Copper Emergency!

sooner1 · 08-04-2007, 10:12 PM

I need help! My tank has tested off the charts for copper. It's mostly due to my stupidity for using a return line fitting that rusted upon recent inspection during a big maintenance review of my 29 gallon tank/ 12 gal sump. I suspect this has infused my tank with high levels of copper for more than a month! The good news is I do not have any corals, fish only and as of today several dead snails

. My question is other than a copper/heavy metal sponge and water changes what can I do to rid my tank of this problem? I spoke with my LFS and he also said I need to basically start over on the entire tank with new live rock and a new sand bed

. Is that true? Or will the sponge be enough? I want to add corals eventually, but more importantly do I have to replace 30+ lbs of live rock which will leach copper back into the tank? Any help would be much appreciated.

seahorsedreams · 08-04-2007, 10:15 PM

The rock is useless for a reef setup. It will leach.

cheeks69 · 08-04-2007, 10:51 PM

I agree and wouldn't use for a reef tank. It would be fine to use for anyone with a FO setup, maybe you can sell it ?

BigAl07 · 08-04-2007, 10:52 PM

I have to agree. It's not worth the risk to me.

Allen

goldenmean · 08-04-2007, 10:59 PM

Can the tank be used at all for a reef tank?
Does the copper get into the silicone seals of the tank?
I dont know. Just asking?

AQTCJAK · 08-04-2007, 11:19 PM

Seachem Make a product

CupriSorb

cheeks69 · 08-04-2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goldenmean

Can the tamk be used at all for a reef tank?
Does the copper get into the silicone seals of the tank?
I dont know. Just asking?

Yes it does. Now will it be enough to harm inverts ? Of that I'm not sure. I know there was a member at another site that used poly filters to help remove copper and he was able to have a reef tank. I think it's worth a try but I would get a good copper test !

DaveK · 08-05-2007, 02:55 AM

What I would do is use copper absorbing products for a few months, while doing large partial water changes.

Then at the end of several months try an easy soft coral, like a leather coral, and see how it does. Get a small frag for this, since it will be inexpensive. If that does ok for a few months, try a few additional corals.

If things don't work out then you'll need to replace the LR. However, as you know live rock is not cheep. You want to be sure you need to replace it.

p.villalba · 08-05-2007, 06:27 AM

i was the same problem , have almost 2 months running carbon , copper remover from seachem , copper remover from aquarium system(for me the best that work in my system) , all runnings in diferent canister filters.also needs make almost a 25% of w. changes weekly .after that i can use all in my tank includig my rock, my best, test was a one turbo snail every 3 weeks . this work for me, remember that always exist a posible risk with the l rock, for this i use the t. snail.
luck with that
pedro

sooner1 · 08-09-2007, 11:03 AM

I have done as some of you suggested. I have Kent Heavy Metal Spong and doing several water changes. I tested last night which resulted in a 2.0 PPM reading! Down from 4.0+.... progress is progress. I will continue to do this until I see 0.0PPM or have the $$$$$$ to purchase new LR

sooner1 · 08-20-2007, 12:19 PM

I tested again today and found the results to be 0.50 PPM. The Kent Heavy Metal Sponge is doing the trick for now.

08-04-2007, 10:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
sooner1 Tunicate Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 19 View Gallery Karma Komment	Copper Emergency! I need help! My tank has tested off the charts for copper. It's mostly due to my stupidity for using a return line fitting that rusted upon recent inspection during a big maintenance review of my 29 gallon tank/ 12 gal sump. I suspect this has infused my tank with high levels of copper for more than a month! The good news is I do not have any corals, fish only and as of today several dead snails . My question is other than a copper/heavy metal sponge and water changes what can I do to rid my tank of this problem? I spoke with my LFS and he also said I need to basically start over on the entire tank with new live rock and a new sand bed . Is that true? Or will the sponge be enough? I want to add corals eventually, but more importantly do I have to replace 30+ lbs of live rock which will leach copper back into the tank? Any help would be much appreciated.

08-04-2007, 10:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
seahorsedreams Tunicate Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper Emergency! The rock is useless for a reef setup. It will leach.

08-04-2007, 10:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,618 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper Emergency! I agree and wouldn't use for a reef tank. It would be fine to use for anyone with a FO setup, maybe you can sell it ? __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

08-04-2007, 10:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Copper Emergency! I have to agree. It's not worth the risk to me. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

08-04-2007, 10:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
goldenmean Beautiful Katamari Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,062 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Copper Emergency! Can the tank be used at all for a reef tank? Does the copper get into the silicone seals of the tank? I dont know. Just asking? __________________ A 55g link in the GoldenChain My Second Quarantine Tank 2 (+) Year Retrospective of a 12g Nano Jeff What You Think Upon Grows... Have a Smooth Day!

08-04-2007, 11:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,936 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Copper Emergency! Seachem Make a product CupriSorb __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

08-05-2007, 02:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
DaveK Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 648 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper Emergency! What I would do is use copper absorbing products for a few months, while doing large partial water changes. Then at the end of several months try an easy soft coral, like a leather coral, and see how it does. Get a small frag for this, since it will be inexpensive. If that does ok for a few months, try a few additional corals. If things don't work out then you'll need to replace the LR. However, as you know live rock is not cheep. You want to be sure you need to replace it.

08-05-2007, 06:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
p.villalba Bryozoan Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: puerto rico Posts: 40 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper Emergency! i was the same problem , have almost 2 months running carbon , copper remover from seachem , copper remover from aquarium system(for me the best that work in my system) , all runnings in diferent canister filters.also needs make almost a 25% of w. changes weekly .after that i can use all in my tank includig my rock, my best, test was a one turbo snail every 3 weeks . this work for me, remember that always exist a posible risk with the l rock, for this i use the t. snail. luck with that pedro Last edited by p.villalba : 08-05-2007 at 06:29 AM. Reason: a

08-09-2007, 11:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
sooner1 Tunicate Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 19 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper Emergency! I have done as some of you suggested. I have Kent Heavy Metal Spong and doing several water changes. I tested last night which resulted in a 2.0 PPM reading! Down from 4.0+.... progress is progress. I will continue to do this until I see 0.0PPM or have the $$$$$$ to purchase new LR

08-20-2007, 12:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
sooner1 Tunicate Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 19 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper Emergency! I tested again today and found the results to be 0.50 PPM. The Kent Heavy Metal Sponge is doing the trick for now.

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