Heatstick turned copper

Has anyone ever had their heat stick turn copper? Last time I used it in the HLT the element turned mostly copper. The only difference this time around was that the element actually came into contact with the copper dip tube. I don't' know if there is some crazy science reason, but I'm a little concerned both the batch and element are kaput. I guess it's also the first time I used acid blend in water, so that could have something to do with it.

Anyone else have this happen?

Oh, and it was also mostly distilled water.

 

i have no help, just curiousity. subscribed and free bump =)

 

Hard to tell, was it a chromed element? Or Zinc coated? If it was zinc then the distilled water may have stripped it all off and you see the base metal. It couldn't have been electrolysis, that requires DC current.

 

I think these things are nickel coated. I scratched a section of copper and "silver" and the copper is definetly underneith.