Galvanized pipe fittings leeching?

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M

merc123

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 16, 2007
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North GA
I've had an issue with cloudy water lately on my 125g. It's white in color and it started to happen after I changed some plastic fittings I had to galvanized fittings. Could they be leeching into the water causing higher metal content in the water?

I have brass fittings on my 36g tank and it's still crystal.

The water checks fine and nitrates are about 10ppm. I did a 50% w/c yesterday morning and then another 80% when I got home that night and it is still cloudy. They only thing "new" are the fittings. I have also added new microfiltration pads to the existing ones thinking maybe I just needed more but it hasn't helped. Right now I have the canister filter the fittings are on off and am just using one of my Xp3's.
 
Agree competely, the galvanized fittings will rust over time and where the threads join will rust first. When you get time, I would recommend changing them back to pvc.

Cheers
 
I didnt havent any threaded PVC and just used silicone as glue. Ill go to brass. The water got worse and the canister with the fittings is off. Any ideas why?
 
So you removed a working filter from the tank? maybe the other (I'm taking it for granted that you have more than one) filter is now overloaded and this is an algae bloom or the tank is re-cycling.

Yes, the galvanized fittings could rust but you've still got another 30-50 years before that's a worry. Some of my clients have 65yr old galvanized pipes that are going strong.

I don't believe that metal leaching is a cause either.

Cover the tank so no light gets in for 3-4 days and restrict feeding to see if it is algae (it should die out).

Dr Joe

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Dr Joe;1144991; said:
So you removed a working filter from the tank? maybe the other (I'm taking it for granted that you have more than one) filter is now overloaded and this is an algae bloom or the tank is re-cycling.

Yes, the galvanized fittings could rust but you've still got another 30-50 years before that's a worry. Some of my clients have 65yr old galvanized pipes that are going strong.

I don't believe that metal leaching is a cause either.

Cover the tank so no light gets in for 3-4 days and restrict feeding to see if it is algae (it should die out).

Dr Joe

.
Click to expand...
I put it back on the next day because it clouded again. I kept it covered for a week and fed once every 2 days. I even got algae destroyer and it is only moderately improved
 
Dr Joe;1144991; said:
So you removed a working filter from the tank? maybe the other (I'm taking it for granted that you have more than one) filter is now overloaded and this is an algae bloom or the tank is re-cycling.

Yes, the galvanized fittings could rust but you've still got another 30-50 years before that's a worry. Some of my clients have 65yr old galvanized pipes that are going strong.

I don't believe that metal leaching is a cause either.

Cover the tank so no light gets in for 3-4 days and restrict feeding to see if it is algae (it should die out).

Dr Joe

.
Click to expand...

OK, so maybe the pipes will LAST that long... I'd never chance using galvo fittings on a fish tank though... seems like a recipe for disaster. It's probably not causing the cloudy water, but for the cost of plastic fittings, I'd strongly recommend switching back.
 
FWIW I wouldn't use brass either, as it's a copper alloy, and corrodes quite badly in any moist, oxygen rich environment. Both galv and brass are more expensive than PVC, so I'm not sure what your motivation is here...
 
PVC fittings werent available for this. The galv fittings are rusted bad. I found one plastic elbow fitting but no straight ones at home depot. Guess I need to shop around
 
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