adding copper to display

[SDhky]

I added copper a couple years ago, I know its mostly gone but never will be gone, ive added a few snails when I thought it was gone but they told me there is copper in there still by dying. Now my blue tang is starting to show some white things on him and I do not have a quarantine tank. If you were me, would you add more copper to the tank? no corals, just FO, porcupine puffer and maroon clown in there as well

 

[ccorpse27]

If it's fish only then yes, add copper. It will contaminate all your rock if you have any and the tank for some duration. Of course inverts will not survive.

 

[spike78]

Why add copper to the display? You can get a small 10 gallon QT tank for really cheap and not contaminate your display.

 

[SDhky]

the display is already permanently contanaminated, so i might as well right?

 

[InLimbo87]

Although you have added copper your tank in the past, I wouldn't do it this time. Copper is not a suitable treatment method for tangs because it can severely affect their digestive system. You could always try the hyposalinity method (probably best suited in a seperate quarantine tank)

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I'm pretty sure clownfish can not tolerate copper, so you do not want to treat the tank while he is in it.

 

[illal]

im assuming you have liverock in there wich for obvious reasons id say no... why not just treat with hypo???

 

[SDhky]

i dont have live rock. how low of salinity is hypo? Maybe ill do that in the display?

 

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Copper in a display is just bad...for so many reasons. It's irreversable...even staying in the silicone, etc.

Look here for information on hyposalinity (scroll down the page).

 

[Amphiprion]

Not to mention you will be wasting a LOT of copper trying to use it in the display. Anything that is made of calcium carbonate--sand, rock, etc.-- will bind the copper and render it insoluble (i.e. none in solution). It will be a waste of money. Hyposalinity is the only thing you could try as long as there is no live rock. I would invest in a quarantine tank in the future.