Decaying Hookah Stem

[Rajun274]

So I bought a Mya shaft recently which seemed to be good quality. Now, I tend to leave the hookah assembled after usage, which means the stems stays dipped in the water. For this particular shaft, over time the shaft's stem started to deteriorate - it was shedding and started forming yellow/brown spots :-(

Does anyone know if this happens to alot of Myan hookahs? Or was I sold a bad one? I've had two other shafts before and I always left the hookah assembled, and this never happened...

[ALI]

not really sure, but i never leave a good one in water for more than a few days. just to be safe, maybe take the water out. i have one hookah (not a mya) that has had water in the base for about 6 months and it is fine. it might just be the hookah, but to be safe id still take out the water.

[steeeeeeve]

Ive left two in water ALL the time, one rusted but was salvageable the other 1 year on is still totally looking new

depends on the hookah:)

steve

[Rajun274]

Thanks for the responses!

Could you tell me what type/brand of shaft you were using? I'd hate to buy a bad one again... :-(

[steeeeeeve]

The one that lasted was stainless steel real crappy unbranded hookah

i dont think you would have a problem with a brass stem either but i cant confirm this

steve

[cr15p3rz]

i kinda wanna see pics of this decaying stem

[judge]

Rajun,

Where you using tap water?


I've spent years in the engineering field, some dealing with valves and the relationship with metals to fluids. Chlorine eats stainless steel!!!. If the water from your tap is heavily chlorinated, as many water supplies in high sulfur areas are, then that is most likely your problem. Municipalities use heavy doses of chlorine to kill the rotten egg smell of sulfur. Switch to distilled water for use in your hookah. My guess is that your problem will be solved. I recall being in East Texas a few years ago. You cold literally smell the chlorination in the water as it was running from the tap.

[judge]

Rajun,

I see from an earlier post you made you are in Florida. I’m even more confident that you are dealing with excessively chlorinated water.

[TizaNabi]

Rajun,
____________________________ ________


I always keep the hose connected and have for 8 years. all my 12 hookahs are assorted mongrels no brand stainless steel probably Chinese .
Of the many thousands of forum letters I've read I never noticed this about the chlorine. It makes all the sense in the world and I'm really glad you wrote this and pointed it out!!Thanks a lot.
I live in a valley area of very stony ground near Bethleham and Hebron. all the people from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv the big cities who visit the village right away comment on how untainted the taste of the water is.We have many underground springs here in the area and the water table must be fine and filtered through much pourous stone we have. Right here is a spring which runs into aRitual Bath probably dug out more than 2 thousand years back to hold the required ammount of water flowing in and out.Freezing. I am not going to take that for my hookah though originally it's clean, but the bottom 5 feet down has weeds and about 6 very large gold fish who eat well it seems.


From "Judge" previous comment.

Where you using tap water?


I've spent years in the engineering field, some dealing with valves and the relationship with metals to fluids. Chlorine eats stainless steel!!!. If the water from your tap is heavily chlorinated, as many water supplies in high sulfur areas are, then that is most likely your problem. Municipalities use heavy doses of chlorine to kill the rotten egg smell of sulfur. Switch to distilled water for use in your hookah. My guess is that your problem will be solved. I recall being in East Texas a few years ago. You cold literally smell the chlorination in the water as it was running from the tap.

Edited September 16, 2008 by TizaNabi

[Stuie]

I have never had that happen. But that chlorination was something I never thought of! I use the water from the fridge that's filtered, I guess that's why.

[TizaNabi]

Rajun,
____________________________ ________


I always keep the hose connected and have for 8 years. all my 12 hookahs are assorted mongrels no brand stainless steel probably Chinese .
Of the many thousands of forum letters I've read I never noticed this about the chlorine. It makes all the sense in the world and I'm really glad you wrote this and pointed it out!!Thanks a lot.
I live in a valley area of very stony ground near Bethleham and Hebron. all the people from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv the big cities who visit the village right away comment on how untainted the taste of the water is.We have many underground springs here in the area and the water table must be fine and filtered through much pourous stone we have. Right here is a spring which runs into a Ritual Bath probably dug out more than 2 thousand years back to hold the required ammount of water flowing in and out.Freezing. I am not going to take that for my hookah though originally it's clean, but the bottom 5 feet down has weeds and about 6 very large gold fish who eat well it seems.



From "Judge" :

Where you using tap water?


I've spent years in the engineering field, some dealing with valves and the relationship with metals to fluids. Chlorine eats stainless steel!!!. If the water from your tap is heavily chlorinated, as many water supplies in high sulfur areas are, then that is most likely your problem. Municipalities use heavy doses of chlorine to kill the rotten egg smell of sulfur. Switch to distilled water for use in your hookah. My guess is that your problem will be solved. I recall being in East Texas a few years ago. You cold literally smell the chlorination in the water as it was running from the tap.

[Rajun274]

Very interesting. I've never heard that before, but you're probably right. And yes, I was using tap water. I don't have my camera in FL, but I'll try to take a picture sometime soon. Believe me - it was really disgusting.