Fork rusted in tank. What do I do now??

When I feed my algae eaters cucumbers I stab it onto a metal fork and drop it in for them. The problem is usually I forget to take it out and sometimes the forks sit in the tank until the next time I feed them cucumbers, so a week or two. Today I noticed that there was rust on the forks because of this. What do I do now?? I’ll probably never use a fork to feed them cucumbers again but i was wondering what can I do now to hopefully fix any damage I’ve done? I’ll do a water change tomorrow but is there anything else I should be doing? Any symptoms I should look out for or things I should know about my mistake?

This is an established 75-gallon tank that has been running for 2 years.
Stock:
-1 adult bristlenose pleco
-1 clown pleco
-3 angelfish
-7 glofish tetra
-3 kuhli loaches

Water Parameters tested using API Master Water Kit (from last month but can test again if needed):
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:10-20ppm
pH: 7.8

 

No harm in using stainless steel forks for feeding, but they will obviously rust eventually when left in water. How rusty is the fork though - are we talking about a few small spots of rust or the whole thing covered in it?

Regardless, I’d do your water change (probably 50%), and keep an eye on the fish for any signs of illness or change in behaviour if you are concerned.

 

If you have API dechlorinator it contains EDTA which will bind to some rust

 

If it was me, I'd make sure to be more careful
& use something like a string to tie it to a rock
or jam it sideways in the substrate or B-tween
2 rocks that would hold it nothing metal.

 

do an extra water change.

most dechlorinators will bind heavy metals.

tie a string or fishing line to the fork, and tie something to the other end that hangs out of the tank to help you to remember to remove it.

 

do an extra water change.

most dechlorinators will bind heavy metals.

tie a string or fishing line to the fork, and tie something to the other end that hangs out of the tank to help you to remember to remove it.

that's even a better Idea.

 

Such minor amounts of rust such as this won't cause any problems. Many driftwood pieces are fastened to slate with metal screws and they rust. Wires in artificial plants sometimes become exposed and also rust. Neither of these have caused any problems in my tanks.

Also note that reports of actual metal poisoning cases in aquariums are quite rare. It would take a whole lot more rust than this to harm any fish.

Heck, old timers used to drop a nail or two into their tanks to "supplement" iron for their plants!

 

Such minor amounts of rust such as this won't cause any problems. Many driftwood pieces are fastened to slate with metal screws and they rust. Wires in artificial plants sometimes become exposed and also rust. Neither of these have caused any problems in my tanks.

Also note that reports of actual metal poisoning cases in aquariums are quite rare. It would take a whole lot more rust than this to harm any fish.

Heck, old timers used to drop a nail or two into their tanks to "supplement" iron for their plants!

ha ha ha yea I've heard that B-4 but does it work ?

 

ha ha ha yea I've heard that B-4 but does it work ?

Beats me. Is the rusted iron the same as iron in root tabs and such? I would guess it is so everyone is adding iron to their tanks when they fertilize anyway.

 

That teensy bit of iron won’t do anything and you have now found out, the stainless steel they use to make utensils is pretty much the lowest quality SS. Maybe use plastic picnic forks?

 

I would just use tweezers, plastic picnic forks might have some oil/plastic that could get into the tank water (I've just heard this before, not sure about credibility)

 

I use wooden BBQ skewers. 100 pack for $2-3. Take em out at your leisure and you can break them up for more uses.