What happen when you dose copper into DT?

[tdm850]

Hello, my friend asked me the question and I thought I would post it here for help:

He dosed copper into his DT (FOWLR) in order to treat ich a couple months ago. The ich is all gone now but he is concerned his LR and LS may be contaminated as now he wants to start a reef tank by adding softies first.

I know it's bad, but what's exactly bad when you add copper to your FOWLR tank? Will the LR and LS still be good to use for reef tank?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rookie]

He needs to start over.

 

[lowbudget]

it will leach copper for a very long time glass or acrylic tank glass silicone will leach for a long time

 

[slee013]

just a FYI..I dosed copper in my FOWLR display tank for a ich breakout..I then did 50% water changes every Saturday for 4 weeks, then ran carbon during that time.

Just to see what happened, I moved some zoa colonies and a leather coral from my reef into the FOWLR, and they seem to have done well for about 3 weeks until my dogface puffer started chomping at it. During this 3 week time-frame, I tested for copper and it was at zero.

but, I have heard copper leaches and I wouldn't take a chance with pricey corals..

 

[Evanski9]

Ya it could not be a good start for a reef tank. I'd sell the rock and ls etc and do a couple vinegar baths to the tank and start fresh.

He would basically be starting a 100m dash with a Pulled hamstring

 

[bullitr]

just a FYI..I dosed copper in my FOWLR display tank for a ich breakout..I then did 50% water changes every Saturday for 4 weeks, then ran carbon during that time.

Just to see what happened, I moved some zoa colonies and a leather coral from my reef into the FOWLR, and they seem to have done well for about 3 weeks until my dogface puffer started chomping at it. During this 3 week time-frame, I tested for copper and it was at zero.

but, I have heard copper leaches and I wouldn't take a chance with pricey corals..

+1 Did the same thing before no issues just run a lot of carbon.

And I won't do it if on expensive corals too!

 

[tdm850]

thank you all for the quick reply.

Let's say if he stays with FOWLR, will leached LF and LS impact the tank's bio-filtration ability? In another words, can beneficial bacteria be less populated and less effective to break ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate?

He told me he had some pretty pricey and good-looking LR......

 

[Evanski9]

If he has nice live rock I'd get a copper test kit and test. With time it will disapate

 

[tdm850]

Based on what all suggested, it maybe OK with softies but no SPS....?

Does copper have ill effect on coralline on LR? Sorry I'm just translating pieces of information he told me. He mentioned that all LR had turned white after the copper treatment.

I need to get him on this forum himself......:doh:

 

[BigDaddyStar]

I would think it would be just fine...but get a test kit...thats all he has to do...it comes up high or any at all...theres his answer. copper is a metal like any other that gets expelled over time...the amount of time is determined by the contact...just test it

 

[babyjess210]

just a FYI..I dosed copper in my FOWLR display tank for a ich breakout..I then did 50% water changes every Saturday for 4 weeks, then ran carbon during that time.

Just to see what happened, I moved some zoa colonies and a leather coral from my reef into the FOWLR, and they seem to have done well for about 3 weeks until my dogface puffer started chomping at it. During this 3 week time-frame, I tested for copper and it was at zero.

but, I have heard copper leaches and I wouldn't take a chance with pricey corals..

+1
I did this to 2 of my tanks but I ran Poly filters until they stop turning blue and test for copper. My buddy have one of the tank now full of corals.

 

[n@no]

i ran -poly filters- and -chemi pure elite-and it took it away from my rock & glass


fiy buy snails if they die then theres still copper

 

[tdm850]

I gave him a couple of polyps frags and they seem to do well. He mentioned that he put a turbo snail and it's actually doing fine. I'll ask him to test for copper as well. And I'm going to frag some eagle eye polyps and have him glue them directly to LR to see what happen.

Thank you all for your advises.

 

[danagui]

copper in a reef tank would be like u drinking cyanide lol....silicon and LR are sponges for copper....time to start over....