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Re: exposed lead in them!

Lead forms compounds in water which are known as amphoteric. This 
means they are capable of dissolving in both high and low pH. So pH 
doesn't have that much to do with solubility of lead in water. If the 
pH goes up lead dissolves - plumbites HPbO2(-), if the pH goes down, 
lead 2(+) dissolves. Lead carbonate and lead hydroxide and mixtures 
of these compounds is the "white" material you see on exposed lead 
metal surfaces. The lead ions slowly make their way into the water. 
Pb chemistry is complex and life threatening.

If you can't encapsulate the metal completely, toss them. Same goes 
for the lead ties which hold bundles of plants together. Pitch them.

Your friendly neighborhood Chemist,
Charles H

>IS the lead exposed to the water? (From you subject
>heading I guess yes...)
>
>There are a few options:
>1) do more water changes.
>2) keep the pH above 7 (so the lead
>oxide/hydroxide/sulphide doesn't dissolve)
>3) try and encase the lead in something neutral such as
>wax, or a seeler of some sort, such as what us used to
>seel Koi ponds. Perhaps some one can give us a name.
>4) turf the filters (I guess this will be a last resort).
>
>Good luck
>Tyrone Genade
>Southern African Killifish Society
>           In God I trust, but in all others I must have irrefutable proof!
>- -------------------------------
>Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 13:43:47 -0700
>From: Wright Huntley <huntley1 at home_com>
>Subject: Re: azoo filters have exposed lead in them!
>
>David Lains wrote:
>>
>>  I just picked up several azoo filters and was looking at there weighted base
>>  and it contains lead.  I would think that this is a problem in a small body
>>  of water and even a larger problem in a small body of a fish.
>>
>>  Any thoughts?
>
>Not a problem if you keep tanks alkaline at all times. They don't have to
>drop much below 7 for the lead to dissolve and create cumulative permanent
>nerve damage.
>
>I'd just get rid of them, as one never knows when a tank might drift down in
>pH.
>
>I once killed a nice tank of FIL in my hard, supposedly alkaline, Santa
>Clara water. The water had become slightly acidic with time, the lead
>anchors turned white, and the fish gradually went bonkers and died.
>
>Wright
>In retrospect it becomes clear that hindsight is definitely overrated.

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