Stainless Steel in Reef Tank?

[AHardinger]

Hi,

Has anyone ever put any Stainless Steel valves in use on thier reef tanks. I question specifically 304 and 316 stainless. The reason I ask is because I would like to put some stanless steel automated valves into use on my future reef tank, and I would like some advice before I take this idea to far.

Thanks.

[humbug]

Im not familiar with the number grading system of stainless, sorry. But I know that a low grade stainless will eventually rust(like those "stainless" hang-on thermometers, ha!), you *should* be OK if the valves are a high quality stainless, hopefully someone who knows more about metals will have some better advice for you.

all stainless steal will rust in saltwater. i'm not a SS expert, but i believe 440 is the best. if yours is lower grade, i will obviously rust faster.

HTH

henry

[FishDaddy]

AH,
I've been around a lot of stainless on sailboats in saltwater and it does corrode, though much less than other steel.
I wouldn't take any chances.
Dick

Stainless steel is somewhat rust resistant but will corrode and release toxic metal in a SW environment. Off the top of my head the only two metals that are SW safe are gold and titanium, thats why its used for grounding probes. Definatly not worth the risk
Humbug, long time no see guy welcome back

------------------
I thought I was me, but I was wrong

[This message has been edited by geedoug (edited 09-21-2000).]

[gregt]

Isn't stainless steel what all of our PH impellers are made from (except the very expensive titanium ones)?

Just curious, but I thought most PH's used stainless steel.

------------------
-Greg
Greg's Aquarium Links

[gregt]

^

GregT, I have a sen 900 and a host of cheap PHs and the all have plastic impellors

------------------
I thought I was me, but I was wrong

[humbug]

I think gregt meant the impeller shafts. :-) My rios used to get a slight corrosion on the shaft ends where the rubber bushings went on. Used to because I ripped them all out of my tank because of all the reports of them exploding . My MJs don't seem to have the corrosion problem...

P.S.
Yeah, I'm back, I was just taking a nap...I was only gone for 5 mins., right? ;-)

[horge]

Hi AH

Henry is dead right about all stainless steels succumbing sooner or later.

The thing is, you can get away with a little corrosion affecting PH impeller shafts because they don't mechanically come into contact with moving solid surfaces: they just spin in the water and hold onto the impeller and the plastic-sleeved magnet (granted low-grade SS can swell and split plastic sleeves, but that's a severe case).

A valve is a whole different barrel of pig's knuckles. Even a little corrosion in the wrong place can wreak havoc with threaded or even flat metal-to-solid contact points.

I'd go with plastic

[Alice]

We have some very nice new plastic valves at the shop I work at...they have a larger handle and turn so easily! I'll ask where the owner got them from and let you know!

~Alice

------------------
Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too!

I have also seen some of the better pumps touting their ceramic shafts. In a pump or PH the shaft and armature is in an isolated little pocket versus the whole volume of water flowing through a valve body

[calvin]

I worked at a place that used a lot of PVC stuff. There was a source for PVC valves that had solenoids so that they could be electrically actuated. I would think that is what you are looking for and would be the best choice. The ones we used were on or off, (no flow control).

[bobc]

What about brass valves? Are these reef safe?

Bob

No brass is a copper alloy,too early to think, I forget what else is in it