Rust in water

[luckylepgw]

So, in my hurry to set up my 90g upgrade, i overlooked a metal clamp the previous owner put on the return pump. Didn't realise it till my bta's and my hammer declined fast and died.
I removed the clamp and cleaned all the rust drippings. My fish and gsp(dang things are indestructible) are the only things left and seem to be doing fine.

Would a couple large water changes be enough to get things back in line?

 

[MnFish1]

you could try cuprisorb. You could also try an ICP test - though I dont like them except for this type of reason - to see if in fact you have a 'rust' problem. :)

 

[luckylepgw]

you could try cuprisorb. You could also try an ICP test - though I dont like them except for this type of reason - to see if in fact you have a 'rust' problem. :)

The clamp was rusty and there was 2 rust trails going down the pump below the water line. Pretty sure it's in the water. I was planning on the icp test before i added more corals, but at that price, i really don't want to have to get 2.

 

[MnFish1]

The clamp was rusty and there was 2 rust trails going down the pump below the water line. Pretty sure it's in the water. I was planning on the icp test before i added more corals, but at that price, i really don't want to have to get 2.

Well - then just put some cuprisorb in. then in a month - or so - send an ICP.

 

[luckylepgw]

Well - then just put some cuprisorb in. then in a month - or so - send an ICP.

Sounds like a plan, appreciate it... Quick question...

Is this test terrible compared to the ati or Triton test?

 

[MnFish1]

Sounds like a plan, appreciate it... Quick question...

Is this test terrible compared to the ati or Triton test?

No clue - I dont believe in them - I guess I would trust Triton the most?

 

[Brett S]

Rust in itself is not toxic or harmful to the tank (frankly that’s what GFO is... rust and people add that to their tank on purpose.)

However, other metals can definitely be harmful or toxic and it’s quite possible that the hose clamp was made of more than just steel. So it’s possible that there are traces of other metals in the tank.

That said, if this is something that has been in the tank for a while and was used by the previous owner without issues then I suspect it’s likely that your issues were caused by something else. One hose clamp corroding in 90+ gallons of water is unlikely to cause a lot of contamination.