The experiment has begun!

[Midwater]

I have use stainless steel fittings in oxygenated water for years. No sign of corrosion. Brass I would not use.

The fittings I have got are either 304 or 316, and I am sure your scrubbers are not. Even so, IMO I do not think they will rust noticeably at all.

I have got old bit of stainless pot scrubbers that I have had for years for cleaning cast iron pans. They have been in and out of water. They have not gone rusty.

The only cases of stainless steel going rusty I have had are when welded to mild steel, or when welded without using 308 rod. I have also seen some minimal surface rust in 304 that is semi submerged in chlorinated water.

Some types of stainless steel, like 202 will rust quicker, but those pot scrubbers are certainly not 202.

I disagree with everyone else. I think those stainless pot scrubbers are better than plastic pot scrubber - which do degrade. I do not like the idea of microplastics in aquarium.

 

[phreeflow]

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.

View attachment 1547384
View attachment 1547385

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.

Fascinating, maybe you’re onto something. Never thought of micro plastics. Good luck on the experiment!

 

[Backfromthedead]

I personally dont use scrubbers at all for media, so i guess im not really in the know as far as all this goes. Im still firmly in the "bad idea" group though.

 

[esoxlucius]

Well, this seems to be quickly turning into a war of attrition with different views and predictions from both sides, lol.

My initial advice was to forget this nonsense and use tried, tested and trusted media....not no more, lol.

Now I say carry on with this experiment and report back regularly. I dare say all of us will be waiting with bated breath.

Like it or not, my initial description of you now stands true....you are officially a pot scrubbie guinea pig!

 

[Abominus]

Well, this seems to be quickly turning into a war of attrition with different views and predictions from both sides, lol.

Lets just hope all of us calm down and this thread doesn't get closed. I would hate for it to turn into a dumpster fire.

Now I say carry on with this experiment and report back regularly. I dare say all of us will be waiting with bated breath.

i will keep reporting regularly

Like it or not, my initial description of you now stands true....you are officially a pot scrubbie guinea pig!

Hey i still don't like it,lol. i hate being younger than you guys!

 

[Backfromthedead]

I see no reason why this would thread would be locked. Have people gotten so sensitive that simply disagreeing is forbidden?

Anyway, heres some good info on the topic, specifically 304 and 316 SS. Not about pot scrubbies, i know, but relevant nonetheless imo.

Corrosion in Public Aquariums

Corrosion in reinforced concrete structures, such as bridges, piers, and parking garages, often occurs due to exposure to high-chloride environments.One type of structure that is often overlooked is the manmade aquarium.

www.materialsperformance.com

.

 

[RD.]

I remember back when the pot scrubbers for aquarium media started, and never quite understood the logic. To save money?
This isn’t exactly a money saving hobby, and affordable media seems rather plentiful without having to use plastic or metal mesh scrubbers, sourced from China. I give a thumbs down to both. Just a side note, but my tanks are still running off the same porous ceramic media that I bought at an auction 25 yrs ago. I wonder what that’s cost me if I did the math?

 

[Abominus]

I remember back when the pot scrubbers for aquarium media started, and never quite understood the logic. To save money?
This isn’t exactly a money saving hobby, and affordable media seems rather plentiful without having to use plastic or metal mesh scrubbers, sourced from China. I give a thumbs down to both. Just a side note, but my tanks are still running off the same porous ceramic media that I bought at an auction 25 yrs ago. I wonder what that’s cost me if I did the math?

While it may be true that not all aspects of the hobby can be made 'cheap', some, including filter media can. 25 years ago the quantity and quality of everything was top notch, and the prices were resonable too, unlike today, where low quality products are being sold for sky rocketing prices. Beside IME the hobby should made as budget friendly as possible to encourage its growth throughout other people. I being a teenager understands the necessity of this factor since there are numerous members, aquarists, etc like me who struggle financially or don't have that much money for a hobby but still love fishkeeping.

 

[RD.]

I have no problem with anyone looking to save money. I also never bought into the hype that many still do, that being that you need shovel fulls of bio media for every fish swimming in a glass box. lol

 

[jjohnwm]

See, here's the thing: you are not experimenting on these mystery-metal pads. You are experimenting with the pads, but on your fish.

It should go without saying that the bacterial population of your cycled, mature tank is a constant if everything else remains the same. Adding more media or more surface area does not increase your bacterial population or your biofiltration capacity. Only changing your bioload will do that; otherwise, your tank will support a given population of nitrifying bacteria, which depends entirely upon the ammonia produced by the fish.

If you want a worthwhile experiment, try removing a small amount of your existing biomedia and monitoring the water parameters for a few weeks. Then take out a wee bit more, and repeat. Keep repeating until you see evidence that your biofilter is no longer capable of processing the ammonia output of your fish.

It's important that everything else remains the same throughout the experiment; no changes in bioload, no new fish, keep the same water change regimen, same feeding schedule...just gradually reduce the amount of biomedia in your filter until it gets to the point where it can't handle the ammonia output of the fish. I'm not talking about the tiny "blip" of ammonia that might be observed right after you take out some media, because that will likely be gone within hours as the remaining bacteria build back up to the same population you have had all along.

Trust me, you will give up the experiment long before you get to the point where you don't have enough surface area for the required bacteria. You will be flabbergasted by just how little medium is required to hold enough bacteria to do the job. Depending upon stocking levels in the tank, there's a decent chance that you can remove all the biomedia...and your tank will keep percolating merrily away, supported entirely by the bacteria that have colonized the substrate, the glass and rock surfaces, etc.

I've become largely convinced that there are really only two main justifications for the use of "biomedia" in filters. The first is that this allows you to remove some for an instant cycle on a new tank. The second is that hiding the bulk of your biofiltration away in a closed chamber deep in your filter safeguards it against trauma and abuse from the constant scrubbing, polishing, manhandling and general screwing-around-with that many aquarists feel is necessary for successful aquarium keeping.

So...have you improved your tank's biofiltration capacity by throwing in some dollar-store crap of dubious safety? Hell no!

Have you jeopardized your fish through exposure to whatever toxins with which those pads came into contact on their journey around the globe after being manufactured to the lowest standards and sold at the cheapest price? Hmmm...I dunno...certainly seems possible.

I'm not seeing an upside to this "experiment".