Is aluminium safe in salt water?

[bezz]

I am planning a DIY and was wondering if aluminium corrode when in salt water?

Please share your experience.

Thx

[flying carpet]

Not so sure. But I think it is better not to take the risk.

[Qxnviolet]

I dont think any kind of metal is safe...guess they'll corrode sooner or later releasing harmful substances into your tank....

[ervine]

alum also corrodes... only metal fully safe i think is titanium....

[cci[RR]us]

Interesting topic... did a search and found these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal

Others, like palladium, platinum and gold, do not react with the atmosphere at all. Some metals form a barrier layer of oxide on their surface which cannot be penetrated by further oxygen molecules...

Painting or anodising metals are good ways to prevent their corrosion.

[bezz]

us,Feb 16 2006, 12:50 AM] Interesting topic... did a search and found these:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal

I know anodised aluminium is quite safe. But I'm not sure if the aluminium sheets I bought are anodised

Any reef safe paint I can get ?

[Qxnviolet]

Erm, better not take the risk if you are not sure. By the way, may i know why do you need to use metal in your tank?

[nakazoru]

Most metals reacts with oxygen and oxidise even gold, thus metal oxide. Oxygen can be remove by electrode, acid wash etc with exception of iron oxide. i.e FeO2, flaking occurs due to breaking down of molecular bond.

With salt water, it does not participate in oxidation but acts as a accelerator of oxidation. Some metal even does not flake with oxidation so it is safer to use those.

Think of it is that, our ocean is not free of minerals, so dissolved metal is okay, if you chose a inert metal that you can afford. Aluminum is a good choice but it is a soft metal though.