stainless steel

[trinimaddness]

Im working on a project for my tank, i made a coil with high grade stainless steal which needs to be submerged in the sump..I'm hoping that it would be ok but im kind hesitant to put it in..I made a plastic coil but its not doing what i want it to do..should i attempt the stainless steal?

 

[troywalkerphoto]

What are you actually doing? Why the need for a coil?

 

[fishman1069]

If you're trying to make a chiller, I would go with titanium instead of the stainless.

 

[jaa1456]

It's most likely cheap made in China stainless. If you get the real stuff it will cost a lot more money. I would use titanium as well. Try to stick a magnent to the stainless you have. If the magnent sticks or even tries to stick a little, that stainless will rust up. If the magnent doesn't stick at all then it's the good quality stuff.

 

[trinimaddness]

its a top secret mission..ill post pics once im finish lol stay tuned..everything is finish its just a matter of attaching the coil i want to use..

 

[Dk638]

All stainless has some amount of carbon in it, all will rust in saltwater some will take a long time others a bit faster, I wouldn't put it in the tank. What grade is it? 316L ?

 

[trinimaddness]

It's most likely cheap made in China stainless. If you get the real stuff it will cost a lot more money. I would use titanium as well. Try to stick a magnent to the stainless you have. If the magnent sticks or even tries to stick a little, that stainless will rust up. If the magnent doesn't stick at all then it's the good quality stuff.

trust me its high quality stainless.. i work at a research center and we only use the best of the best..

 

[trinimaddness]

ill find of the exact grade tomorrow,i dont plan on using it for long..only untill i get my ac which is next month..would it rust that quick you think?

 

[Dk638]

Not that fast but who knows what could be released without being seen

 

[trinimaddness]

Not that fast but who knows what could be released without being seen

yea thats what im scared of..

 

[edd]

ill find of the exact grade tomorrow,i dont plan on using it for long..only untill i get my ac which is next month..would it rust that quick you think?

you gave away the top secret mission.

 

[Dk638]

Why not make a coil out of plastic tubing? Wrap it around some 2 inch PVC?

 

[trinimaddness]

you gave away the top secret mission.

ha thats what u think...that was just a teaser..

 

[trinimaddness]

Why not make a coil out of plastic tubing? Wrap it around some 2 inch PVC?

i did make a plastic coil but the heat exchange wasnt enough for me...also salt water wouldnt be going trough the coil..the coil would just be submerged in the sump if that makes a difference

 

[jaa1456]

trust me its high quality stainless.. i work at a research center and we only use the best of the best..

Just double check it, I have heard others say exactly what you just did. The regretted it later, it's a five second test to check it. I see grills going for 2000 apiece that say top grade or high grade stainless. Most of them aren't and magnets stick right to them.

 

[trinimaddness]

Just double check it, I have heard others say exactly what you just did. The regretted it later, it's a five second test to check it. I see grills going for 2000 apiece that say top grade or high grade stainless. Most of them aren't and magnets stick right to them.

You're right, better safe than sorry...

 

[trinimaddness]

Ok I just found out that its a 316. To low?

 

[Reefcowboy]

Sorry if im being stupid, but isnt GFO essentially "rusting substance?". I thought i read somewhere someone with the same question but the material in doubt was made of another metal i think. I m not supporting the decision to try it, i was just curious as well when i read this topic.

 

[jaa1456]

I don't know if its to low, I always do the magnet test. Get a strong one though and give it a shot. I still don't know how a reef will react to stainless or if there will be any reaction at all.

 

[Paul B]

I would use it. Stainless steel is fine and rust is also fine. Iron is not as toxic as most people think it is. That is why if you dive, there will be more corals growing on an iron shipwreck than the surrounding rocks.
Most stainless steel contains Chromium, nickel, manganese, molybdenum and carbon.
These things are also in NSW and also in (I think) ASW.
Your 316 Stainless has 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
Of course there is iron in there also which gives it slight magnetic abilities.
Of course iron is an algae nutrient, it won't cause algae but if you have algae it will make it greener. A very small amount of iron will be released from stainless steel as most of it is inside the piece and only a slight amount on the surface may react with the water. It's not anthrax.
There has been some stainless steel in my tank for about fifty years. So far, I don't see any problems. :scratchch