Lost Razor Blade

[rickrutland]

Was cleaning glass and somehow dropped a razor blade. Can't find it anywhere….. have tried dragging a magnet all around where I think it must have fallen but no luck.

I know Cu ions are really bad, but not sure about Fe and what ever else is in steel.

Its a 120 gal w/ 20-30 gal sump.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Rick

[Zack]

Have you tried some plastic sand Sifters? Or something hard

[aquasport24]

Remember something that skinny and flat wont settle the same spot where it original fell...Good luck

[Bill S]

I wouldn't worry too much about what the blade does to your tank. So, I'd do this: Take a jar of tank water, and put a new blade in it. Keep it topped off, and see how long it takes to corrode to nothing. Then you will know when your tank is "safe" for your hands.

[THE_BEAST]

I'm thinking any corroding metal in your tank would be bad. I would keep going at it with the magnet or sift your sand

[Dean]

I'm thinking any corroding metal in your tank would be bad. I would keep going at it with the magnet or sift your sand
I agree!

[jroescher]

I recall pictures of the Titanic (iron) covered with corals and other wildlife.


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[Bill S]

I'm thinking any corroding metal in your tank would be bad. I would keep going at it with the magnet or sift your sand

OK, this is based on... what? Single edge razor blades are made of carbon steel. Mostly iron. Iron. What many folks actually dose. Also what many fasteners are made of in pumps, etc, that corrode in our tanks (some are aluminum, and some are stainless steel, which is almost all iron).

Instead, you are proposing that the OP stir up the tank, disturb the sand bed?

If it will make you feel better, run some carbon for a while.

[Bill S]

I recall pictures of the Titanic (iron) covered with corals and other wildlife.


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An even better point, John. Kinda like oil rigs offshore?

[Dean]

If we are talking about the ratio of corroding iron to seawater than neither the titanic nor all of the off shore rigs can compare. And he should be stirring his sand bed on a regular basis anyway. :-)

[Dean]

I recall pictures of the Titanic (iron) covered with corals and other wildlife.


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Here is an interesting article on what effect a shipwreck has actually shown to have on a coral inhabitant.

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0002989

[Bill S]

If we are talking about the ratio of corroding iron to seawater than neither the titanic nor all of the off shore rigs can compare. And he should be stirring his sand bed on a regular basis anyway. :-)

1) He may or may not be stirring his sandbed. Many folks do not. I'd bet MOST folks do not. Especially with a deep sand bed...

2) You keep giving advice and you are now doubling down on it (now advising everyone to stir up their sand bed). You are telling someone to do something, that might have an adverse effect, when I'm pretty sure (I'm a biologist with 40+ years experience in this hobby) that there's nothing wrong with a piece of steel in the tank, except that possibility of it harming him trying to fish it out or of it harming a fish diving into the sand.

[Dean]

You certainly don't like debate do you? Or is it that you don't like when your comments are questioned? Relax and enjoy a little conversation.....

[Dean]

1) He may or may not be stirring his sandbed. Many folks do not. I'd bet MOST folks do not. Especially with a deep sand bed...

2) You keep giving advice and you are now doubling down on it (now advising everyone to stir up their sand bed). You are telling someone to do something, that might have an adverse effect, when I'm pretty sure (I'm a biologist with 40+ years experience in this hobby) that there's nothing wrong with a piece of steel in the tank, except that possibility of it harming him trying to fish it out or of it harming a fish diving into the sand.

1a. You "bet" most folks do not stir their sand bed..... This sounds like a good topic of discussion. Why not start a conversation in our reefkeeping section on the subject rather than trying to flame me for offering my opinion?

2a. When you are "pretty sure" that nothing is wrong with a piece of steel in a tank... Also sounds like a good topic for discussion.. oh wait, that is what was happening here. I guess that since my opinion differed from yours that I should have kept it to myself?

And congratulations on your 40 years of experience in the hobby (Which I am sure at this point everyone is aware of as you enjoy relinquishing that tid bit every time you are disagreed with. Might ought to use that as signature just in case someone missed it.) 40 years ago I was learning to ride a bicycle. :)

Anytime you would like to have a friendly discussion bstreep I am all for it. I love the hobby and enjoy learning everything about all of the aspects of it but you sir have a way of making a friendly conversation become quite unpleasant.

[allan]

Lets keep this on point, and simmer down.

I wouldn't worry a single blade, it is most like sitting in a dead corner somewhere and will present itself when you least expect it. I doubt that the blade managed to get beneath the surface of your sand bed unless you have a sifter in the tank.

The first year and a half in the hobby I had the stainless steel hose clamps beneath the surface of the sump. It wasn't until the bolt corroded so much that it broke that I realized that I had metal in the tank that was not impervious to the "locker".

I'd be more concerned that you may slice your finger after you've forgotten that you have/had a blade in the tank.

Lesson here, by a plastic handled glass scraper, and when fragging, use a pen styled scalpel.

[Bill S]

1a. You "bet" most folks do not stir their sand bed..... This sounds like a good topic of discussion. Why not start a conversation in our reefkeeping section on the subject rather than trying to flame me for offering my opinion?

2a. When you are "pretty sure" that nothing is wrong with a piece of steel in a tank... Also sounds like a good topic for discussion.. oh wait, that is what was happening here. I guess that since my opinion differed from yours that I should have kept it to myself?

And congratulations on your 40 years of experience in the hobby (Which I am sure at this point everyone is aware of as you enjoy relinquishing that tid bit every time you are disagreed with. Might ought to use that as signature just in case someone missed it.) 40 years ago I was learning to ride a bicycle. :)

Anytime you would like to have a friendly discussion bstreep I am all for it. I love the hobby and enjoy learning everything about all of the aspects of it but you sir have a way of making a friendly conversation become quite unpleasant.

This isn't a topic for discussion, it's in the EMERGENCY section. When you give poor advice, you bet I'm going to point it out and try and make sure the OP doesn't crash his tank based on your advice. If you want to have "conversation", start it up somewhere other than the freakin' EMERGENCY section of the forums. On top of this, you are SUPPOSED to be a BOARD MEMBER. One doesn't expect a member of the Board to give bad advice and not then, at least, say "oops, sorry...". No, you double down, dig your heals in and insist that your advice is still right - and it isn't. It's not just wrong advice, it's bad advice.

BTW, I said "pretty sure" so that you didn't look like you didn't know what you were doing - I should of said "I'm sure", because I am sure.

So, if you find my conversation "unpleasant", please don't give advice that's not just wrong, but possibly fatal to his livestock, and it won't happen.

P.S. You've been at MAAST all of 1 year. You don't know me. So please keep your opinions on me to yourself, as I find your comments personally insulting and beneath the dignity of a Board Member.

[Dean]

I apologize to MAAST for my kneejerk response to this thread late last night. It was very out of character for me and won't happen again.

I am sorry your thread turned this direction Rick. I hope you are able to recover that razor blade.

[FireWater]

I as well hope it works out. I would be more worried about my safety vs one blade in the tank. However, I would do my best to find it.



Bill, I'm thinking it was a debate and not necessarily a case of bad advice. Different things work for different folks. Some more information with the advice might have been better. For instance I always stirred my sand bed. The OP might or might not do the same. Also, to him it might have been an emergency.


As long as we are all civil let the debate continue.

[Bill S]

Dean, etal,my apologies as well. I get wound up sometimes.

As I pointed out several times, John, my safety would be my primary concern. I just didn't want the OP (or someone else finding this later with a search function) to compound a minor problem with the disturbance of what may be an old or deep sand bed.

[FireWater]

Understood, Bill. Thank you for the apology and explanation. You have a tremendous amount of knowledge built up from years of experience. Thank you for sharing what you can. I think everyone can find a middle ground on this one. Hopefully with some further information we can help others make an educated decision.

[Big_Pun]

I apologize to MAAST for my kneejerk response to this thread late last night. It was very out of character for me and won't happen again.

I am sorry your thread turned this direction Rick. I hope you are able to recover that razor blade.

actually lately this seems to be your "character"

[BBQHILLBILLY]

lol Chris is allways getting in there lol

[Dean]

I guess I've been exposed. :(

[BBQHILLBILLY]

lol Dean your fine. Doing a great job leading. Keep up the good work. :)

[FireWater]

Chris, perception as they say can be a female dog. We could talk all day about what is perceived when you post. Let's keep it on topic.

Use that emotion and energy to post up some relevant topics and show some of your experience.

[Big_Pun]

lol Chris is allways getting in there lol

why not? "good day"

[mkengr45]

Not sure on the rust from a blade however I can assure you that a rusted magnet will kill your entire reef....ask me how I know!

Tigershark magnet cleaner killed ALL of my coral slowly a few years ago.

Funny how the most action we get on here happens when we get a little heated debate and poo slinging.