Green rust = copper?

FitoPharmer · #1 01-15-2013, 10:46 PM

I am taking care of a large tank. I found out on day 1 the ATO is just running straight off a copper line into the tank. I have turned off the ATO and have been manually adding RO/DI water until the new tunze ATO arrives. My question was, I noticed the metal arm of the float valve for the ATO has some green rust on it. Does that mean this piece is either made of copper or is a copper alloy?

gregzz4 · #2 01-15-2013, 10:58 PM

Green corrosion indicates copper-based material

FitoPharmer · #3 01-15-2013, 10:59 PM

And pretty much only copper right?

FitoPharmer · #4 01-15-2013, 11:00 PM

I guess that is why they have not had much luck with inverts to this point.

gregzz4 · #5 01-15-2013, 11:06 PM

Copper-based includes brass and bronze
Silver- and chrome-coated copper-based material will also do this if the coating is compromised
Regardless, it's not good
Might be hard to get a reading, but it wouldn't hurt to run a copper test

FitoPharmer · #6 01-16-2013, 12:03 AM

I might run a test now that you brought that up. Thanks.