copper poisoning?

[gguy123]

Well I came home today and my 3 shrimp( 1 blood and 2 skunk ) are dead. Checked my water and everything looks good. So is this copper poisoning or something else and what else could it affect in my tank?

 

[Andrew]

Did you add copper to your tank?

 

[gguy123]

No, and I cant see anything that might be in my tank unless something fell behind my rocks. I am missing a razor blade I keep to scrape off alage. I get kinda careless around my tank sometimes . I just heard that copper is deadly to inverts so thats the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Andrew]

If you haven't added copper to the tank or rock or sand from a tank that had copper in it then chances are its not copper. To make sure you can always go and buy a copper test kit at the lfs. Post all your water levels please and more tank info.

 

[rememberme]

Hmm maybe rust from the blade! I'd stick a strong magnetic aquarium scraper in the tank in the hope that it will attract the blade...

Shrimps could have died from anything... Copper is deadly, but uncommon unless you have introduced something. Salinity changes? Temperature swings? Pump inlets? Predatory fish (puffer, lion etc) High nitrates/nitrites/ammonia?? Unstable pH levels. You will need to test all of these things before you decide on adding anything else to the tank.