free tank...copper???

[rottface4]

A friend of mine is getting ready to toss a tank, the problem is he treated the tank for different parasites when he was doing a FO tank. So I'm guessing he is used some kind of copper based chemicals, and he didn't remember what he used. My question is: Is this tank still usable, or is it possible to reseal the tank if the silicon is trapping any copper in it? Basically do I have any options to use this for a reef?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Its still useable. Get water in there and test it for copper...thats the only way (that i know of) to find out if he actually did use a copper based med. If he has, then there are copper removers out there. Also, 4 years ago i used a copper med in my 40 breeder while it was still freshwater. I then took everything out about 8 months ago because i was gonna be switching to reef. So after it was set up, i tested for copper and it didnt show any, so i'm guessing that it may wear out after a while, or it didnt get in the silicone for some reason

 

[jamal-188]

I used copper in my 110g before I knew better. I later converted it to a full blown reef with no problems.

 

[Paintbug]

you can still use it, but it would be best to wash it out with some muric acid, and water (i think!!). check with Randy in the chemistry forums. he could explain how alot better than me.

just so you know, even if you test the water and it reads 0ppm, theres still a very good chance the copper is there. copper is another one of those elements thats hard to get an accurate test. it really depends on how much was used, and how long.

what size tank are we talking here?

 

[rottface4]

The tank is only 36 gallons, and I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for. I just wanted to find out if it would be possible.

 

[bureau13]

Surely a 36 gallon tank can be had cheaply enough to make the risk not worth it? It should serve perfectly well as someone's quarantine tank.

jds

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8269412#post8269412 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bureau13
Surely a 36 gallon tank can be had cheaply enough to make the risk not worth it? It should serve perfectly well as someone's quarantine tank.

jds

i agree. tank the tank, and use it for a hospital, or quarantine.

 

[AndyL]

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/copperfa.htm

As long as you're not keeping any calcaerous remnants (ie live rock or substrate) you wont have any problems.

Personally I'm in the process of converting some old stock tanks (that I know were regularly dosed with copper) to frag tanks - gave them a thorough cleaning and I'll probably run some cuprisorb just in case...