Dixon1990 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Is Galvanized Steel Mesh alright to use in Aquariums? I want to use it for the bottom of breeding tanks for the eggs to fall through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 is it galvanised or zinc plated? Galvanising is a molten brew of mostly Zinc & a small amount of aluminium to make it shinier. Zinc plating is electroplated zinc & tends to be extremely thin. Both are sacrificial surfaces, zinc plated tends to be sacrificed very quickly when outside so wouldn't last to long under water. Galvanised mesh will last for quite a while submersed but will leach zinc into the water as it corrodes. I don't know if that will be detrimental to the fish or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Stainless steel mesh would be better. I wouldn't risk galvanized with breeders, but maybe you could get a 'sacrificial' fish in a tank and see what happens?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I will try it cos it cost me $17 or sumthing cos i could only buy it by the meter, tjhe guy at smithcity said it would be alright but i should have asked here 1st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Stainless steel mesh would be better. I wouldn't risk galvanized with breeders, but maybe you could get a 'sacrificial' fish in a tank and see what happens?? it will be scarificed very gradually so may be a problem after a few months or so i guess. I think a galvanised metal bracket within 500m from the sea that was above 600mm from the ground took 20 years to show signs of rusting after the zinc had been eaten away. Never mix Stainless steel & zinc under water, it creates electrolosis & the zinc is eaten away in weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 i will still use it for the breeding tanks as it will just be in until eggs are scattered so it should be alright(i think) and i was also going to use it to make a moss wall, but i think il just go with a plastic mesh for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Yea definitely don't mix the two, but Stainless steel will not leach anything into the water so would be the safest way to go, if you can get hold of SS mesh that is. If what smidey says is correct about the levels slowly rising over a period of months, then it will be fine for the 2 days to a week that it will be in the tank. Once the adults have spawned, just take it out and do regular water changes. no harm done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 If what smidey says is correct about the levels slowly rising over a period of months, then it will be fine for the 2 days to a week that it will be in the tank. Once the adults have spawned, just take it out and do regular water changes. no harm done it does seem to take a long time. i do not know exacetly how long though. I know about this because i worked in a galvanising plant in whangarei for a while. typically people get their boat anchor chains galvanised evry 3 to 4 years. the ones that have a S/S swivel between the anchor & chain get done every year :lol: . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 It would be significantly easier to just use plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I have used galvanized, stainless and plastic all without a problem. You would need to leave the galv in the water as little as possible as it will corrode and the others don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Pm'd as i have SS mesh here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 where can i get stainless? And how much does it cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 where can i get stainless? And how much does it cost? Hans & usually lots! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 I think stainless would be your best bet. I used to make another smaller fsh tank to fit inside your rearing tank but replace the bottom with mesh and keep it rigid with a couple of straps on the top, then suspend in the rearing tank until eggs are laid (you will see them on the bottom) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 where can i get it in chch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 It is use by screan printers--- That is where I got mine but it was a long time ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coelacanth Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 just use whitebait mesh from Mitre10. Its only in the tank for a few days at the most (most of the time for just one night). I've used it for decades with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 Golly gee Smidey...that was quite an explanation. I still think that most of you folks in New Zealand are scientists Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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