stainless steel corrosion experience

[sp1der]

Hi,

I have just return from my reservist and only then notice some serious corrosion with the stainless steel inlet mesh that was commonly use for shrimp tank. The corrosion occur at the back of the ss mesh which I fail to notice it until today.


I think i have few crs missing due to the inlet is wide open as they might get suck in. No dead body and the rest looks ok to me.


this is my 2nd ss mesh inlet filter due upgrade to bigger canister, the first was totally fine for years of usage.
This was purchase for less than 2 months from a reputable aquarium shop.
I am concern if I am the only affected or a lousier stainless grade is sold to us (same brand from first mesh (years back) to 2nd mesh just about 2 months back).

The recent changes are upgrading of ss mesh filter, canister and canister media which only consist of eheim substrat pro and gex charcoal.

i dont really think there is any issue with my water or setup since my setup is commonly use by many. Do share if you know why or how I can avoid it.


crs shrimp
cherry shrimp
amano shrimp
ottos
nerite snail


My aquarium environment:

ph 6.4
chiller @ 25 degree
ammonia @ 0
nitrite @ 0
nitrate @ 0-5
kh @ 0
gh test kit not working
tds @ 123

weekly dosage of
seachem Excel
seachem Nitrogen
seachem Potassium
seachem Phosphorus

[wongce]

There are different grades of stainless steel(ss). Of course the more expensive type like ss316, marine grade or even surgical grade is prefered but the price tag will be shocking..

Nowadays cheap SS stuff flood the market... I use a magnet to test them...if magnet sticks....i won't buy for my cookware and aquatium. Well its my lay-man style of checking.

[Urban Aquaria]

Yeah, i agree... looks like the stainless steel used in your recent batch of intake guards isn't the same quality as the previous one. I guess this filter guard design is made by different manufacturers, hence there are variations in material quality.

Btw, i've found that newborn shrimps still get sucked into the filter when i use this particular intake guard design (still find shrimplets in the canister filter with it in use), seems the mesh isn't fine enough. The slim ones from gUSH are better, they are made from much finer mesh material (but tend to clog up quicker too).

The other alternative is to use sponge intake guards made of dense material, those will definitely prevent shrimplets from being sucked into the filter.

[sp1der]

i was referring how to avoid ss mesh filter from corrosion. My first ss mesh filter didnt give me any problem.
But I would like a confirm that no one else experience such a situation like me or to be certain this is due to the poor quality of SS use in the product.

I will still get a ss mesh filter as my first choice, but getting a reputable one is a big question mark....

[tubularistical]

I suspect it's the metal quality too - I have an older mesh that hasn't rusted after more than a year in a tank, but the one I just bought for the new tank I'm setting up seems to have discolouration of the metal near the joint (not sure if due to heat treatment or actual rust)

[burp]

I just bought one from a shop in Serangoon North for $5. Reached home and realised one side of it is rusted. Threw it away as it will cost me in transport for me to go back and change.

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[tumbz]

That's why for my mesh screens I grow mini xmas moss on, I use only 316 ss. It cost 19 bucks from grainger for a 12 x 12 piece! !

[tubularistical]

I was wondering though, other than shrimp getting sucked into filters through the defects, is rusting SS really that harmful? Isn't iron oxide quite inert, and iron ions good for the plants? This coming from a planted tank keeper though, I don't have expensive shrimp in my tank.

[sp1der]

shrimp still alive....i guess no copper was mix into this ss filter.
but having the corrosion is bad enough for shrimp to get suck in

[burp]

Just tried "sewing" the bottom of that normal black sponge with a hole through the centre and fit it to my 2213. Looks prefect! And easy maintenance without fear of shrimplets getting suck in.

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[tubularistical]

I used to do that sponge method too acts as extra filtration and holes definitely too small for shrimp to enter. But one day my dog stole it when I was washing and completely destroyed it!

[sp1der]

Uncle replaced a new one for me. No problem after many months. Must be pirated batch issue

[acetone]

probably just iron (rust) from the corrosion.. but still shocking.