Metals in fresh water tanks?

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)