Copper remaining in a tank

[CrayolaViolence]

I have a question in regards to using copper in a tank especially one that's plastic or has plastic over flows, or even pulling water out into a garbage can or bucket from a tank with copper. Does the copper seep into the plastic and or even the seams of a tank? If you use a tank for copper treatment does that mean it can never be considered for use as anything else?

Thanks in advance.

 

[darmar7812]

Yes copper can leach into the acrylic or glass and therefore should never be used in a dt only ever in hospital or quarantine tank as I'm sure your aware of its is extremely poisonous to inverts and corals

 

[CrayolaViolence]

What about buckets and dip pales where the water might be transferred out of a tank temporarily to be dumped. Will standing in a plastic bucket for an hour or so render the bucket useless for anything but copper water? Thanks

 

[darmar7812]

I'm not sure if that would make it useless I would say, would you risk killing your corals or anemone for a 5 Dollar bucket?

 

[laserjim]

This tank has had copper in it numerous times, before I converted it to a reef tank.

 

[billdogg]

This tank has had copper in it numerous times, before I converted it to a reef tank.

What he said. I don't have pictures handy, but my old 60 cube had so much copper in it the water was blue and the silicone was stained. The rock was siliconed to the bottom so could not be removed. Some carbon and polyfilter allong with a few large water changes and it was fine. 22 years worth of corals and anemones would argue that copper can be removed.

Would it be better to not use copper in your DT? Sure. But it's not the end of the world.

 

[billdogg]

Here's the 60 shortly before I retired it



And these two pairs lived in it for years, after excessive copper (that, btw, did nothing for the disease - the affected fish died anyway)

 

[Apotack]

I used my tank as a fish only before converting to a reef it was medicated with copper several times. I have had no problems either. I ran cuprisorb for a few weeks before adding corals to just to make sure.

 

[Hal]

Carbon will remove copper. Run it as long as you think it's necessary. Then keep using it because it's good for lots of things.