Copper Residue ?

[saltyguy51]

I need to put my baby Rays in a tank that has some sand and live rock. I have used copper in there and the sand can be taken out with no problem but would the live rock have enough copper in it to hurt the Rays as I know they are intolerant of it? I used coppersafe by Mardel and Cupramine

 

[saltyguy51]

?

 

[BrianD]

If you add copper to a tank with live rock, you have effectively trapped the copper in the live rock, and it will continue to leach out of the rock into your system.

 

[BrianD]

[moved]

 

[Gwynhidwy]

I wouldn't risk it. The copper won't be a problem as long as it stays in the rock, but the problem is that it can be released at any time, and from what I understand it could be released in a large quantity all at once. If that happens your rays may be in trouble.

 

[saltyguy51]

What about in the silicon ?

 

[BrianD]

You might want to read these FAQ:

http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Cupramine.html

 

[Gwynhidwy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15642547#post15642547 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltyguy51
What about in the silicon ?

From what I understand, neither silicone nor glass will hold onto/absorb copper. I believe it is a myth that if you use copper medications in a tank it can never be used with invertebrates again.

 

[saltyguy51]

Thats what I think too.

 

[e55MD]

I have sucessfully kept inverts in a tank after copper treatment. Remove the copper aggressively with Cuprisorb and carbon immediately after treatment. Then keep some carbon in your tank for several months. In my opinion, the long term copper "leaching" you read about is overblown.

 

[Gotsoup]

+1 I have kept sharks in a previously coppered tank and am about to do it again. Add a couple snails to see if they survive before adding the fish. Also I have heard a drastic drop in temp can bleed any copper absorb in rock. However it depends if the copper you used was binding. Did it turn your silicon blue? I have used copper power multiple times and is states that it does not bind to rocks, and it hasn't in my tank. Use Cuprisorb to remove that stuff is great.

 

[saltyguy51]

The silicone is blue but I think it is stained, not full of copper

 

[saltyguy51]

I forgot to mention that I have put Nars. snails in the tank that had a steady dose of Mardel's Coppersafe and the snails dont live very long at all, so I figure there's copper in the sand, what do you think?

 

[saltyguy51]

Good info BrianD