Anode rod rusted in place... is there such a thing as an inline anode for copper?

[TheOverThinker]

Ok, I have these old tanks from 1993. The anode rods are a ball of rust, but the tanks do not leak.
They're Rheem Rheemglas Standard 668H-120-T.

What's my best course: leave the tanks be, or try to get some anode material into some other port on the tank?

Is an "external anode" a possibility? A Corro-Protect?

One of these?

 

[Jadnashua]

Looks like you don't have enough room above to install much of any replacement anode except for a segmented one that can be bent during the install. Messing with it now may just hasten the tank's demise.

From the factory, the anodes are really jammed in there, so unless you remove them during the install, and reinstall them, it's really hard to get them out later.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Fitter30]

28 year old heaters you have been on borrowed times for years.

 

[John Gayewski]

The best course would be to get a full electric anode and not worry about changing it until you get a new water heater. Then you can put it in the new water heater too.

Also there are integral dip tube /anodes. They go in place of your inlet nipple. Which it looks like you have pictured.