Safety Issues - Magnets and Magnet Algae Cleaners

kelley_mc · 01/30/2007, 12:08 PM

Hello Everyone!

I have a question about magnets and magnet algae cleaners. At home I have the famous Mag Float. Works great, floats, blah, blah, we know all about it. That magnet cleaner is completely sealed from saltwater. No worries about the magnet.

I also have a black sinking algae cleaner from Walmart. Nothing special, works just as well as the Mag Float except is sinks. It comes with a string to tie to it to retrieve it if you lose it. I was thinking about using this magnet cleaner to glue my MJ mod to. However, I wanted to be sure it was reef safe. I pulled back the felt and to my surprise, there was the magnet. Not sealed or covered in any way. That got me thinking....

I just went to Petco where they also sell cheap magnetic cleaners from a company named Aquatic Gardens. Here is a link. I opened the box and started feeling the felt and it too seems to have an exposed magnet under the felt.

Last night I was cleaning my Super Skimmer pump and noticed something I have always known, magnets!

Are all magnets reef safe? If not, what makes some reef safe and some not? Would you trust these inexpensive algae cleaners in your reef tank all the time, ie used as a magnetic holder for a MJ Mod?

Sorry for the long post, thanks!

kelley_mc · 01/30/2007, 07:09 PM

Anyone?

alan214 · 01/30/2007, 07:17 PM

My only thought would be that it's possible that the inexpensive ones MAY have the possibility of leaching metal(s) back into the water.

Maveri9720 · 01/30/2007, 07:33 PM

I have done this for my Auto Top-off container, my SW mixing container and my RO/DI container. I just took a Mag Float magnet and superglued the Maxi-Jet triangluar bracket to it and then slid my pump down onto the bracket.

I had the problem of the suction cups always coming undone and the pump falling down. Now I can move the pump wherever I want to, by moving the magnet on the outside of the container and I never have to worry about the pump falling down either.

I don't believe all magnets are reef safe. They can transfer metals to the water. I thought I saw on the Maxi-Jet mod website encased Neo magnets, that were enclosed in acrylic just for this very reason.

old salty · 01/31/2007, 12:15 AM

If the magnet is made from a ferrous metal, it will rust quite easily if submerged in saltwater. How does one tell a ferrous metal magnet from a non-ferrous metal magnet? I haven't a clue. I wonder if the same stuff that people use to dip tools into (gives it a rubber coating) wouldn't be reef safe. Dip the magnets into it, pull 'em out, and 24 hours later, they are completely sealed in a rubber coating.

Navyblue · 01/31/2007, 05:55 AM

IMO it doesn't matter if a magnet is ferrous or not. All metals corrode in saltwater, save for a few such as titanium or gold.

I used to have a cheapo floating magnet that I left in the tank, after sometime it stopped floating, after more time the seam actually ruptured and it was filled with rust water, which went into the tank. But fortunately no harm was done.

kelley_mc · 01/31/2007, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by old salty
I wonder if the same stuff that people use to dip tools into (gives it a rubber coating) wouldn't be reef safe. Dip the magnets into it, pull 'em out, and 24 hours later, they are completely sealed in a rubber coating.

I would love to know the answer to this also. If you ever find out, please let me know.

kelley_mc · 01/31/2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Navyblue
IMO it doesn't matter if a magnet is ferrous or not. All metals corrode in saltwater, save for a few such as titanium or gold.

I know the magnets on my powerheads and pumps aren't corroding, and they have been in saltwater for 3 years. My feeling is that something must be different about some magnets.

kelley_mc · 01/31/2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maveri9720
I have done this for my Auto Top-off container, my SW mixing container and my RO/DI container. I just took a Mag Float magnet and superglued the Maxi-Jet triangluar bracket to it and then slid my pump down onto the bracket.

I had the problem of the suction cups always coming undone and the pump falling down. Now I can move the pump wherever I want to, by moving the magnet on the outside of the container and I never have to worry about the pump falling down either.

This is exactly what I want to do. The nice thing about the cheaper sinking magnet cleaners is that they are much lower profile because they are not filled with air like the Mag Floats. The Walmart magnet cleaner I have is only 3/4" x 2".

Quote:

Originally posted by Maveri9720
I don't believe all magnets are reef safe. They can transfer metals to the water. I thought I saw on the Maxi-Jet mod website encased Neo magnets, that were enclosed in acrylic just for this very reason.

I have also seen this. He is sealing those magnets, yet the magnets used in our pumps are not sealed, there must be something different. My guess is that old salty is onto something.

old salty · 01/31/2007, 09:19 AM

Give this site a glance:

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=164

Seems that someone has already come up with plastic or rubber coating the magnets. I purchased a set of epoxy coated magnets a while back, but never got around to using them.

They are quite strong for their size and may be just what you are looking for.

kelley_mc · 01/31/2007, 11:16 AM

Wow, nice find, thanks. Now the question I have seen asked and not answered in other posts, is rubber reef-safe?

01/30/2007, 12:08 PM	#1
kelley_mc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,543	Safety Issues - Magnets and Magnet Algae Cleaners Hello Everyone! I have a question about magnets and magnet algae cleaners. At home I have the famous Mag Float. Works great, floats, blah, blah, we know all about it. That magnet cleaner is completely sealed from saltwater. No worries about the magnet. I also have a black sinking algae cleaner from Walmart. Nothing special, works just as well as the Mag Float except is sinks. It comes with a string to tie to it to retrieve it if you lose it. I was thinking about using this magnet cleaner to glue my MJ mod to. However, I wanted to be sure it was reef safe. I pulled back the felt and to my surprise, there was the magnet. Not sealed or covered in any way. That got me thinking.... I just went to Petco where they also sell cheap magnetic cleaners from a company named Aquatic Gardens. Here is a link. I opened the box and started feeling the felt and it too seems to have an exposed magnet under the felt. Last night I was cleaning my Super Skimmer pump and noticed something I have always known, magnets! Are all magnets reef safe? If not, what makes some reef safe and some not? Would you trust these inexpensive algae cleaners in your reef tank all the time, ie used as a magnetic holder for a MJ Mod? Sorry for the long post, thanks! __________________ Thank you to our troops! Current Tank Info: 37 gal AGA with 20 gal sump/refugium, Coralife Super Skimmer 125, Current Sunpaq 150 watt MH, 2 Koralia Nanos for flow, Ebo Jager 200 and 150 watt heaters, 65 lbs LR (Fiji, Caribbean, Uaniva), Chaeto, Quiet One 4000 return pump, 24 watt UV sterilizer Last edited by kelley_mc; 01/30/2007 at 12:42 PM.

01/30/2007, 07:09 PM	#2
kelley_mc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,543	Anyone? __________________ Thank you to our troops! Current Tank Info: 37 gal AGA with 20 gal sump/refugium, Coralife Super Skimmer 125, Current Sunpaq 150 watt MH, 2 Koralia Nanos for flow, Ebo Jager 200 and 150 watt heaters, 65 lbs LR (Fiji, Caribbean, Uaniva), Chaeto, Quiet One 4000 return pump, 24 watt UV sterilizer

01/30/2007, 07:17 PM	#3
alan214 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: The Colony, TX Posts: 1,258	My only thought would be that it's possible that the inexpensive ones MAY have the possibility of leaching metal(s) back into the water. __________________ I live really close to the airport. The other day I was walking across the living room and the stewardess told me to take my seat. Current Tank Info: 73G FOWLR

01/31/2007, 12:15 AM	#5
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	If the magnet is made from a ferrous metal, it will rust quite easily if submerged in saltwater. How does one tell a ferrous metal magnet from a non-ferrous metal magnet? I haven't a clue. I wonder if the same stuff that people use to dip tools into (gives it a rubber coating) wouldn't be reef safe. Dip the magnets into it, pull 'em out, and 24 hours later, they are completely sealed in a rubber coating. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

01/31/2007, 09:19 AM	#10
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	Give this site a glance: http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=164 Seems that someone has already come up with plastic or rubber coating the magnets. I purchased a set of epoxy coated magnets a while back, but never got around to using them. They are quite strong for their size and may be just what you are looking for. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

01/30/2007, 07:33 PM	#4
Maveri9720 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 63	I have done this for my Auto Top-off container, my SW mixing container and my RO/DI container. I just took a Mag Float magnet and superglued the Maxi-Jet triangluar bracket to it and then slid my pump down onto the bracket. I had the problem of the suction cups always coming undone and the pump falling down. Now I can move the pump wherever I want to, by moving the magnet on the outside of the container and I never have to worry about the pump falling down either. I don't believe all magnets are reef safe. They can transfer metals to the water. I thought I saw on the Maxi-Jet mod website encased Neo magnets, that were enclosed in acrylic just for this very reason.

01/31/2007, 05:55 AM	#6
Navyblue Low maintenance first Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,790	IMO it doesn't matter if a magnet is ferrous or not. All metals corrode in saltwater, save for a few such as titanium or gold. I used to have a cheapo floating magnet that I left in the tank, after sometime it stopped floating, after more time the seam actually ruptured and it was filled with rust water, which went into the tank. But fortunately no harm was done.

01/31/2007, 11:16 AM	#11
kelley_mc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,543	Wow, nice find, thanks. Now the question I have seen asked and not answered in other posts, is rubber reef-safe? __________________ Thank you to our troops! Current Tank Info: 37 gal AGA with 20 gal sump/refugium, Coralife Super Skimmer 125, Current Sunpaq 150 watt MH, 2 Koralia Nanos for flow, Ebo Jager 200 and 150 watt heaters, 65 lbs LR (Fiji, Caribbean, Uaniva), Chaeto, Quiet One 4000 return pump, 24 watt UV sterilizer