LittleMaui
Active Member
Would the rust pictured in this photo cause problems with SPS Coral growth and water chemistry? I asked the company and they said don't worry about it, but to me it looks worrisome.
Rust from Tunze ATO Magnet Holder
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joseserrano
2500 Club Member
Send water out to icp testing. You’ll find out for sure , or put a poly filter in and see if it changes color to metals present
Reefcowboy
Well-Known Member
This rust can cause issues and is one of those silent things that kill and makes you scratch your head and not know the root.
I use the Neptune ATK which uses a magnet also, but heavily coated the magnet casing edges with silicone being ive see the same thing happen.
Take the sensor out, file the rust out, and silicon the case back together makng sure it is waterproof when your done.
I use the Neptune ATK which uses a magnet also, but heavily coated the magnet casing edges with silicone being ive see the same thing happen.
Take the sensor out, file the rust out, and silicon the case back together makng sure it is waterproof when your done.
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LittleMaui
Active Member
I'm using this on a coral frag tank which is struggling to keep SPS looking good. They do great in my main tank and turn white/pale in this tank. I've been struggling with ALK, but worry this might also be a silent killer (as mentioned above).
mcarroll
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I dunno if it's just the weird lighting, but there appears to be coraline algae growth at the two opposite corners. U think that's possible?
The magnet surfaces look clear to me.
For what it's worth they're ceramic ferrite-type magnets as far as I know, so there's nothing crazy like neodymium to leak into your tank even if they were corroding - it would just be iron in the magnet reacting to oxygen in the water. Rusting. If that's the case it should be cleanable...at most with something like CLR and lots of rinsing, but maybe even just a toothbrush or some vinegar.
Quoting rvitko@Tunze from another forum talking about their magnets and the potential for rust:
"The second generation used ferrite magnets, these are inert ceramic, they also have the iron plate underneath and these are not fully coated, the ferrite itself is exposed as it is much weaker and coating reduces the strength. This style is completely inert, ferrite is a manmade magnetic ceramic and the plate underneath is iron, it is not plated or galvanized and contains no heavy metals. On this type, it is not impossible for the iron plate to be breached but the byproduct is only the rust we use as GFO, more commonly, the 3D surface has attracted magnetic material, such as GFO dust and this is the cause of the staining. 2010-2015, this the was the result of China nationalizing production of rare earth metals, as the virtual sole source they created a 6x cost increase in raw magnets in 2009, this was widely covered on reef blogs as it affected lanthanum and neodymium prices and both are used in reef tanks, one for phosphate control, the other for magnet holders and cleaners.
The third generation is the current 6025.515, it is basically a redesigned 1st generation which is much more stream lined, the protruding lobes with rubber feet have been replaced by a silicon ring and the magnets are thinner, they share a similar construction but we were able to achieve the same hold with less neodymium through better optimization of the design. 2015-present."
...and regarding a photo with a rusty-looking magnet:
"That is 2nd generation, the loose flaky rust is indicative of attracted material rusting on the surface, I would clean it with vinegar and a toothbrush, CLR will work faster but must be rinsed thoroughly as it is phosphoric acid and detergent."
The magnet surfaces look clear to me.
For what it's worth they're ceramic ferrite-type magnets as far as I know, so there's nothing crazy like neodymium to leak into your tank even if they were corroding - it would just be iron in the magnet reacting to oxygen in the water. Rusting. If that's the case it should be cleanable...at most with something like CLR and lots of rinsing, but maybe even just a toothbrush or some vinegar.
Quoting rvitko@Tunze from another forum talking about their magnets and the potential for rust:
"The second generation used ferrite magnets, these are inert ceramic, they also have the iron plate underneath and these are not fully coated, the ferrite itself is exposed as it is much weaker and coating reduces the strength. This style is completely inert, ferrite is a manmade magnetic ceramic and the plate underneath is iron, it is not plated or galvanized and contains no heavy metals. On this type, it is not impossible for the iron plate to be breached but the byproduct is only the rust we use as GFO, more commonly, the 3D surface has attracted magnetic material, such as GFO dust and this is the cause of the staining. 2010-2015, this the was the result of China nationalizing production of rare earth metals, as the virtual sole source they created a 6x cost increase in raw magnets in 2009, this was widely covered on reef blogs as it affected lanthanum and neodymium prices and both are used in reef tanks, one for phosphate control, the other for magnet holders and cleaners.
The third generation is the current 6025.515, it is basically a redesigned 1st generation which is much more stream lined, the protruding lobes with rubber feet have been replaced by a silicon ring and the magnets are thinner, they share a similar construction but we were able to achieve the same hold with less neodymium through better optimization of the design. 2015-present."
...and regarding a photo with a rusty-looking magnet:
"That is 2nd generation, the loose flaky rust is indicative of attracted material rusting on the surface, I would clean it with vinegar and a toothbrush, CLR will work faster but must be rinsed thoroughly as it is phosphoric acid and detergent."
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OP
LittleMaui
Active Member
Interesting, thanks . I decided to seal the magnet with silicone jusy in case .
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I can't speak for THIS particular magnet, but I know for a fact Tunze uses a different kind of magnet that doesn't corrode or rust in their impellers. It can actually form rust, but it's not the kind of rust that can harm a tank.. I wish I still had the link, but it has to do with the type of magnet they choose to utilize, which is much more expensive, and found in no other pump on the market.
Since I can't find that information anymore, I will just tell you it's some type of black magic. If I find it i'll update this post.
All that said.. That's in their impellers. It SHOULD be the same type as this... but I cannot guarantee it. I would highly suggest posting in the Tunze section because you will get a thorough answer.
Since I can't find that information anymore, I will just tell you it's some type of black magic. If I find it i'll update this post.
All that said.. That's in their impellers. It SHOULD be the same type as this... but I cannot guarantee it. I would highly suggest posting in the Tunze section because you will get a thorough answer.
