Okay so some of you probably have or have at least seen driftwood for sale at the LFS that is screwed into a thin piece of slate rock. I would like to add one to my tank but it has screws in it. Won't the screws rust? If they do will it poison the water?? even if the screws are galvanized I think eventually after years or so they would begin to rust. Also, how do they galvanize metal?....sounds like it's some heavy-duty chemistry that could, in and of itself, add toxins to the water. thanks all, have a good weekend.
driftwood question
- Thread starter thewaterboy
- Start date
Well, i know pretty much for a fact all the pieces that are screwed together over here are done with normal screws that will at some stage rust, if it hasn't already done so... as for does it effect the water chemistry, i'm honestly not sure since i don't personally use any pieces screwed together...
But if your that worried about it, you could always un-screw the slate from the bottom of the driftwood and place it in your tank... if it starts to float, either tie the slate to the bottom using cotton or fishing line, or you could get a rock and weigh it down from the top till it sinks...
But if your that worried about it, you could always un-screw the slate from the bottom of the driftwood and place it in your tank... if it starts to float, either tie the slate to the bottom using cotton or fishing line, or you could get a rock and weigh it down from the top till it sinks...
I wouldn't worry about the screw rusting over time. The amount of metal it might leach into your aquarium over time will just be diluted by your water changes. If your really that worried about it, I would suggest you take it apart, put some silicone in the screw hole, between the wood and slate and on the bottom between the slate and screw. Then you won't have to worry about it to much. The slate is there to make it easier for the driftwood to stand up in the tank and to help anchor it down in the water.
I think the problem with using galvanized screws is that they leach zinc into the water. I use stainless steel screws on my driftwood and have for years. The last piece of DW I removed from a tank after years only showed very minimal signs of rust.
I have to agree with BadOleRoss. Stainless steel screws are more rust resistant. Though IMO, if you are really concerned about the screws rusting and placing zinc into the water, I would seal the top of the screw heads with the use of an aquarium safe G.E. silicone.
thanks for your input, i like the stainless steal screw idea and just removing the slate all together....if I can get it to sink in the right position. maybe i'll use the stainless steal screws and the silicone.....this is probably unnecessary but if it gives peace of mind then it's worth it. thanks again.
I always use brass screws. The stainless steel screws you buy at the store is a lower grade of stainless and they will get some rust over time. Brass is the safest was to go.
You could alway cover the exposed part of a stainless steel screw with a dab of silicone then you don't have to worry.
You could alway cover the exposed part of a stainless steel screw with a dab of silicone then you don't have to worry.
I dont use slate on my driftwood. I have always used acrylic and covered the acrylic with my substrate to hold the driftwood down. Just made sure the acrylic is a decent size. A 6" x 6" piece of acrylic on the bottom of a 24" long piece of driftwood isnt going to hold it down.
Well I'm currently using a pice of DW with slate screwed onto it that is easily over a decade old, and it has been in my tank for months and I haven't had any problems from it so far (and the screw is rusted).