Is rust bad for aquariums?

drewsreef · Jul 9, 2022

Hello i just wanted to know if rust is bad for aquariums? I have a 100 gallon tank that has been cycling for 3 weeks and this morning i notoced my temp probe from my thermometee was already looking rusted. There is no lifestock in the tank as i am ghost feeding but i dont know of rust can affect the cycle. Do i need to do anything? I removed the probe already

LIreefguy · Jul 9, 2022

How can your temp probe rust in 3 weeks
Yes rust isn’t good for your tank
You can get a icl test if your really concerned. But I would probably do a few really big water changes

s1oliver · Jul 9, 2022

I'd do some big water changes and run some carbon just to be safe. My clownfish was struggling a couple of weeks ago and breathing too fast so I checked parameters and all the usual stuff and found nothing that was off. After a water change and adding an airstone I thought well let me check all the equipment and make sure there's no rust. Sure enough the impeller magnet had a light coat of rust on it so I immediately replaced the pump and dropped a bag chemipure in it and a few days later he's back to normal and eating again. The funny thing is I had just read on this forum about someone who lost a bunch of coral due to a rust they discovered in their tank. Otherwise, I don't think I would've thought to look for it.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 9, 2022

Carbon and removal will be the remedy but the larger the water volume, the lower the risk but general consensus is NO metal contact within the tank.

Timfish · Jul 9, 2022

Can you say "granulated ferric oxide"? I'd replace the probe but wouldn't worry about the old one.

blaxsun · Jul 9, 2022

Post a picture of the (rusted) probe if you have a chance.

Mattiejay6 · Jul 9, 2022

@Paul B

drewsreef · Jul 10, 2022

blaxsun said:
Post a picture of the (rusted) probe if you have a chance.

drewsreef · Jul 10, 2022

It originally looked like stainless steel

drewsreef · Jul 10, 2022

Timfish said:
Can you say "granulated ferric oxide"? I'd replace the probe but wouldn't worry about the old one.

Yeah i just got rid of it. I was using it as a back up for my inkbird

drewsreef · Jul 10, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Carbon and removal will be the remedy but the larger the water volume, the lower the risk but general consensus is NO metal contact within the tank.

I have a flipper magnet glass cleaner with the metal blade. Should i just remove the blade then?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Jul 10, 2022

drewsreef said:
Yeah i just got rid of it. I was using it as a back up for my inkbird

Was the probe advertised as safe for saltwater? If so, get your money back!

drewsreef · Jul 10, 2022

LIreefguy said:
How can your temp probe rust in 3 weeks
Yes rust isn’t good for your tank
You can get a icl test if your really concerned. But I would probably do a few really big water changes

Thats what i thought but i just wanted to know if maybe it was just something else?

LIreefguy said:
How can your temp probe rust in 3 weeks
Yes rust isn’t good for your tank
You can get a icl test if your really concerned. But I would probably do a few really big water changes

drewsreef · Jul 10, 2022

Erin1971Texas said:
Was the probe advertised as safe for saltwater? If so, get your money back!

It was advertised for aquariums

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Jul 10, 2022

drewsreef said:
It was advertised for aquariums

But salt and fresh are different when it comes to a lot of things, rusting metal being a big one.

((FORDTECH)) · Jul 10, 2022

drewsreef said:
It was advertised for aquariums

But was it advertised for saltwater aquariums ?

blaxsun · Jul 10, 2022

drewsreef said:
I have a flipper magnet glass cleaner with the metal blade. Should i just remove the blade then?

Scrapers for saltwater can usually be left in the tank without issue (they'll have stainless steel blades), but I do periodically remove mine for inspection/cleaning.

((FORDTECH)) · Jul 10, 2022

drewsreef said:
I have a flipper magnet glass cleaner with the metal blade. Should i just remove the blade then?

I have always felt the longer it’s left in the tank the better chance of water getting to the magnets inside which could lead to a problem. For as easy as it it to just remove it and then put back in when needed that’s what I do. Also rinse off both inside and outside portions to keep salt off inside and felt clean on outside part. I have also found that if left inside tank you gunna need to replace the Velcro scrubbing surface more often cause the saltwater eats at the adhesive faster then being out of the water.

Paul B · Jul 21, 2022

I have a small jar of rusty nails. They are sitting in tank water and every couple of days I "shoot" about an ounce of that brown, rusty water in my reef.

So far, no problems but I have only been doing this for maybe a decade, but thats just me. According to these forums just about everything is bad

MnFish1 · Jul 25, 2022

Paul B said:
I have a small jar of rusty nails. They are sitting in tank water and every couple of days I "shoot" about an ounce of that brown, rusty water in my reef.

So far, no problems but I have only been doing this for maybe a decade, but thats just me. According to these forums just about everything is bad

You are definitely avant guard