Stupid question of day (SWOD) : are stainless steel screws reef safe?

[plankton]

So was swapping out a Radion xr30 and I think I dropped one of those little M5 (0.8x8mm) stainless screws into the tank. It happened so fast I didn’t see where it entered or where is might have gone. I’ve searched the floor around tank and of course in the tank but so far I can’t find the dang thing. It’s definitely stainless but don’t know what kind of stainless or what may happen long term if I can’t find it.

Any experience or opinions about stainless in a reef tank?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

So was swapping out a Radion xr30 and I think I dropped one of those little M5 (0.8x8mm) stainless screws into the tank. It happened so fast I didn’t see where it entered or where is might have gone. I’ve searched the floor around tank and of course in the tank but so far I can’t find the dang thing. It’s definitely stainless but don’t know what kind of stainless or what may happen long term if I can’t find it.

Any experience or opinions about stainless in a reef tank?

we went with titanium clamps since stainless just takes longer to rust...

It will show up eventually. IMO, I wouldn't worry too much in the short term. Some future pump wearing out and leaching may do more over long term

 

[plankton]

Ok thanks. And they are definitely not magnetic and I did turn off lights and pumps and tried to find it with headlamp. You’d think finding a shiny bit of metal in a tank wouldn’t be that hard!

 

[TheDragonsReef]

I have a stainless screw thats been underwater for years to hold a strainer in one of my reactors in place. I had always planned to pull it at the first sign of rust but its been like 5 years and no rust yet lol

 

[krash7172]

18-8 (300 series) is the type of stainless and not magnetic as you stated. Don't panic. Get it out if you can but don't wreck your tank looking for it. It's a small screw as well.

 

[HB AL]

I would get it out of the tank if it's actually in there.

 

[KrisReef]

It's not like your tank is going to fall apart from one screw unless the maker of that hardware was using substandard materials in their production? I suspect you will find it eventually. An ICP test in a month should let you know if you need to work harder to find it or be grateful that the screw maker used high quality metal in making that tiny item.

Hopefully it doesn't show up like an old problem down the road

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Some types of stainless steel are fine long term, and some are not. I do not know the answer for the specific type you have.

 

[Spieg]

Depends on the quality... the stainless steel made in China is often made with impurities that will rust over time, but better made stainless will never rust.

 

[anthonygf]

If you have another screw of the same type put it in a small container of tank water and keep it wet, if it starts to rust then worry about it.