Galvanized wire

jeffopentax

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Nov 11, 2013
Location
Brantford, Ontario
Anyone know if galvanized wire (picture hanger wire) is aquarium safe?  I'm trying to tidy up my sump, and it would be a lot easier to work with than zip ties.


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Poseidon

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May 15, 2012
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SW Ontario
I know a lot of lights are hung by wires and I myself buy 1/8" cable to hang my lights at home hardware without any issues.
 

TORX

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My worry would be the dust that is present on the wires. If you use galvanized wire, you are supposed to wash your hands after touch it, you are also supposed to wear respiratory gear while cutting, burning or welding. The real danger is the zinc residue IIRC that may be on the wires from manufacturing as well as if you are cutting it.
 

Poseidon

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SW Ontario
Torx link said:
My worry would be the dust that is present on the wires. If you use galvanized wire, you are supposed to wash your hands after touch it, you are also supposed to wear respiratory gear while cutting, burning or welding. The real danger is the zinc residue IIRC that may be on the wires from manufacturing as well as if you are cutting it.


I didn't know this -- giant red flag, you def don't want anything in your tank like that
 

TORX

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I figured that would scare ya away.

It is fine to use as hanging wires etc, but I would not put it in my tank. I hate the screws they use in pumps even. Eventually they rust, stainless or not, they will eventually rust. It just takes one scratch or scuff and in a while, the screw head will be brown. Or if you ever touch one of the screws with a screwdriver during cleaning, you may as well sign off on the screw then.

Zip ties are your best bet, or those plastic hose claps are nice to for clamping pumps.
 

Pistol

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Corunna
jeffopentax link said:
Stainless would be fine i'm sure, but galvanized is what i have on hand :)


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Stainless will rust in saltwater, galvanized is toxic, titanium is the metal of choice, I would use string or plastic.
 

Boga

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Jan 12, 2012
Location
Dorchester, Ontario
Pistol link said:
[quote author=jeffopentax link=topic=7900.msg82976#msg82976 date=1393188138]
Stainless would be fine i'm sure, but galvanized is what i have on hand :)


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Stainless will rust in saltwater, galvanized is toxic, titanium is the metal of choice, I would use string or plastic.
[/quote]
+10
 
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