Rusting MAG3!? (pics included)

[Lobster]

I bought a second-hand skimmer with a MAG3 pump from the classified section. To my surprise, the screws on the MAG3 are quite rusty and the plastic is stained with it. Is this normal? I've used several other MAG pumps and never encountered this. I feel kind of swindled by the seller - they did not mention this.

What would you do?

Here are pics (about 300kb each):
http://i.somethingawful.com/radium/reef/IMG_0480.jpg
http://i.somethingawful.com/radium/reef/IMG_0481.jpg

 

[xtrstangx]

Normal for the screws to rust. No biggy.

The amount of rust they will put in your tank is no big deal, IMO. As long as you do your weekly water changes, anything extremely harmful will be removed.

 

[cal91666]

Take one of your screws over to HD or Lowes and get the same size in stainless steel.

 

[Lobster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6525986#post6525986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cal91666
Take one of your screws over to HD or Lowes and get the same size in stainless steel.

Thanks, I think I'll do that and sand the rust off the plastic. I'd rather not have rust in there considering my tank is only 30G.

I had a MAG on an EV150 skimmer for nearly two years and didnt get rust like that. Weird.

 

[Lobster]

Since its pay-to-search at RC, I found this thread elsewhere that says there are actually two types of MAG pumps. One is prone to rusting. Guess that explains why my other one did not rust - probably had the other model.

 

[Entropy]

Mine never rusted in the three years I have been using it (Mag7). You can just replace the screws as mentioned, and you are all set.