Mineral Oil In Aquarium

[Snick]

i recently bought a pump to help me pump water into and out of my 30 gallon. unfortunetly, i had to add a teaspoon of mineral or vegetable oil to the inlet valve (where the water goes into the pump) to run it. when i pump water from my sink and into the tank, i will of course get oil in my aquarium. is this bad? will it cause problems?

 

[SirMinion]

Even a small amount of any oil will spread out on the suface of the tank and can prevent gaseous exchange thereby suffocating your fish. An airstone or other means of surface agitation will prevent this from happening.

Vegatable oil will decay and vanish over a short time but mineral oil will not and will need to be removed by skimming the suface with an aborbant material such as sponge or flannel.

Consider using a lubricant suitable for potable (drinking) water available from or hardware plumbing stores instead.

 

[Opcn]

It seems to me that a pump that needs a lubricant were the water will be probably has metals exposed that you shouldn't run into your fishes water.

 

[Snick]

yeah your probably right Opcn, but this really surprises me because the box said it can be used with aquariums. but it might have meant it in a way as in taking the water out of the tank, and not into it... im going to contact the manufacturer and figure it out.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Hmm, what does the oil do? I guess it acts as lubrication? I use vaseline to lube anything that needs lubing.... Like the rubber end caps of my internal filters magnetic spindle. I cant see any surface residue from it because its hydrophobic. It should also stay put, unlike any oil.

If you need to use oil, run the pump from or too a bucket prior to use in the aquarium.

 

[Opcn]

You cannot use whatever anywere Mr Miagi, also, remember that vaseline eats latex, that can lead to expensive problems, Also all oils are hydrophobic, its just a matter of how well they run, vaseline cannot run into cracks well it must be smeared there.

Snick, the mfgr would probably know the answer to your question exactly.