Copper in silicone

nikkipigtails · 03-19-2008, 10:38 PM

I was talking to someone this weekend who said that if a copper-based medicine is used to treat a tank, then the copper leaches into the silicone and you can never use that tank as a reef tank. Is that true? What are your thoughts?

goldenmean · 03-19-2008, 10:41 PM

I have heard that many times.
That the silicon can leech out coppers years after the tank was treated.
I don't know exactly how accurate that really is but i would not risk my $1000s of corals on a $75 tank.

Dentoid · 03-19-2008, 10:46 PM

Nikki, I have heard that too.

nikkipigtails · 03-19-2008, 10:51 PM

alright, guess I'm getting a copper testing kit this weekend

SubRosa · 03-19-2008, 11:45 PM

Just cut out all the old silicone witha razor and reseal the tank.A couple bucks, a few minutes and peace of mind.

John

tbittner · 03-20-2008, 09:20 AM

I had heard that too. John is right, but you don't need to cut out ALL of the old silicon, you can just cut a layer of it out and lay another layer on top of it to seal the old silicon away from the water.

Frankie · 03-20-2008, 09:25 AM

I have heard this also. That being said i have yet to see someone who has actually had this problem! I think this is just one of those urban legends personally. I have seen many a lfs tank turn into a reef tank in NY. I am talking about old, old tanks. I personally would not worry about it.

SubRosa · 03-20-2008, 10:47 AM

Just be sure that if you incapsulate in that manner that your new silicone completely overlaps by at least 1/4" over the old silicone and onto the glass.New silicone will not bond to cured silicone.

John

nikkipigtails · 03-20-2008, 01:04 PM

We got 3 tanks that were previously used as fw and after someone made the comment about the copper thing I got a little worried. Although, I've already turned one of those tanks into a reef tank and havent had any problems. I think I'll just fill up the tanks this weekend before the 180 gets drilled to be sure. The last thing I want is to kill anything when it could have been avoided.

Boomer · 03-20-2008, 05:49 PM

Well you are all hearing myths

It can not leach out something it can not adsorb. It comes from people assuming it is cooper, as at times the silicon is greenish to blueish grren and cooper is greenish to blueish green. This is not cooper but from using dye medications, like Malachite Green, which has NO copper.

As far as the tank goes that had cooper, just wash it down well with 100 % Vinegar or Hydrochloric acid (Muriatic Acid ) diluted with 10 parts tap water to be safe.

Frankie · 03-20-2008, 07:32 PM

! I finally had a post boomer agreed with me on! i must be learning finally!

Boomer · 03-20-2008, 07:52 PM

and you are the winner there Frank

nikkipigtails · 03-20-2008, 08:15 PM

YAY!!! We were going to wash everything out with vinegar once we got it set up anyway. This really puts my mind at ease. Thank you SOOOO much!!!

Edd13 · 03-21-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer

Well you are all hearing myths

It can not leach out something it can not adsorb. It comes from people assuming it is cooper, as at times the silicon is greenish to blueish grren and cooper is greenish to blueish green. This is not cooper but from using dye medications, like Malachite Green, which has NO copper.

As far as the tank goes that had cooper, just wash it down well with 100 % Vinegar or Hydrochloric acid (Muriatic Acid ) diluted with 10 parts tap water to be safe.

Boomer is right, do what he said ... I had a fresh water tank ... i treated it many times over the years (most had copper) ... then it went reef and no problems ... BUT .. rock and sand (being porus) can retain copper releasing it when the ph is off

Paul B · 03-21-2008, 05:22 PM

My tank had copper in it for years, it has been a reef for over 30 years since then. No problems yet

03-19-2008, 10:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,010 View Gallery Karma Komment	Copper in silicone I was talking to someone this weekend who said that if a copper-based medicine is used to treat a tank, then the copper leaches into the silicone and you can never use that tank as a reef tank. Is that true? What are your thoughts? __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-19-2008, 10:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
goldenmean Beautiful Katamari Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 4,345 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Copper in silicone I have heard that many times. That the silicon can leech out coppers years after the tank was treated. I don't know exactly how accurate that really is but i would not risk my $1000s of corals on a $75 tank. __________________ A 55g link in the GoldenChain My 2nd QT-Picasso Clowns My 2nd-QT-Wrasse My Second Quarantine Tank 2 (+) Year Retrospective of a 12g Nano Jeff What You Think Upon Grows... Have a Smooth Day!

03-19-2008, 10:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,833 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone Nikki, I have heard that too. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

03-19-2008, 10:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,010 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone alright, guess I'm getting a copper testing kit this weekend __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-19-2008, 11:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
SubRosa Torch coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 561 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone Just cut out all the old silicone witha razor and reseal the tank.A couple bucks, a few minutes and peace of mind. John __________________ Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

03-20-2008, 09:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
tbittner Watch this Ma! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern VA Posts: 5,562 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Copper in silicone I had heard that too. John is right, but you don't need to cut out ALL of the old silicon, you can just cut a layer of it out and lay another layer on top of it to seal the old silicon away from the water. __________________ Terry 150g predator tank full of killers. Soon to be upgraded to a 360g. 450g reef 300g sump.

03-20-2008, 10:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
SubRosa Torch coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 561 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone Just be sure that if you incapsulate in that manner that your new silicone completely overlaps by at least 1/4" over the old silicone and onto the glass.New silicone will not bond to cured silicone. John __________________ Life is a comedy to those who think and a tragedy to those who feel.HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

03-20-2008, 01:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,010 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone We got 3 tanks that were previously used as fw and after someone made the comment about the copper thing I got a little worried. Although, I've already turned one of those tanks into a reef tank and havent had any problems. I think I'll just fill up the tanks this weekend before the 180 gets drilled to be sure. The last thing I want is to kill anything when it could have been avoided. __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-20-2008, 05:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,275 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone Well you are all hearing myths It can not leach out something it can not adsorb. It comes from people assuming it is cooper, as at times the silicon is greenish to blueish grren and cooper is greenish to blueish green. This is not cooper but from using dye medications, like Malachite Green, which has NO copper. As far as the tank goes that had cooper, just wash it down well with 100 % Vinegar or Hydrochloric acid (Muriatic Acid ) diluted with 10 parts tap water to be safe. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be. Last edited by Boomer : 03-20-2008 at 07:56 PM.

03-20-2008, 07:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,275 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone and you are the winner there Frank __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

03-20-2008, 08:15 PM	#13 (permalink)
nikkipigtails Manta Ray Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3,010 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Copper in silicone YAY!!! We were going to wash everything out with vinegar once we got it set up anyway. This really puts my mind at ease. Thank you SOOOO much!!! __________________ No man ever reached excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation. - Horace

03-21-2008, 05:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
Paul B Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 419 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Copper in silicone My tank had copper in it for years, it has been a reef for over 30 years since then. No problems yet

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)