Stainless steel reef safe?

[blackcloudmedia]

Is stainless steel reef safe? Im considering using this beer keg I have as a top off device. If possible I could have 15 gallons worth of evaporation control!!!!!! WEEEE!!!!!!!! I love being inventive

 

[mr_X]

my guess is no. i have seen stainless steel tarnish, and corrode in saltwater on my brothers' boat.

 

[blackcloudmedia]

Hmm well I know there are different grades of stainless steel. THe lower grades are known to rust, this beer keg however is food grade obviously, meaning it was designed to contain highly acidic and complex carbonated delight. Plus since Im considering using it for topoff it will be filled with Freshwater, not saltwater.

 

[blackcloudmedia]

Hmm well I know there are different grades of stainless steel. THe lower grades are known to rust, this beer keg however is food grade obviously, meaning it was designed to contain highly acidic and complex carbonated delight. Plus since Im considering using it for topoff it will be filled with Freshwater, not saltwater. The question at hand is whether trace elements of stainless steel are toxic.

 

[mr_X]

okey.
i would imagine that stainless steel used on marine crafts is a pretty good grade, for standing up to saltwater, and it still is damaged by it.

about your question...i have found this...

Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal.

Stainless steel type AISI 316L is widely used in orthopaedic surgery. The toxic effects of its corrosion products on the morphology of mouse seminiferous cells were investigated. Chemical elements from stainless steel were released into a physiological medium using an electrochemical method. This metallic solution was injected subcutaneously into male Charles River mice at 72 h intervals for 10 days. Electron microscopic observations of seminiferous tubule thin sections showed that the metallic suspension caused tissue vacuolation, cell degeneration, and multinucleated cell formation. This apparent tissue toxicity induced by stainless steel corrosion products suggests that long term implantation of such biomaterials may impair spermatogenesis.

 

[mr_X]

if you go to lowes or home depot or even walmart, you can get a big trash can pretty cheap. i bought 2- 26 gallon cans for 3 dollars a piece at walmart.
which reminds me..i have to get another one 8)

 

[blackcloudmedia]

hmm interesting. I knew about garbage cans however I thought a keg would be a little conversation piece. Oh that....thats my 12000K lighting system.....oh that....that theres a protein skimmer that removes toxic compounds from the water....oh that......thats a ......beer keg.

 

[mr_X]

lol..yeah...certain people come to my house and remark about my setup looking like a science project. i kinda get a kick out of it :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC 300 series stainless steel does well in salt water. Since you are doing it for the top off the fresh water shold not be a problem. If it were me I would get a food grade plastic container.