got some iron powder in my water. Problem?

[rtbm]

Sometimes when I ship I will cut heatpacks in half for smaller boxes.

I keep a 42 gallon can of new water close to the area where I do this.

Today during a water change I noticed the water smelled a little different and upon further inspection I found a few larger granules of the black powdery stuff in side heat packs down in the bottom of the can.

It was a little rusty but not much. I tried to find anything I could about iron and seawater but could not come up with much other than iron is in natural seawater.


I just want to know if a small amount this powder in heatpacks getting in my water should be a problem.
Not really sure if the smell has anything to do with it.

Heat pack says its made of

iron powder,water, activated carbon, vermiculite, wood powder and salt.

[Ron Reefman]

iron powder should turn to rust pretty quickly in saltwater, and we use GFO in reactors to remove phosphates. I don't think the iron is a big problem. Now the wood powder on the other hand... I'm not so sure. It decomposes and gives off??? Ammonia? Other bacteria? See what others have to say.

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I avoid it, but small amounts are not likely a big problem. :)

[rtbm]

I avoid it, but small amounts are not likely a big problem. :)

sounds good to me. it was only a few granules. Half the size of a pencil eraser.
I just wasn't sure if it was some terrible poison potential.

Thanks a lot for responding

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

Happy Reefing. :)