if not wholely to blame.

 

[slingfox]

The foam backing is in terrible condition. You probably want to revisit how you are doing your maintenance so the same thing doesn’t happen on the replacement.

 

[slingfox]

I didn't expect to see this, but I was ticked when I did. I have an old tank, unls system, heavy fish stock. No skimmer, I'll occasionally run gfo to reduce phosphates. I dose nitrate to keep away from dinos. I've done triton icp tests. All looks good according to them (which is probably another story).

I should be able to go without water changes, but my tank goes to crap when I don't.

After seeing the brass and rust behind the foam backing of my vortech wetside I'm convinced it's at least partially, if not wholely to blame.

Stare at your ICP tests. The results can help you figure out whether any degradation of the brass was an issue. I doubt it given the condition of the brass in the picture but you never know until you check the parameters.

 

[jbaur]

The foam backing is in terrible condition. You probably want to revisit how you are doing your maintenance so the same thing doesn’t happen on the replacement.

What are your affiliations?

I think I expressed clearly what the circumstances were to the degradation of the foam pads.

How thick are those foam pads? 1/16" at best?

How rough do I have to be, or mother nature, to expose them?

 

[painter1982]

It looks to me like it’s the base to the post that the ceramic shaft sits on.

Yes... Why would they make that brass?

Idk why brass or if it actually is brass. It protrudes out of the other end too, not just the base. Maybe it’s an alloy of some sort. I have 4 on my tank and the only metal that’s been high on icp test was zinc. It was from my RO water float valve.

 

[slingfox]

What are your affiliations?

I think I expressed clearly what the circumstances were to the degradation of the foam pads.

How thick are those foam pads? 1/16" at best?

How rough do I have to be, or mother nature, to expose them?

I am here for the coral and fish You said you have done ICPs. If that metal was degrading and killing things you should see evidence of elevated metals in the ICPs. The same metal (or at least what looks like the same metal) is on the shaft that the blades that move the water are attached to.

 

[jbaur]

I am here for the coral and fish You said you have done ICPs. If that metal was degrading and killing things you should see evidence of elevated metals in the ICPs. The same metal (or at least what looks like the same metal) is on the shaft that the blades that move the water are attached to.

Provided the icp tests aren't horse****

 

[jbaur]

Idk why brass or if it actually is brass. It protrudes out of the other end too, not just the base. Maybe it’s an alloy of some sort. I have 4 on my tank and the only metal that’s been high on icp test was zinc. It was from my RO water float valve.

Zinc + copper = brass