Aluminum foil

JPergamo · Apr 6, 2016

Sorry for the dumb question, but I just read a (potentially) great idea of covering overflows with aluminum foil to prevent algae. Just threw some on and it works great, skimmer head completely died instantly and I'm still mid cycle so no livestock. Just wondering if this is reef safe or a big no-no. Will aluminum break down or decompose in any way over time? Thanks!

JPergamo · Apr 6, 2016

Lol

mcarroll · Apr 7, 2016

I'd be concerned about it, but I think if you were doing a normal/aggressive water change routine it may work out fine. (I don't really do water changes these days....ymmv.)

mcarroll · Apr 7, 2016

foil may also differ from that can....can is thicker, painted...may even be coated on the inside. Could be minimal aluminum surface area exposed. Foil is the opposite on almost all counts...might dissolve much more readily....I don't know.

JPergamo · Apr 7, 2016

Thanks for the reply. The foil is not in the water just on the top of the overflow but there will obviously still be contact with water some. I guess I should just find some kind of other diy option to shade the overflows.

Tautog · Apr 7, 2016

I'm running almost a year, I never had any algae problems.
Do you have a UV light?
Are you using a R/O to make water?

JPergamo · Apr 7, 2016

It was just preventative, in my last system I remember there being algae build up in the overflows, but I also had excess nutrients that I will he trying to control better this go around. As of right now there is no algae anywhere yet

mcarroll · Apr 7, 2016

JPergamo said:
I guess I should just find some kind of other diy option to shade the overflows.

Unless your tank room is very warm, you'd end up with condensation on the underside, dripping into the overflow.

For something simple like that, acrylic is as easy as wood to work with. See if a big box hardware store (or any other place) around you carries black acrylic. You can cut and glue it yourself. Even just a flat piece cut to size will work. It'll warp from the moisture exposure on one side, but should still do it's job.

Tautog · Apr 7, 2016

Having algae in the over flow sounds normal, but I hear a lot of reefers have a algae problem in DT. It seems these guys were not using UV or R/O
Maybe try to keep something else to block light. I wouldn't trust foil. Acids destroy foil. Remember covering anything with red sauce, after a while, the foil eroded away, like Electrolysis!

JPergamo · Apr 7, 2016

I'll probably pull it off. Better safe than sorry

R_C · Apr 7, 2016

mcarroll said:
For something simple like that, acrylic is as easy as wood to work with. See if a big box hardware store (or any other place) around you carries black acrylic. You can cut and glue it yourself. Even just a flat piece cut to size will work. It'll warp from the moisture exposure on one side, but should still do it's job.

+1

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 7, 2016

If the foil is getting spattered with any salt spray, it will corrode, and if it can drip back into the tank, I'd move it.

Certainly,blocking the light hitting the inside of the overflow can help prevent algae in it if that is a problem.