Copper Questions

[bluespotocto]

So i have QT all my fish and i want to break down my QT tank. Since the tank has been treated with copper before can i still use the equipment in QT tank in the display tank? Like the heater and the small power head i have in there.

 

[jcw]

I think I've read several places not to for the reason copper leaches from stuff in the QT.

 

[bluespotocto]

So if i have used a small hang acclimation thing to acclimate then can i not use that any more for my DT? I would add a small cup of water every 5 mins then when it was over i would dump it all in. So by doing that is it contaminated?

 

[bluespotocto]

?????

 

[Yogre]

Copper tends to be absorbed by porous material. I'm thinking your acclimation thingy is made of non-porous plastic. Give it a good vinegar bath to remove any lime scale, rinse it well, and I think you'll be safe to use it. At that point, your fish food and/or your water change salt will probably transport more copper than the plastic.

 

[Chris27]

Copper tends to be absorbed by porous material. I'm thinking your acclimation thingy is made of non-porous plastic. Give it a good vinegar bath to remove any lime scale, rinse it well, and I think you'll be safe to use it. At that point, your fish food and/or your water change salt will probably transport more copper than the plastic.

+1

Just give it a good rinse in some vinegar. Calcium based material is really what copper reacts with in a marine aquarium, plastic doesn't react with copper.

 

[bluespotocto]

So would i be ok to use the titanium heater if i gave it a vinegar bath also?

 

[Yogre]

I would think so. Just make sure you've removed any encrusted calcium carbonate from the heater. Heaters will pick up quite a bit more CaCO3 due to precipitation on the hot tube surfaces.

 

[bluespotocto]

When i do the cleaning do i scrub it then let it sit in there for a little bit or just scrub and its good?

 

[Yogre]

I'd let it sit in the vinegar for a bit to soften/loosen the calcium scale, give it a scrub and a rinse, and call it done.

 

[bluespotocto]

I want to do it to my hydrometer also just to be safe but will that mess up the needle or anything?

 

[Yogre]

I've never used a hydrometer, only a refractometer, so I'm honestly not sure. Someone in the Reef Chemistry forum may know.