The experiment has begun!

[Abominus]

I once posted about using metal pot scrubbies as a filter media.Eventhough I didn't like @esoxlucius term of being the "guinea pig" lol, I have decided to experiment on them now since i didn't have time back then. Phase one involves leaving then in water for a few days to see it they rust or not. BTW here's my first thread on metal pot scrubbies https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/will-this-work-as-a-filter-media.757657/
Here are some pics

 

[Backfromthedead]

Idk about a few days, but they will rust eventually ime, even if advertised as "stainless" steel.

 

[Midwater]

They might end up being really good medium.

They will rust, but it could take years.

I think you would need far more than two, though.

 

[esoxlucius]

The fact that that wrapper has Chinese writing all over it, coupled with the rather smug look on that rabbits face, would raise questions marks over the contents, lol.

Leaving them in just plain old water for a few days ain't gonna tell you much either. Metal needs oxygen, along with moisture, to start the rusting process.

A plain old bucket of still water won't have much oxygen in, whereas an aquarium will have lots. Stick them straight in your filter for best results.

But imo, and many others too, this is an experiment I'd stay clear of really.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Its an interesting idea but as others said in the previous thread why go through all the hassle when there are so many other options available that you know are safe and will work fine?

 

[Abominus]

Idk about a few days, but they will rust eventually ime, even if advertised as "stainless" steel.

I am just experimenting on them

They might end up being really good medium.

They will rust, but it could take years.

I think you would need far more than two, though.

My 500 gallon pond DIY filter is already packed with filter media. I am just using these two first to check how quickly they rust and/or breakdown. if they take l months or years to breakdown, i will consider adding these as filter media since these scruubies have much more surface area as compared to a normal pot scrubby

The fact that that wrapper has Chinese writing all over it, coupled with the rather smug look on that rabbits face, would raise questions marks over the contents, lol.

Leaving them in just plain old water for a few days ain't gonna tell you much either. Metal needs oxygen, along with moisture, to start the rusting process.

A plain old bucket of still water won't have much oxygen in, whereas an aquarium will have lots. Stick them straight in your filter for best results.

But imo, and many others too, this is an experiment I'd stay clear of really.

Now i think of it, it was dumb to add them in just a plain bucket of water. Now i have added them in my 500 gallon filter. Lets see what happens. After leaving them i water for about 12 hours nothing happened, the water didn't turn cloudy or something like that which i was expecting.

Its an interesting idea but as others said in the previous thread why go through all the hassle when there are so many other options available that you know are safe and will work fine?

Steel pot scrubbies have much more surface area than the normal plastic ones and if this experiment succeeds it could prove useful to aqaurists. Besides i am just experimenting on them.

 

[Abominus]

Here are a few pics. The first one is the one which i took after leaving them overnight in the bucket



the second one when i placed them in my filter

 

[phreeflow]

Are they comparable in cost to the plastic scrubbies and does bacteria colonize stainless well? Keep us posted

 

[Backfromthedead]

I just dont see any advantage to using something that will definitely eventually corrode vs something that wont. Corroding stainless steel will leach nickel and/or chromium into the water. Even though it may happen slowly and in small doses, its still toxic so this could really only potentially harm your fish imo. Moreover, i think youre reaching for a point of diminishing returns as far as more surface area vs the plastic alternatives.

 

[Abominus]

Are they comparable in cost to the plastic scrubbies and does bacteria colonize stainless well? Keep us posted

i got about 20 of each plastic pot scrubbies and metal pot scrubbies for about 4 dollars, making the price of each packet 2 dollars, Their cost was the same as the plastic ones. AS for the bacteria colonizing, it all depends on the toxicity of the metal. If it is non toxic, the bacteria will establish itself in colonies far greater than the ones in plastic pot scrubbies. The metal ones are made of minute metal threads rolled and concentrated together in a ball like structure. The plastic ones are just plastic given the shape of pot scrubbies with small pores. The plastic is also not as concentrated or dense as the metal. If you compare the two pics carrefully, you will understand what i mean.

I just dont see any advantage to using something that will definitely eventually corrode vs something that wont. Corroding stainless steel will leach nickel and/or chromium into the water. Even though it may happen slowly and in small doses, its still toxic so this could really only potentially harm your fish imo. Moreover, i think youre reaching for a point of diminishing returns as far as more surface area vs the plastic alternatives.

Plastic pot scrubbis shed micro plastic which pollutes the water and can enter in the fish's gill plates and body, which can have detrimental affects on them. The plastic ones will degrade faster than steel ones.As for the metals, you yourself said it that they can be released slowly, meaning even if they are realeased, they will be gotten rid of in water changes.