Metals in fresh water tanks?

I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out of
the previously mentioned metals. The hoses do not securely hold the
sponge prefilter which keeps my babies from getting vacuumed out of the
tank and into an unknowing death in the filter, unnoticed (at least
until it is too late). I am convinced that the previous mentioned
metals would be dangerous in a salt water tank, wreaking havok in it.

Could someone recommend a particular anti-parasite medication that
won't harm the biological filter or plants, which I might have a use
for in the distant future? Later, thanks.

Why not just go to your local autoparts store & get stainless steel hose
clamps.

--
Craig
________________________________
www.CanadianCray.tk
www.Bluecrayfish.com
wrote in message
ups.com...
I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out of
the previously mentioned metals. The hoses do not securely hold the
sponge prefilter which keeps my babies from getting vacuumed out of the
tank and into an unknowing death in the filter, unnoticed (at least
until it is too late). I am convinced that the previous mentioned
metals would be dangerous in a salt water tank, wreaking havok in it.

Could someone recommend a particular anti-parasite medication that
won't harm the biological filter or plants, which I might have a use
for in the distant future? Later, thanks.

ect: Metals in fresh water tanks?
From:
Date: 1/29/2005 12:40 A.M. Central Standard Time
Message-id: . com

I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out of
the previously mentioned metals. The hoses do not securely hold the
sponge prefilter which keeps my babies from getting vacuumed out of the
tank and into an unknowing death in the filter, unnoticed (at least
until it is too late). I am convinced that the previous mentioned
metals would be dangerous in a salt water tank, wreaking havok in it.

Could someone recommend a particular anti-parasite medication that
won't harm the biological filter or plants, which I might have a use
for in the distant future? Later, thanks.

Hello Larry.
As far as I know, the only "safe" metal for tanks is Stainless Steel.
Galvanized.....I'm thinking no.

As for a parasite treatment....this would depend on the species of fish in your
tank.
A wonderful parasite treatment is Quick Cure. However, you can't use it on
scaleless fish such as Loaches, or inverts, such as snails Fiddler Crabs, etc.
The bottle of Quick Cure says it treats Ich..but it treats a lot more than just
Ich.

TYNK 7 wrote:
ect: Metals in fresh water tanks?
From:
Date: 1/29/2005 12:40 A.M. Central Standard Time
Message-id: . com

I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out of
the previously mentioned metals. The hoses do not securely hold the
sponge prefilter which keeps my babies from getting vacuumed out of the
tank and into an unknowing death in the filter, unnoticed (at least
until it is too late). I am convinced that the previous mentioned
metals would be dangerous in a salt water tank, wreaking havok in it.

Could someone recommend a particular anti-parasite medication that
won't harm the biological filter or plants, which I might have a use
for in the distant future? Later, thanks.


Hello Larry.
As far as I know, the only "safe" metal for tanks is Stainless Steel.
Galvanized.....I'm thinking no.

As for a parasite treatment....this would depend on the species of fish in your
tank.
A wonderful parasite treatment is Quick Cure. However, you can't use it on
scaleless fish such as Loaches, or inverts, such as snails Fiddler Crabs, etc.
The bottle of Quick Cure says it treats Ich..but it treats a lot more than just
Ich.

I've treated clowns with Quick Cure. It worked fine (unlike my current
ich woes). Just go gently and use a half dose. I don't know about
other loaches or inverts. I also like to suppliment parasite medicine
with copper - AquariSol is a good brand. Again, toxic to inverts.

Elaine

--
__ Elaine T __
__' http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__

TYNK 7 wrote:
ect: Metals in fresh water tanks?
From:
Date: 1/29/2005 12:40 A.M. Central Standard Time
Message-id: . com

I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I
need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out
of
the previously mentioned metals. The hoses do not securely hold the
sponge prefilter which keeps my babies from getting vacuumed out of
the
tank and into an unknowing death in the filter, unnoticed (at least
until it is too late). I am convinced that the previous mentioned
metals would be dangerous in a salt water tank, wreaking havok in
it.

Could someone recommend a particular anti-parasite medication that
won't harm the biological filter or plants, which I might have a use
for in the distant future? Later, thanks.

Hello Larry.
As far as I know, the only "safe" metal for tanks is Stainless Steel.
Galvanized.....I'm thinking no.
[snip]

There are other metals that would work, to wit, titanium, platinum,
gold.

--Trapper

Thanks for the great suggestions guys and gals. I recently used quick
cure to heal 2 female guppies in a hospital tank and unless the
disease was a rare disease that always went away I'd say that the quick
cure worked great. I also added salt (measured amount). I plan on
getting stainless steel hose clamps for future use of the vortex filter
if I ever use it again. I actually found a filter media by coralife
called pure flow that has pores no bigger that 50 microns and I am
using it in a canister filter and the water has been crystal ever since
minus the on time my cat stepped on the surge protector/power switch
and I hadn't notices the filter wasn't on for a day and by the time I
found out the water had become a little cloudy but since then the water
has been crystal clear and I highly recommend it to others. I bought
the 50 micron version of the product at its largest size for around
$09.00 and I have plenty of it left for future use and it works
wonderfully. I use a fluval 404 outside canister filter for my other
tank (a combination shallow aquatic turtle tank with guppies in it, and
a biowheel pro 60 hanging from the top of the tank rim down in the
bottom of the tank by air hose so the biowheel pro 60 can operate right
above the water. I have the canister filter's output connected to the
biowheel pro 60 for excellent filtration of the fish/turtle tank.

Summary - Is quick cure safe for biological filters and plants as well
of fish? Thanks guys, especially about the stainless steel auto parts
store and quick (not twist) ties recommendations and all of the rest of
you all. Later!

wrote in message
oups.com...
snip

Summary - Is quick cure safe for biological filters and plants as well
of fish? Thanks guys, especially about the stainless steel auto parts
store and quick (not twist) ties recommendations and all of the rest of
you all. Later!

Yes, Quick Cure (if memory serves) is Malachite Green and Formalin. My
understanding is that while it will not affect plants or bacteria in a
significant way, it is still quite toxic, so you should avoid exposing
the fish to very prolonging periods of exposure, and the dosage must be
reduced for small and scaleless fishes. Two-three weeks of low level
exposure would be the maximum that I would use.
--
www.NetMax.tk

wrote in message
ups.com...
I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out of
the previously mentioned metals.
snip

I guess no one remembers when aquariums were held together with
galvanized iron frames (or aluminium or stainless steel if you had deeper
pockets). I remember glass tops falling into the water because so much
of the iron lip had rusted away. Zinc salts (galvanized iron) have been
reported as poisonous to fish, however for the occasional use you are
suggesting, I would be sceptical about its harmful effects. Whatever
effect it would have would be magnified by how acidic your water is (low
pH = more leeching) so ymmv.
--
www.NetMax.tk

"NetMax" wrote in message
...
I guess no one remembers when aquariums were held together with galvanized
iron frames (or aluminium or stainless steel if you had deeper pockets).
I remember glass tops falling into the water because so much of the iron
lip had rusted away. Zinc salts (galvanized iron) have been reported as
poisonous to fish, however for the occasional use you are suggesting, I
would be sceptical about its harmful effects. Whatever effect it would
have would be magnified by how acidic your water is (low pH = more
leeching) so ymmv.

I remember! I had a tank like this in the late 1970's. It used putty to hold
the glass in the frames too.

I seem to remember the "science" was a lot simpler then too

Oz

--
My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith

In article , NetMax
wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...
I need to know if galvanized steel with zinc in it is ok to put in
fresh water tanks with fish and plants in them? The reason why I need
to know is that I am occasionally using a vortex diatomaceous filter
(xl model) and I only have had success by using hose clamps made out of
the previously mentioned metals.
snip

I guess no one remembers when aquariums were held together with
galvanized iron frames (or aluminium or stainless steel if you had deeper
pockets). I remember glass tops falling into the water because so much
of the iron lip had rusted away. Zinc salts (galvanized iron) have been
reported as poisonous to fish, however for the occasional use you are
suggesting, I would be sceptical about its harmful effects. Whatever
effect it would have would be magnified by how acidic your water is (low
pH = more leeching) so ymmv.

I would guess that the amount of Zinc leaching into the water would be
low, as long as you don't leave the clamps in there continuously, and
as long as you don't add any treatment to your tank that contains copper
(the copper will plate out and the zinc will dissolve).

Before you do that, though, did you try using those plastic cable ties?
(The locking ones with the ribbed surface on one side, not twist ties
or velcro)