Rusting Parts in Aquariums - Anybody notice any Negative Effects from Rust?

redfishbluefish · May 16, 2015

Paul B said:
Bunch of Sissies. :twitch:

Heads up with Paul B's tank......it's a replica of the Long Island Sound. So if you visit, and the first thing he does is measure you for a pair of cement shoes, don't say I didn't give you notice. Bones are how Paul does his calcium dosing.

deandon · May 16, 2015

Your salts alone will probably be over what desired NSW is for most metal content... Feature Article: A Chemical Analysis of Select Trace Elements in Synthetic Sea Salts and Natural Seawater ? Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog
Let alone any phosphate removers. NO other metal should be in water...
For tests of metals you can look at Triton ICP which tests for: Na, Ca, Mg, K, Sr, B, Br, S, Li, Be, Ba, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Si, As, Sb, Sn, Cd, Se, Mo, Hg, P (PO4), Pb, I.

scardall · May 16, 2015

Are Heavy Metals an Issue???

I have lost razor blades in my tanks, many times. No issues. What is considered a heavy metal?

ncfishguy · May 16, 2015

The screws on my pump on my skimmer have rust my algea clip and return pump never had and problems

ncfishguy · May 16, 2015

But this thread make u think "what if"

Paul B · May 16, 2015

I once accidently dropped a front bumper from a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass in my tank and couldn't find it. No problems yet. Except the Oldsmobile just doesn't look the same.

saltyphish · May 16, 2015

It just has more attitude!

Paul B said:
I once accidently dropped a front bumper from a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass in my tank and couldn't find it. No problems yet. Except the Oldsmobile just doesn't look the same.

that Reef Guy · May 17, 2015

d2mini said:
Yes, rusting metal is bad.
I went through a mini crash last year that i believe was from a TLF magnetic algae clip rusting in my tank.

What happened during the mini crash?

glennf · May 17, 2015

Rust=iron oxide
Iron can have a good effect you your tank health. Ironoxide binds PO4 and SiO4.
I keep iron dosing as a base of my reefkeeping method and it's function is a liquid PO4 removal and secundairy as a trace element.
I have never seen this kind of growth and diversity in any other thank.
Like with any other element you dosing and used quantity is everything. You need to keep track of what you're doing.

Yes... in the old days people used to hang and bag of nails in the sump to remove po4. The also used steelwool..

Before you put a finger on rust/iron oxide crashing a tank, you should know what you water values were before the crash.
Dir the people who chashed their tank did regular measurement to keep track of their water parameters?

Paul B · May 17, 2015

Yes... in the old days people used to hang and bag of nails in the sump to remove po4.

Yes we did, and some of us still do

glennf · May 17, 2015

Paul B said:
Yes we did, and some of us still do

It works....fine

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 18, 2015

Since you will rarely know what is in the metals you use, it is best to avoid metals and remove any that are rusting.

Iron is no concern, but the other metals in alloys are a bigger concern. Zinc, copper, nickel, etc.

I use float switches with stainless steel arms, but I knew what they were made of and that such a metal doesn't corrode much in seawater. They've been in 20 years now.

Shep · May 18, 2015

Paul B said:
How about aluminum, Is this bad?

.....so why is there a beer can and a hammer in your tank? lol

Paul B · May 18, 2015

Iron doesn't concern me. There is an entire plethora of things that don't concern me. Ich, hair algae, cyano, global warming and Obamacare to name a few.

Shep · May 18, 2015

.......thanks, good to know I guess?

hart24601 · May 18, 2015

I will not be impressed with Paul's collection of metal until he plumbs his tank with raw copper pipe.

Paul B · May 19, 2015

hart24601 said:
I will not be impressed with Paul's collection of metal until he plumbs his tank with raw copper pipe.

Well thats a relief as I never want to impress anyone with my tank. It is there for my enjoyment and the enjoyment of any Supermodels who may wander over, which hasn't happened yet.
But I did make a moving copper fountain in my goldfish pond and those guys just keep growing. I am sure they will never get ich. My house is plumbed with copper but it is now exactly raw as I think Eisenhower built my house.