Aluminum Foil partially submerged, ok?

PsychoKnight · 09/12/2006, 07:31 PM

Wanna cover my Kent Marine Phos reactor from the sump lamps. Foil seems to wrap conveniently over the clear acrylic tubing parts atop the reactor which becomes subjected to algae growth.

Is aluminum foil (Reynolds brand) okay in marine water. If not, what else to recommend that's easy to use - want to avoid engineering a custom light cover.

druce · 09/12/2006, 07:35 PM

I dunno if foil will corrode, I'd be concerened

Try getting a pvc pipe larger in dia than the reactor and slip it over as a cover perhaps?

Maybe sleving lining? - dunno if there are any chemicals that are bad in it tho? maybe the glue could be bad....

MrZ · 09/12/2006, 08:04 PM

Aluminum foil will corrode quite quickly in that environment. How about some black plastic and rubber bands?

druce · 09/12/2006, 08:06 PM

... oh just thought of this. how about some aquarium background from the LFS

DSMpunk · 09/12/2006, 08:37 PM

Aluminun is pretty toxic , I wouldnt risk it.

MrZ · 09/13/2006, 06:33 AM

Or maybe slice off a bit of that thin black drainage tubing and slide it over the top?

MinibowMatt · 09/13/2006, 07:50 AM

why not just paint it?

PsychoKnight · 09/16/2006, 03:44 AM

thanks for the ideas.

For the main cylinder, the drainage sleeve looks like it will work.

For the top of the unit with clear piping array, I think I'll go with cuttings from a contractor's trash liner and tape one side to outside of the sump rim and just let it flap over. I don't want to paint the piping black because I want to be able to see when it needs to be cleaned out of inner-wall sludge, which is also a pain because the elbows won't allow a brush to pass through.

Which reminds me, does anyone bother to scrub out their return pipes? I guess 1" or 1-1/2" piping is so large that surface scum won't matter much as compared to the inside of smaller filter tubes.

samtheman · 09/16/2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DSMpunk
Aluminun is pretty toxic , I wouldnt risk it.

Yep, aluminum is so toxic they make pans, dishes and utensils out of it. It is used for food storage and containers for beer and soft drinks. It will kill you instantly.
It does corrode quickly in salt water do to electrolysis.

HotHotHot · 09/16/2006, 09:31 AM

You could also use the split sleeves they use for computer wiring. It's like the drain pipe but smaller and slit lengthwise.

Ed

Shiandy · 09/16/2006, 09:35 AM

Wrap around cable tidy, would be pretty simple to install as well, and you would not need to pull apart any of your pipework.

HBtank · 09/16/2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by samtheman
Yep, aluminum is so toxic they make pans, dishes and utensils out of it. It is used for food storage and containers for beer and soft drinks. It will kill you instantly.
It does corrode quickly in salt water do to electrolysis.

That would be a valid statement if he had a tank full of humans.

Nano Chris · 09/16/2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MinibowMatt
why not just paint it?

I was just about to say that, i think its a great idea.

rdmpe · 09/16/2006, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HBtank
That would be a valid statement if he had a tank full of humans.

samtheman · 09/17/2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HBtank
That would be a valid statement if he had a tank full of humans.

Untrue. Aluminum oxide is one of the most abundant materials on the planet. It is in the ocean as well. Toxic means to cause death. Where is there any evidence of aluminum, in or out of sea water, being toxic. Just a little data please!

LobsterOfJustice · 09/17/2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by samtheman
Yep, aluminum is so toxic they make pans, dishes and utensils out of it. It is used for food storage and containers for beer and soft drinks. It will kill you instantly.
It does corrode quickly in salt water do to electrolysis.

Wow, you're right. Copper must not be toxic either, I mean my hot water pipes are made out of it.

I'll try using copper plumbing on my next tank, maybe give the fish some pipes to swim in and out of.

samtheman · 09/17/2006, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterOfJustice
Wow, you're right. Copper must not be toxic either, I mean my hot water pipes are made out of it.

I'll try using copper plumbing on my next tank, maybe give the fish some pipes to swim in and out of.

Copper will only dissolve in water based on PH. It doesn't dissolve in fresh water but does in saltwater where it is toxic to some life.
If you controll the PH of a closed loop water system in copper tubing, you can control what level of dissolved copper there is in the water.

What does any of this have to do with the declared toxicity of aluminum????????????????????

scott30si · 09/17/2006, 05:30 PM

no

RichConley · 09/17/2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterOfJustice
Wow, you're right. Copper must not be toxic either, I mean my hot water pipes are made out of it.

I'll try using copper plumbing on my next tank, maybe give the fish some pipes to swim in and out of.

Right, but a good amount of our phosphate removers are just aluminum.

LobsterOfJustice · 09/17/2006, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Right, but a good amount of our phosphate removers are just aluminum.

... and they are infamous for having harmful side effects on corals.

samtheman · 09/18/2006, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LobsterOfJustice
... and they are infamous for having harmful side effects on corals.

Really? What harmful side effects?

HBtank · 09/18/2006, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by samtheman
Really? What harmful side effects?

You see, I actually informed myself when I read phosgaurd was not a good choice to use in my tank. I did not just go around talking about something I had no clue about.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...y2003/chem.htm
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs22.html
http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/al.htm

And now you may ask how we are allowed to drink from aluminum cans? Well 2 seconds of reasearch will tell you:

"Many consumers find the taste of a beverage from a can to be different from fountain drinks and beverages from plastic or glass bottles. Additionally, some people believe that aluminum leaching into the fluid contained inside can be dangerous to the drinker's health. The exact role (if any) of aluminum in Alzheimerâ€™s disease is still being researched and debated. Aluminium cans contain an internal coating to protect the aluminium from the contents. If the internal coating fails, the contents will create a hole and the can will leak in a matter of days. There is some difference in taste, especially noticeable in beer, presumably only due to traces of the processing oils used in making the can. Oils used in can manufacturing are FDA approved and must be constantly monitored."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_can

Now go stick some foil in your tank.

samtheman · 09/18/2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by HBtank
You see, I actually informed myself when I read phosgaurd was not a good choice to use in my tank. I did not just go around talking about something I had no clue about.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...y2003/chem.htm
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs22.html
http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/hydro/al.htm

And now you may ask how we are allowed to drink from aluminum cans? Well 2 seconds of reasearch will tell you:

"Many consumers find the taste of a beverage from a can to be different from fountain drinks and beverages from plastic or glass bottles. Additionally, some people believe that aluminum leaching into the fluid contained inside can be dangerous to the drinker's health. The exact role (if any) of aluminum in Alzheimerâ€™s disease is still being researched and debated. Aluminium cans contain an internal coating to protect the aluminium from the contents. If the internal coating fails, the contents will create a hole and the can will leak in a matter of days. There is some difference in taste, especially noticeable in beer, presumably only due to traces of the processing oils used in making the can. Oils used in can manufacturing are FDA approved and must be constantly monitored."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_can

Now go stick some foil in your tank.

Don't get hostile! What coating is used on kitchen pans and dishes? They are not coated, so why am I alive?

This still does not make aluminum toxic. Anything can be toxic at high enough concentrations.
Are you saying 3-4 ounces of aluminum foil will kill you tank?

LobsterOfJustice · 09/18/2006, 09:13 PM

Did you read those links?

DSMpunk · 09/19/2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Don't get hostile! What coating is used on kitchen pans and dishes? They are not coated, so why am I alive?

First off nobody is getting hostile, sometimes debates just get a little heated

I'm not sure if aluminum is toxic to humans (I think it is though), and I do not KNOW if putting foil in your tank will release aluminum or anything else into your tank thats harmful.

However I DO know that aluminum that is absorbed into your water column will be toxic at a high enough concentration to most inverts.

As I said I wouldnt risk it, especially when there are much safer ways to accomplish the task.

You know what they say about opinions, everybody has them...

09/12/2006, 07:31 PM	#1
PsychoKnight Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 409	Aluminum Foil partially submerged, ok? Wanna cover my Kent Marine Phos reactor from the sump lamps. Foil seems to wrap conveniently over the clear acrylic tubing parts atop the reactor which becomes subjected to algae growth. Is aluminum foil (Reynolds brand) okay in marine water. If not, what else to recommend that's easy to use - want to avoid engineering a custom light cover.

09/12/2006, 07:35 PM	#2
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	I dunno if foil will corrode, I'd be concerened Try getting a pvc pipe larger in dia than the reactor and slip it over as a cover perhaps? Maybe sleving lining? - dunno if there are any chemicals that are bad in it tho? maybe the glue could be bad.... __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic

09/12/2006, 08:04 PM	#3
MrZ Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Menasha WI Posts: 618	Aluminum foil will corrode quite quickly in that environment. How about some black plastic and rubber bands? __________________ -Rob Current Tank Info: 54g Mixed Reef, 20g Softy Tank, 15g QT

09/12/2006, 08:06 PM	#4
druce Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Liberty, IA Posts: 1,349	... oh just thought of this. how about some aquarium background from the LFS __________________ Click the red house to see tank pics and my blog and to get the link for my RC tank thread! Current Tank Info: 90 gal AGA RR, 55 gal long for sump, 17g Aquafuge pro as refugium - 2x 150w MH, 2x 96w Actinic

09/12/2006, 08:37 PM	#5
DSMpunk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Des Moines IA Posts: 1,064	Aluminun is pretty toxic , I wouldnt risk it. __________________ -Sean Current Tank Info: SPS Dominated 150

09/13/2006, 06:33 AM	#6
MrZ Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Menasha WI Posts: 618	Or maybe slice off a bit of that thin black drainage tubing and slide it over the top?

09/13/2006, 07:50 AM	#7
MinibowMatt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In Another Times Forgotten Space Posts: 3,389	why not just paint it? __________________ ----------------------- Matt Prop & Save! "Sure dont know what I'm going for, but I'm gonna go for it for sure!"

09/16/2006, 03:44 AM	#8
PsychoKnight Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 409	thanks for the ideas. For the main cylinder, the drainage sleeve looks like it will work. For the top of the unit with clear piping array, I think I'll go with cuttings from a contractor's trash liner and tape one side to outside of the sump rim and just let it flap over. I don't want to paint the piping black because I want to be able to see when it needs to be cleaned out of inner-wall sludge, which is also a pain because the elbows won't allow a brush to pass through. Which reminds me, does anyone bother to scrub out their return pipes? I guess 1" or 1-1/2" piping is so large that surface scum won't matter much as compared to the inside of smaller filter tubes.

09/16/2006, 09:31 AM	#10
HotHotHot Obligate Coral Killer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 643	You could also use the split sleeves they use for computer wiring. It's like the drain pipe but smaller and slit lengthwise. Ed __________________ It is NOT a dry heat! Click the little red house to read my 225 thread. Current Tank Info: 200gal NWV, 34ppt, 6" DSB, 750W MH, XM 20K, 220W VHO, CL, MP40W X2, chiller, GAC, Starting NeoZeo 7/18/09

09/16/2006, 09:35 AM	#11
Shiandy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 367	Wrap around cable tidy, would be pretty simple to install as well, and you would not need to pull apart any of your pipework.

09/17/2006, 05:30 PM	#18
scott30si Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Marcos, CA. Posts: 9	no

09/18/2006, 09:13 PM	#24
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Did you read those links? __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles