Radion RMS Mount Screw Corrosion

[atp0726]

Been in the hunt for potential metal contamination in my tank. I have a few encrusting montis and Acropora struggling when I feel they should be doing very well. Montis especially almost completely fade until I do a large WC and they start to color back up before fading again.

I recently discovered one of the screws that holds my Radion mount appears to be corroded and possibly flaking into the tank. The screw in the picture usually has a rubber cap but even with it on i found what looked like metal particles right below resting the edge of my screen top. Every time I take the screen off it rubs on the rubber cap and may be dropping the corroded metal in the tank.

I have since cleaned the bolt off. I wiped some of the flakes onto a piece of white paper. When I smudge it with my finger it leaves a rust colored residue.

I am waiting for my ati icp test to come back. Could corrosion of what appears to be stainless steel bolts cause an issue?

 

[RobZilla04]

Absolutely. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aluminum-zinc-and-tin-high_possible-source.535982/#post-5562808

Try to swap to a plastic bolt/screw if you can. Will be interesting to see how high the levels of pollutants are when you get the results back. I recently found my Aqua UV Sterilizer to be corroding/rusting on the wiper and wiper seal. Increased Aluminum and Tin showed up on my ATI lab test. Since I've removed and am running Poly Filters and Cupisorb. Going to follow with GAC and additional waterchanges, then send out another lab test in about 6 weeks.

 

[atp0726]

Absolutely. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/aluminum-zinc-and-tin-high_possible-source.535982/#post-5562808

Try to swap to a plastic bolt/screw if you can. Will be interesting to see how high the levels of pollutants are when you get the results back. I recently found my Aqua UV Sterilizer to be corroding/rusting on the wiper and wiper seal. Increased Aluminum and Tin showed up on my ATI lab test. Since I've removed and am running Poly Filters and Cupisorb. Going to follow with GAC and additional waterchanges, then send out another lab test in about 6 weeks.

That bolt is holding the entire weight of the Radion. Would love to put a plastic one on there but not sure it would hold?

Yes, I am anxiously awaiting the ICP. I went through all my pumps this past weekend and found a rust colored residue in my return pump. Now wondering if the internal magnet was collecting some of the particles from the corroding screw.

 

[Jaysushi]

@atp0726 any update on this? I have a little rubber sleeve that came with my mount to cover this screw, but I do notice it has been rusting a bit. So far I am not seeing any of my acros effected by this.

 

[Scorpius]

I see why Kessil uses LARGE plastic bolts on their light mounts now.

 

[atp0726]

@atp0726 any update on this? I have a little rubber sleeve that came with my mount to cover this screw, but I do notice it has been rusting a bit. So far I am not seeing any of my acros effected by this.

Icp didn’t show any metal contamination. I did call ecotech, it’s been a while, but I believe they replaced them for free. i ended up doing a series of large WC and everything began to improve. The tank water must have been missing something or something needed to be removed. Never was able to pinpoint.

 

[Jaysushi]

@atp0726 Mine must have been rusted for a little bit now. I never noticed any negative effects on acros or corals in general. Probably because I keep the rubber sleeve on it and hardly ever touch it.

 

[atp0726]

@atp0726 Mine must have been rusted for a little bit now. I never noticed any negative effects on acros or corals in general. Probably because I keep the rubber sleeve on it and hardly ever touch it.

I kept the rubber sleeve on it but my screen top did rub on the bolt potentially knocking the corroded particles into the tank. I have since upgraded tanks so no longer any concern for me.