Neodymium Magnets rusted in my tank - 50% SPS loss

[tmz]

I'd go with gac, polyfilter, maybe some cuprisorb too and several 15% water changes.
I think the magnets are a good bet as the culprit but it's hard to say since I don't know the other for variables. Sorry the trouble you are having. Good Luck.

 

[bertoni]

Well, I'm sorry to hear about the losses. That would be painful. I think I'd check for any signs of disease, too, at this point. If the PolyFilter turns blue, that's a sure sign of copper in the system.

 

[Rickyrooz1]

I have the rubber coated version from KJ and they have not affected my corals even though there is some rusting around the edges.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DC6BR-N52

 

[TheH]

Seems to be a common trend here, but the KJMagnetics magnets seem prone to rusting? All the KJMagnetics users are posting that even though their magnets have rusted they are not observing any effects? So everyone's is rusted?

An epoxy coated magnet might just leach iron rust, but the other magnets coated with a variety of metals (nickel, copper, gold) seem like they might be harmful in saltwater.

 

[HighlandReefer]

Nickel & copper are both toxic to marine organisms & some research has indicated that the two can be more toxic in combination.

 

[tmz]

It takes very little free copper to harm invertebrates.

 

[AaronM]

My dad owns a magnet importing/ ferrite manufactoring company. I've just started working there, so my knowledge is a bit swiss cheese. Still, 95% of neos seem to be coaked in nickle. The rest are coated in gold. Maybe gold coat would be better. Some, but not all, seem to be copper then nickle coat.

I use rubber coated like what rickyrooz1 shows to hold nori...instead of clips.

If nickle isn't good, what about samarium-cobalt? They're close to standard neos in strength. No idea how they would work in aquarium...just a thought

 

[bertoni]

There are a lot of variables involved, but I would pitch any magnets that were rusting in my tank. Not worth the risk, IMO.

 

[brad65ford]

updates anyone?

 

[AcroporAddict]

updates anyone?

You must be on an archaeological expedition. What a fossil.

 

[raynist]

:hmm3:

You must be on an archaeological expedition. What a fossil.

LOL, but since he asked, I lost every coral in that tank.

 

[miatawnt2b]

I have super glued frags to those magnets for a couple years and the frags actually encrust right over the magnets even when they are disintegrating. They can't be that bad if the frag will encrust right to the rusting magnet.

Do you use any type of filtration that would be scrubbing the heavy metals?

Sorry to hear about the loss ray. Always loved your tanks!

 

[steve9]

If it was a heavy metals you would see all your pods
dying.
Think of small hermits as the canary in the mine if they
die you have a problem.
I always run the big poly filters in my tanks in case of
heavy metal build up.
You may of had a build up of DOC/TOC as you cant test
them its just a guess if your skimmer /gac were enough.

 

[NeverlosT]

To re-resurrect this twice dead thread...

Polyfilter will onlt get your copper down so low and if you already have really low (NSW) levels of copper then polyfilter will actually add it. Use Cuprisorb, it is better for out and out removal.

I found this thread because I have been suffering significant SPS loss and I just found the little two little fishies glass cleaning magnet in my fuge had burst and rusted. Who knows what was in that damn thing. Contacting TLF now.

Ugh, I am so sorry that you lost all of your coral OP.

 

[iamwrasseman]

hmmmmm,

hmmmmm,

So after seeing this tread and i am awaiting my triton test and cleaning up my 400 gallon coral system i have found that one of my sendra pumps has its impeller coating worn off and is rusting . its very pitted and i must assume that this is not a good thing . when the test comes back i will keep you posted but something took out 100% of my system in 6 - 10 days with all regular tested parameters testing out perfect . lets see what triton says ?

 

[jestronix]

i have lost two tanks of SPS from rust, most probably the heavy metals in the rust. The problem is in an SPS tank changes take time, so when u see decline u start with the obvious, water changes, carbon, RO , salt mix , all parameters etc. it took me about two months of trying everything only to end up with my SPS dying. I've been reefing for 10 years and only twice have I lost SPS in a big way, each time I've found something rusting. All the other issues where easy to catch.

Next time I see a decent decline I'm rust hunting first!

My first rust issue was a pump and this time it was a light in the sump that copped spray and slowly leaked toxic oozzz into my wonderland.

 

[jestronix]

So after seeing this tread and i am awaiting my triton test and cleaning up my 400 gallon coral system i have found that one of my sendra pumps has its impeller coating worn off and is rusting . its very pitted and i must assume that this is not a good thing . when the test comes back i will keep you posted but something took out 100% of my system in 6 - 10 days with all regular tested parameters testing out perfect . lets see what triton says ?

What were the results ?

 

[deputydog95]

I just had a two little fishes magnet burst. It was a lettuce magnet that I never used... Not sure why I even had it in there...

I have been having base up STN for months now with no explanation. Rotation around the tank. LPS are fine and thriving.

Was going some maintenance today and noticed the cover of the magnet was plumping out. Took it out and had completely rusted out on both halves. Must have been going on for months. It was a rusty mess.

I'm hoping this was the problem and I'll see some rapid recovery.

 

[bertoni]

That looks like it could be a problem. Please let us know whether removing it helps.

 

[OrionN]

Best of luck