copper treatment in qt tank

[kcfehring]

I am not sure what is killing my fish, some fellow aquarist think marine velvet since they are dying so quickly, others think ich, but I have decided to qt them and medicate with copper since that will kill either.

My question concers what someone else has told me. They said that since I am medicating with copper that I will never be able to use this qt tank for inverts or corals ever again. I thought that once the qt of the fish and display tank is over (I plan on leaving the display tank fallow for two months just to be safe) I could wash the qt tank and pvc and then reset it up with a new biowheel filter, new nets, etc., but that the tank and pvc could be reused. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[jallard]

cooper will get absorbed into the silicone of the tank and basically will be of no use for a reef even of you wash it out

 

[kcfehring]

I don't want it for a reef tank I just want to be able to qt invert and things like that in it. Do I even need to qt corals and live rock? HOw would you even be able to tell if it had any type of cysts or whatever on it? Plus wouldn't I have to qt it for two months to make sure that it didn't have anything to attach to?

 

[jallard]

inverts are sensitive to copper..... they will die. As for QT of inverts... IMO it's not nesessary thay can't carry Ich

 

[billsreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10901768#post10901768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jallard
As for QT of inverts... IMO it's not nesessary thay can't carry Ich

They can carry cysts Also inverts have their own set of disease and predatory hitchhikers such as nudibranchs that can best be eliminated by QT'ing your inverts

 

[Linda C.]

Hi Kim,

I wanted to share this email in reference to your question about reusing your tank. I have heard many experts talk about using a tank that had copper used in it and I still hear the same thing.

Scrub with salt, rinse well and let dry...it will be safe to use.
-------------------------------------------------

Hi Anthony,

I am trying to get advice to a reef club member that purchased a used fish tank. It previously housed Cichlids. He had no history if copper or any medications were ever used.

What advice or concerns would you have if he would like to use this tank as a reef/invert/fish tank?

Sincerely,

Linda C.
-------------------------------------------------
no worries whatsoever after a good rinse (scour with saltwater).

Normal FW hobby use of the tank would cause no harm for SW use.

.

Anthony Calfo

------------------------------------------------

I agree with what Bill says....he knows what he is talking about.

(make sure you read my signature quote from Mr. Calfo)

Also, make sure you read up on using copper. Their may be other choice you might want to consider.

-Linda C.

 

[wooden_reefer]

I have often wondered if some copper deposited in live rock will render it unsuitable for reef tank.

First, will the copper be leached out? The soluability product of copper carbonate is fixed, but I think the ph of the water may cause shift in equlibrium concentration of Copper. I believe the chance of Cu leaching out is quite low.

Second, direct contact of invertebrates with solid copper carbonate. This I can't say.

I'd rather be cautious, but I have doubts about toxicity of minute amounts of copper carbonate. May be if there have been numerous Cu treatments over the years, the LR will be unsafe, but not once or twice. I'd rather not chance it for science.