Cleaning equipment exposed to Cuprmine

krzyphsygy

Active member
Wondering how to clean my water mixing pump that I used to mix water with Cupramine in the water. This pump mixes water for the main system and I don't want to expose and copper to the main system. How is the easiest safest way?
I was thinking a very good rinse and maybe a vinegar bath?
 
Yes just rinse and clan very well and a vinegar bath will make sure there's no coraline algea or anything that could have absorbed copper. It will be ok after that.
 
I personally don't add cupramine to mixing water. I simply add it to the QT after the water change is done.
 
SDguy said:
I personally don't add cupramine to mixing water. I simply add it to the QT after the water change is done.
This can give just enough time for a newly hatch parasite to grab hold of a fish IMO



Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android
 
krzyphsygy said:
Wondering how to clean my water mixing pump that I used to mix water with Cupramine in the water. This pump mixes water for the main system and I don't want to expose and copper to the main system. How is the easiest safest way? I was thinking a very good rinse and maybe a vinegar bath?
add the copper to the mixed saltwater after its in a pail. Posted from ReefCentral.com App for AndroidEdit, copper won't absorb into plastic, I've used 5 gallon pails for copper water, then rinsed and then used for my reef tanks.
 
add the copper to the mixed saltwater after its in a pail. Posted from ReefCentral.com App for AndroidEdit, copper won't absorb into plastic, I've used 5 gallon pails for copper water, then rinsed and then used for my reef tanks.

My Salifert Copper Test vial was stained blue after the first test! I am not going to lie, that does concern me.....it could be the added chemical, but that is clear so I have to believe it was the Cupramine that stained the vial so quickly.

I went ahead and soaked in water, vinegar, and bleach for 24hrs. I hope that does the trick. What about vinyl tubing??
 
This can give just enough time for a newly hatch parasite to grab hold of a fish IMO

I think you are anthropomorphizing the parasite... and it's not like antibiotics and bacteria, if that's the other concept going on here :) On a 15g it takes less than 2 minutes to refill the 10g I take out, and add more copper, so IMO you are incorrect, for my situation. And so far my track record has not proven otherwise.

If we are talking large volumes here, then frankly I don't think anyone should be using the same of anything (pumps, hoses, etc) on QT stuff, and display stuff. I think that's way more risky...


IMO.
 
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This can give just enough time for a newly hatch parasite to grab hold of a fish IMO

I agree, the clock might have to be restarted when dropping copper below the kill rate concentration. Its a thin rope not worth walking on. JMO.

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android
 
"I agree, the clock might have to be restarted when dropping copper below the kill rate concentration. Its a thin rope not worth walking on. JMO."

Is this your reply? If it is, again, I will stress... sharing any equipment between QT and DT, whether out of fear of meds or illness moving between the two, is a "thinner" rope.
 
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"I agree, the clock might have to be restarted when dropping copper below the kill rate concentration. Its a thin rope not worth walking on. JMO."

Is this your reply? If it is, again, I will stress... sharing any equipment between QT and DT, whether out of fear of meds or illness moving between the two, is a "thinner" rope.

The equipment was not shared with QT, nor do I ever do this. I use the same pumps to mix all new water and these pumps never touch old tank water or touch buckets used to remove old tank water from qt, however this pump was exposed to copper.
It was exposed to copper because a new batch of saltwater was made to change out water on a qt being treated with copper. The new batch was dosed to keep the copper concentration at .50ppm during the water change.
 
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