Rusty SS bulkhead filters

[keego]

Hi all,

 

After some advice on rusty SS filters and how people deal with it. They been in use for about 3 months in my crystal / TBM tanks

 

WP

TDS-140

PH-6.4

Nirate- 10

Nirite-0

Ammonia-0

GK-6 

Kh-1

Temp-22-24

Benibachi soil

 

I notice the pH raise over a 4 week period to 7.2, & GH to 7 so replace filters with spare and slowly reduced WP back. Lucky no looses 

 

Thanks

 

Keego

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fishmosy]

Unfortunately Stainless isn't always stainless. There are different grades and all are prone to rust eventually. I'm unsure what grade yours would be but by the look, they could be as low as 308. 316 is generally pretty good in freshwater but the low pH we run in shrimp tanks probably makes them more prone to rust.

My suggestion is to go for a plastic alternative, even if that means some DIY to glue some fine mesh into a plastic shroud.

[keego]

Thanks Fishmosy, I'm hoping someone can post some sample pic's

[buck]

yeah i got some ebay cheapy "stainless steel" prefilters and any thing that is above the water line is rusting on mine, i guess ill have to go back to a sponge over the intake :S 

[OzShrimp]

Wow they rusted pretty bad

[keego]

Yeah, I know I'm not alone on this 1

[jc12]

Where can you get 316 SS bulkheads then? Surely 316 marine grade would work wouldn't it?

[fishmosy]

316 should be OK. Any corrosion should be minimal. If I have a chance I will do a DIY article on creating your own full plastic meshed overflows. I made some for a fish system a few years back but it should work just as well for shrimp.

[fishmosy]

Interested to know too, what size is the mesh on the rusted overflows? About 1mm square?

[keego]

Interested to know too, what size is the mesh on the rusted overflows? About 1mm square?

 

About 1mm or less. Got them from the same place as Jay get them. I understand Jays been having the same issues

 

 http://www.powellindustrial.com.au/images/stories/pdfs/valves_full.pdf

[fishmosy]

Sweet. I'll get together the materials to demonstrate how to make an equivalent strainer that will never rust.

[Squiggle]

I have so I'd be interested to see your thread Ben.

[fishmosy]

Sorry guys, gonna be a couple more days until I can get to the DIY article. Getting smashed by work and family commitments.

[keego]

Sorry guys, gonna be a couple more days until I can get to the DIY article. Getting smashed by work and family commitments.

No worries, known the feeling!!!

[northboy]

A different slant on the rust is, All good if you grow plants, as we add iron based ferts and many years ago it was the done thing to put rusty nails or simular in the substrate under your best plants to boost there growth.  

 

Unless the shrimp are sensitive to it no harm, aside from looking like KRAP, just a different look at it??

 

Bob

 

PS I have rusty nails under some of my plants still

[inverted]

A different slant on the rust is, All good if you grow plants, as we add iron based ferts and many years ago it was the done thing to put rusty nails or simular in the substrate under your best plants to boost there growth.

Unless the shrimp are sensitive to it no harm, aside from looking like KRAP, just a different look at it??

Bob

PS I have rusty nails under some of my plants still

Time for a rescape lol Edited January 17, 2015 by inverted

[fishmosy]

Added my DIY article here

http://shrimpkeepersforum.com/forum/index.php/topic/8372-diy-overflow/

 

I'm sorry that its taken so long to get done everyone.

Edited May 14, 2017 by fishmosy