Hammerhead Algae Magnet= SPS KILLER

[mkengr45]

I've talked to some of you about the gradual crash of my tank a while back and figured I might as well share this picture with everyone. The magnets completely rusted out of my Hammerhead tank cleaner. I've used Algae Free magnets in various tanks for a long time and have had every model they make at one point or another (including the Great White) but I will NEVER use them again. It started with polyp retraction on some montipora, then acropora, and eventually everything else. We tested literally everything they make a test kit for. Did lots of water changes, carbon, gfo, etc.... Apparently when neodymium magnets rust they don't show up on any tests.

I lost every coral in my 144 half circle tank. I had two 5 gallon buckets filled to the top with dead sps and LPS skeletons. I was close to leaving the hobby as I have several other hobbies (racing, fishing, guns, etc..) but decided to rebuild. Everything is on the road to recovery now and looking great....but I just wanted to share this picture as a warning.

Here is what killed the tank


Here is the tank now...it will be a while until it's back to its former beauty but at least it's headed that way. These are pics taken with my iPad so they look way too blue for some reason...color is closer to 14k in person...crummy iPad camera.

[350gt]

**** thats scary.... I always think to take my aqua mag out but never do..

[SABOB]

Was this with occasional use or did you leave Hammerhead in tank 24/7?


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[aquasport24]

That's kinda odd, how is the rust leaks out when the magnet is contained though? And gfo and carbon should have taken care of of the mess if it leaking out into water column. ..

[aquasport24]

Btw. . You have a beautiful tank..keep up the good work

[mkengr45]

Was this with occasional use or did you leave Hammerhead in tank 24/7?


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Probably 50/50...it may have stayed in the tank for weeks at a time on occasion. I mostly used a mag-float with the razor blade scraper attachment. I would say that I used it just as most would. I never encountered this problem with any other magnetic submersible reef gadgets.

[mkengr45]

That's kinda odd, how is the rust leaks out when the magnet is contained though? And gfo and carbon should have taken care of of the mess if it leaking out into water column. ..

GFO and ROX8 carbon were not able to remove whatever was killing everything. I run two NexReef MR1 reactors and use BRS high capacity GFO and BRS Rox8 Carbon. The death of everything happened slowly. The magnet on this one must NOT have been contained. It was bought brand new from BRS a few years ago. The company claims that you should be able to leave the wet-side in the water all the time and that the magnets are encapsulated in a waterproof epoxy and blah blah blah....but the fact is, you can get a bad one, and if you do it will rust and slowly kill your reef. They do make quality products....but it only takes one defective unit to destroy a tank.

[Umiamifan]

I'm sorry to hear this. My tank crashed a few weeks ago. I was lucky to catch it the next morning and did some major water changes. I lost over half my corals including all sps. Everything else is recovering nicely. Are there any corals you are looking for? If I have frags, I'm more than willing to give you some.

[kkiel02]

That's crazy. I use these two cleaners as well. I'll have to keep a close eye. The razor blade makes quick work of coraline. I actually use the wooden side of the hammer head to control the mag float since it's magnet is way stronger. Hope you the best on your rebuild.