Will rust affect my tank?

[Opticat]

My algae scaper has rust on its blades{I don't have the type that has magnets on both sides, the blade is connected to a stick), I change the blades every month and use it 3 times a month when doing water change, however there's a small rust build up on the plastic that holds the blade. should I still use my scraper?

 

[G Santana]

I have a similar scraper and it always rusts given time, I use it now sparingly, once used I disassemble, clean it in tap water then towel dry, it's a pain but it helps keep the rust at bay.
Salt water is unforgiving on those blades.

 

[homer1475]

Once in a while exposure I don't think would harm a thing(GFO is iron oxide, basically rust). I would not leave it in the tank though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The general answer depends, of course, on the materials that are rusting. Nothing used by hobbyists is pure iron.

It is probably OK if you do not leave it in the tank, and rinse it each time after use (the salts accelerate corrosion).

 

[homer1475]

The general answer depends, of course, on the materials that are rusting. Nothing used by hobbyists is pure iron.

It is probably OK if you do not leave it in the tank, and rinse it each time after use (the salts accelerate corrosion).

Kind of what I was getting at with my cheeky reply about GFO. GFO is of course pure iron oxide.

 

[Paul B]

I don't know how to answer that, but I probably have a dozen blades that I lost in my tank and are rusting in there or are completely disintegrated by now. I also have numerous screws and pieces of steel wire. I feel iron makes our tanks healthier to an extent.

If you dive, you will see way more corals growing on rusted shipwrecks than in the surrounding water.
Just my thoughts.