Stream Mounting Bolts

[chadm]

Hi,

I've been having some unexplained issues with my tank lately, corals dying. Losing colour etc. I have been beating myself trying to figure it out. Well today I was looking in my tank, and saw something. The mounting bolts for my 6060 are tarnishing green. They are not submerged but it is attached to my overflow box and gets a bit of water on them on occasion. Do the mounting bolts contain copper? Should I make sure the bolts do not touch water at all?

Best Regards
Chad

 

[rvitko]

They contain no copper, they are 304 stainless with a black anodized coating, they are completely non toxic. The anodized coating does turn a light green color with exposure to salt water. What you describe sounds like a bleaching that would be caused by changes in lighting or temperature in most cases.

 

[chadm]

Hi, thanks for the info.. Unfortunately the problem is not related to lighting nor temp. Temp is auto controled and always spot on, lighting has not changed. Corals are degrading daily. At a complete loss at the moment.

Anyways, thanks again for the fast response!

Best Regards
Chad

 

[rvitko]

Maybe some pump or item is leaching copper, do you detect any stray voltage? I would use a voltmeter and put the red lead to the aquarium and the black lead to a ground on an outlet nearby. If you find stray voltage a pump is breached and copper is coming from the coil of the pump, if it is weak you may not be able to feel it when you have shoes on- insulated. You could also run a copper test.

 

[chadm]

ya, I might have to do that.. I'm just stabbing in the dark right now to find an answer to the situation lol.. Saw the green bolt and thought it might contain copper.

I'll take up your advice tho, try the voltage test. Maybe get that copper filter thing I've heard about see if it turns green

 

[rvitko]

Polyfilter, it works very well, but it may turn other colors. For example it usually turns brown and that might overshadow any green.

 

[chadm]

I guess it depends how long you have it in the tank for.. maybe a lower flow area will prevent the ditritus from getting in the filter as much.