Brass fitting in reef Aquarium.

wilsonjr572 · 04/28/2008, 08:04 PM

I needed to use a brass fitting in my plumbing on my reef aquarium. Will this hurt any of the corals, fish or inverts? Thanks Jim

dunham16 · 04/28/2008, 08:15 PM

yes it will effect your corals and inverts. why would you need to use it just curious?

Twz · 04/28/2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dunham16
yes it will effect your corals and inverts. why would you need to use it just curious?

What?
I have been using brass fitting on my water top off for years...
no I'll effects
I think you're thinking of copper?

seapug · 04/28/2008, 08:26 PM

Brass contains copper so you'll want to avoid it.

Twz · 04/28/2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
Brass contains copper so you'll want to avoid it.

WHOOA =(
I just made sure and this is 100% true...
So i have been putting copper into my tanks for years =S
just wondering,
Dont you think this would have killed off my corals?

Doahh · 04/28/2008, 08:39 PM

Which end of the Ro/DI?
Input or output?

enderfm · 04/28/2008, 08:40 PM

If you top off using regular RO water it may be leaching at such a small rate that it is not effecting anything, RO water is much less curosive than salt water. or possibly the bonding that takes place when making brass keeps it from leaching out, however if at all you can avoid it better safe than sorry.

Twz · 04/28/2008, 08:43 PM

Yea, Im changing it out tomorrow
And its on both sides of my RO/DI

msobon · 04/28/2008, 10:21 PM

Just an FYI for everyone most of your plumbing in the house is copper, tap water will flow through hundreds of feet of copper. The only reason why Copper cannot be used in marine applications in where you have direct contact with salt water as copper will "leach" or more like corrode/disolve into the salt water. If you're using it in a RO/DI it should be fine I wouldn't panic, some people use tap water and are fine.. Just remember not to plumb your closed loop with copper or you will find yourself with extremely healthy fish but no corals will survive

Kep · 04/28/2008, 10:23 PM

It most likely is not a problem, but replace it if you can just to be safe.

OnoIgotICH · 04/28/2008, 10:58 PM

what do you think would happen if you used it with air injection?

widmer · 04/28/2008, 11:00 PM

If you bought the brass fitting because you couldnt find a nylon(plastic) fitting that was quite right, just buy a couple different nylon fittings that have a feature you like, cut them with a hacksaw and reglue with cyanoacrylate super glue. I've done it numerous times and it works GREAT.

Twz · 04/28/2008, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OnoIgotICH
what do you think would happen if you used it with air injection?

Hehe,
I wouldn't use it after that but i have been using a brass ball valve for better control of a seaclone skimmer and once again i haven't really had any problem's to date

aastretch64 · 04/28/2008, 11:06 PM

Not only does it contain copper but it is also has a very severe reaction with saltwater and brass fittings will begin to leak in a matter of weeks.

Alex

OnoIgotICH · 04/28/2008, 11:09 PM

i've used brass fittings for years...no problems..if anything the copper helps then

Twz · 04/28/2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OnoIgotICH
i've used brass fittings for years...no problems..if anything the copper helps then

I dont think copper helps in a reef tank...
in a fish only system yes
but it will kill a reef
im thinking that it's not really affecting the tank because
it is in such small quantities.

tkeracer619 · 04/29/2008, 12:07 AM

Probably more copper from your salt mix.... but I wouldnt risk it. Before RO is fine.

Also DI water is not friendly. It will corrode metals.

saveafish · 04/29/2008, 06:03 AM

The copper pipes with lead based soder is why the phosphates are added to the city water supply. This keeps it from leaching in to the drinking water. making the copper and lead ineart. In R/O and in salt water the phosphates are taking out, Causing the leaching process of copper from the brass. pure liquid phosphate is blue color like the blue toilet water in port a jons

greenbean36191 · 04/29/2008, 07:14 AM

RO/DI water is free of impurities, so is a very good scavenger. It will pick up whatever it comes into contact with that isn't inert, including copper from brass fittings.

The effects of copper are cumulative. That means chronic exposure to even small levels below the threshold of toxicity (like you would likely get from a brass fitting) can cause problems that accumulate over time. Such problems would take a long time to occur and then the effects would be spread out over some time depending on how long the animals had been exposed and how sensitive they are. You wouldn't see the same sort of problems you see with acute copper toxicity where all of your inverts drop dead suddenly.

04/28/2008, 08:04 PM	#1
wilsonjr572 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7	Brass fitting in reef Aquarium. I needed to use a brass fitting in my plumbing on my reef aquarium. Will this hurt any of the corals, fish or inverts? Thanks Jim

04/28/2008, 08:26 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Brass contains copper so you'll want to avoid it. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/28/2008, 08:39 PM	#6
Doahh Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Loomis CA Posts: 2,398	Which end of the Ro/DI? Input or output? __________________ -Josh Current Tank Info: 90 Gal Custom SW Reef

04/29/2008, 12:07 AM	#17
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Probably more copper from your salt mix.... but I wouldnt risk it. Before RO is fine. Also DI water is not friendly. It will corrode metals. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

04/29/2008, 06:03 AM	#18
saveafish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: indiana Posts: 873	The copper pipes with lead based soder is why the phosphates are added to the city water supply. This keeps it from leaching in to the drinking water. making the copper and lead ineart. In R/O and in salt water the phosphates are taking out, Causing the leaching process of copper from the brass. pure liquid phosphate is blue color like the blue toilet water in port a jons __________________ If it was'nt for the sea I could not see or sing ( Jimmy Buffet ) I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other Reefing is'nt how long you been in it. It is how deep you get in it. Current Tank Info: 400g display build, 300g sump, 75g ATO, 75g refug and a few more. Close to a 1000g. 200g mixing station.

04/28/2008, 08:15 PM	#2
dunham16 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: connecticut Posts: 259	yes it will effect your corals and inverts. why would you need to use it just curious?

04/28/2008, 08:40 PM	#7
enderfm Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: TN Posts: 26	If you top off using regular RO water it may be leaching at such a small rate that it is not effecting anything, RO water is much less curosive than salt water. or possibly the bonding that takes place when making brass keeps it from leaching out, however if at all you can avoid it better safe than sorry.

04/28/2008, 08:43 PM	#8
Twz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Edmonton Posts: 628	Yea, Im changing it out tomorrow And its on both sides of my RO/DI

04/28/2008, 10:21 PM	#9
msobon Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 80	Just an FYI for everyone most of your plumbing in the house is copper, tap water will flow through hundreds of feet of copper. The only reason why Copper cannot be used in marine applications in where you have direct contact with salt water as copper will "leach" or more like corrode/disolve into the salt water. If you're using it in a RO/DI it should be fine I wouldn't panic, some people use tap water and are fine.. Just remember not to plumb your closed loop with copper or you will find yourself with extremely healthy fish but no corals will survive

04/28/2008, 10:23 PM	#10
Kep Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 225	It most likely is not a problem, but replace it if you can just to be safe.

04/28/2008, 10:58 PM	#11
OnoIgotICH Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	what do you think would happen if you used it with air injection?

04/28/2008, 11:00 PM	#12
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	If you bought the brass fitting because you couldnt find a nylon(plastic) fitting that was quite right, just buy a couple different nylon fittings that have a feature you like, cut them with a hacksaw and reglue with cyanoacrylate super glue. I've done it numerous times and it works GREAT.

04/28/2008, 11:06 PM	#14
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	Not only does it contain copper but it is also has a very severe reaction with saltwater and brass fittings will begin to leak in a matter of weeks. Alex

04/28/2008, 11:09 PM	#15
OnoIgotICH Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	i've used brass fittings for years...no problems..if anything the copper helps then

04/29/2008, 07:14 AM	#19
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	RO/DI water is free of impurities, so is a very good scavenger. It will pick up whatever it comes into contact with that isn't inert, including copper from brass fittings. The effects of copper are cumulative. That means chronic exposure to even small levels below the threshold of toxicity (like you would likely get from a brass fitting) can cause problems that accumulate over time. Such problems would take a long time to occur and then the effects would be spread out over some time depending on how long the animals had been exposed and how sensitive they are. You wouldn't see the same sort of problems you see with acute copper toxicity where all of your inverts drop dead suddenly. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up