How Bad Is This?

My 85 gal has been setup with flowing water for 25 days now, and I was about to fire up my skimmer for the first time, when I noticed that the steel clamp that hold the tube onto the intake (above water level), had broken, slid down the tubing and was submerged. I got it out, and it had small signs of rust beginning. I have no idea how long it has been submerged. Could be 1 day, could be 24 days...

I have been running carbon for 3 weeks now, and will continue. I have nothing in the tank other than rock and sand. However, I was planning on going to the LFS tomorrow and getting 3 Banggai's. What can I test for to see if any toxins have been introduced into the water? Could this be detrimental to the Cardinal's survival?

 

something was wrong with the skimmer you got from me?

 

It should be OK

 

Different skimmer...but I can't get the one I bought from you to produce bubbles...can't find a manual anywhere online for it.

 

youll be ok. important thing is you got it out.

 

Rust I wouldn't worry so much about. GFO that most people run in phosphate reactors is really just glorified rust from what I understand. Copper and other chemicals are what you need to watch out for. I'm fairly certain that running carbon will remove any chemicals or other deposits that may have escaped into the water from the clamp. If you're setting up a fuge I also believe mangroves will also do a good job of pulling metals out of the water.

 

LOL, I don't know whats so "Glorified" about it but yeah it is basically rust.

You should be just fine, it will not hurt anything. I would got to your local hardware store and get a Nylon hose clamp to use in place of the metal one.

 

It's not a big deal. There's iron in the water anyways. I've had steel shot fall into my tank after a thermometer broke inside the tank with no issues.

 

A good re-usable nylon hose clamp is the Flexi-Clamp. Come check out the video:

VIDEO :: Flexi-Clamp Hose Clamp