What are the effects of elevated levels of iron in a reef tank??

flyyyguy · #1 09/05/2007, 11:19 AM

I would like to know specifically how your fish, corals, and reef health could/would be affected both short and long term if you were to somehow introduce a lot of iron.

Im talking specifically iron rust, but any and all knowledge on the subject appreciated.

bertoni · #2 09/05/2007, 12:43 PM

This article covers iron in detail:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/aug2002/chem.htm

Iron rust generally won't be a problem in a tank, for reasons that are discussed in the article. The article on GFOs also covers the issues.

What is the situation at hand?

flyyyguy · #3 09/05/2007, 01:07 PM

Thanks for the reply.

Here is a pic of what gave me cause for concern and wanting to know more specificacally.

The corals all look fine, but when i lifted the pump out of the sump for routine maintenance rusty water and chunks of rust poured out the back of the pump. I wouldnt have even taken off the back cover and looked if the rusty water didnt pour out.

I just hear many people say the rust is no big deal but I wanted to know specifically of how iron is used and what overdosing can cause. In that link he is talking about is a different form of iron than rust, which may be different?? I dont know. He also talks as though he has dosed a large amount.....5 grams in 4 years, but in looking at that pump and in seeing what poured out and how much I wiped off, that surely seems like a signifigantly larger dose than he says is a lot.
That pump is only 5 months old, when it started I dont know.

Here is a reply I recieved on another forum.

"They way Galleon explained it to me under certain circumstances the excess Iron can cause oxygen poisoning in the tissues. I don't remember the mechanism that causes this but it's a slow process over time resulting in a slow steady decline in tank health with none of the usual params showing warning signs "

I would like to know more concernign rust specifically and if anyone can elaborate on what I quoted above.

bertoni · #4 09/05/2007, 01:11 PM

GFO products, like PhosBan, are rust and don't seem to cause problems, but I'm not much of a chemist, so I might be overlooking something. Unfortunately, the pump is not likely iron, but more likely an alloy, and the other metals in the mix can cause problems.

flyyyguy · #5 09/07/2007, 01:36 AM

Anybody else have anything to offer??

David Grigor · #6 09/07/2007, 11:18 AM

What was the brand/model of the pump ?

flyyyguy · #7 09/07/2007, 11:20 AM

Its an SP4.

Euroreef modded Genx 4100

Boomer · #8 09/07/2007, 08:19 PM

WOW, that is a nasty lookin' pump

I have no specific data on what will happen on overdose. Jon posted about the best ref.

flyyyguy · #9 09/07/2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Boomer
WOW, that is a nasty lookin' pump

lol. yeah, I thought so too. That pump was new in box 5 months ago. I wouldnt have even taken off the back cover to find the rust if rusty water didnt pour out of it into the sump when I took the pump out for routine maintenance.

I ran some carbon and pulled a few large water changes a few days in a row when I found it. Just trying to learn a little about what exactly that could cause.

I wont run GFO's as I had a problem with them once, but im thinking that had to release more FE than running gfo ever could.