100% pure silver in fishtanks? Good or Bad?

Coral Keeper

Coral Keeper

AC Members
Aug 24, 2007
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West Sacramento, CA
Is it true that 100% pure silver is good for freshwater tanks, my dad told me that it kills bad bactiria and it will reduse algae growth. When my dad was a kid he put silver in his tanks and the fish never got sick and there was hardly and algae growth. The fish wont get sick as much as a tank without silver.
 
"Silver is not a dietary requirement for organisms. It may even be lethal to bacteria, and it inhibits fungi reproduction. This is mainly caused by Ag+ ions. At oral silver uptake by warm-blooded organisms, about 10% is absorbed. Mammal flesh contains approximately 4-24 ppb (dry mass) of silver. Mammals take up silver mainly through plant feed.
Plants may absorb silver, although it has no biological use. Values of between 0.03 and 0.5 ppm (dry mass) were measured in the past. Fungi and green algae may even obtain a silver content of 200 ppm (dry mass).
Soils do not contain great amounts of silver. However, areas rich in minerals may contain higher amounts. In mining areas soil silver amounts of up to 44 ppm were found. In normal air-dried soil concentrations do not exceed 100 ppb.
In water silver and silver compounds are toxic to micro organisms. Fish contain approximately 11 ppm of silver. Silver toxicity to fish is reduced by water. Depending on water hardness, the lethal concentration for freshwater fish lies between 4 and 280 ppm. Freshwater plants tolerate between 30 and 7,500 ppb silver, depending on the species. The lethal concentration for daphnia is approximately 0.25 ppb, and for amphipods at 4,500 ppb."


Found this online...

http://www.lenntech.com/elements-and-water/silver-and-water.htm

It will kill bacteria but probably not just "bad" bacteria. And depending on how much silver is added to what size tank the effects will be different.
 
My dad kept silver in his tanks and nothing happend to the fish or anything els.
 
Is this for decorational purposes only?

Whether you put it in because you think it will help or for decor i wouldn't do it!

If you really want to get rid of algae use florish excel the carbon seems to kill it off or a chemical additive.

Or they have barly extract that seems to do great but expensive.

THey have algaecides not sure if the work.

There is manual labor once a week with a pad that by the way is the route i took.

If you want no algae get rid of the phosphates in the water.

NEVER STICK ANYTHING BUT PLASTIC ROCK OR SOME SORT OF CONCRETE STRUCTURE IN ANY TANK! Also drift wood!

This is why most parts are plastic and with the exception of the impellor are totally cover or kept away from water contact.

I think they use stainless steal for the impellor rod!

PLease don't poision your fish!
 
Coral Keeper said:
My dad kept silver in his tanks and nothing happend to the fish or anything els.
Click to expand...

How big of a tank and how much silver? Water may dillute the toxicity but that doesn't mean it is safe.

As mentioned in the info I gave you, green algae can survive with silver and even absorbs it (although it doesn't have any biological purposes).
 
jpappy789 said:
How big of a tank and how much silver? Water may dillute the toxicity but that doesn't mean it is safe.

As mentioned in the info I gave you, green algae can survive with silver and even absorbs it (although it doesn't have any biological purposes).
Click to expand...
Not sure. Ok, so the answer is no silver in any tanks. Thanks for the info everyone! Drift wood is bad if you put it in a tank? I'm not really trying to get rid of the algae with the silver, i just thought the silver would do some good. If i have a TON of plants in a tank there will be no algae growth? Is there anyway to get ride of the algae using plants or something like that?
 
Algae shouldn't be a problem unless you have too much light and extra nutrients, heavy planting can take care out the excess stuff...

Driftwood is good! Very good!!! But it always depends on what kind and where it was found...
 
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