Fresh water tank for reefing?

[Deep Reef]

I have been looking to upgrade my tank. I have found some good deals on both glass and acrylic used tanks that are reef ready. Unfortunately, these tanks have been used for fresh water fish where the use of copper treatments in the dt are common. If I were to buy one of these tanks and wash it out with vinegar would I need to be concerned with copper contamination? I'm not looking to start with a problem just to save a few bucks.

Thanks

 

[mlivvy]

Copper leaches in from the seams is the myth. Even after rinsing. I don't know if it's true. I personally don't like freshwater tank conversions because I don't trust copper once it's been in a tank. But if you must, 1 part vinegar.. 4 parts water and get yourself a copper test kit.

 

[knukles55]

Save yourself the hassle and just look into something else

 

[hobbzz]

Randy Holmes Farley has a PhD in chemistry from Harvard. When he says copper will not leach out, which he does, I personally trust someone with a doctorate in chemistry over hobbyists who are just guessing. I have also personally used old qt tanks that I used cupramine in with no ill effects, after cleaning of course.

 

[AquamanE]

Randy Holmes Farley has a PhD in chemistry from Harvard. When he says copper will not leach out, which he does, I personally trust someone with a doctorate in chemistry over hobbyists who are just guessing. I have also personally used old qt tanks that I used cupramine in with no ill effects, after cleaning of course.

If RHF says it, I believe it.

I didnt know those where his qualifications. I just thought he was a chemist of some sort with reef-keeping love.

Our own Dr. T has similar background, not sure how he opines on this.

 

[Deep Reef]

Would be interesting if he weighted in

 

[doggydoc]

Fresh water tank for reefing?

Copper won't leach out. If at all worried then test before adding any water

 

[hobbzz]

IIRC Randy's actual comments were that nothing in the tank can bond with/take up the copper in the first place. He actually used to have his resume posted on here years ago for anyone that wondered whether or not he actually knew what he was talking about, before he was famous of course lol. I believe he holds some patents for drugs he invented. Again, iirc, having to do with binding phosphates for people dealing with kidney issues like transplants or dialysis.

 

[dadummy]

for the life of me I could not figure out what was wrong with my frag system. One day while moving a few corals around I found the culprit. It was a 1965 penny that was all nasty and corroded. It had been there for a while. Kids, pennies and Nerf guns not a good combo.

I ran some Seachem Cuprisorb in a media reactor and that fixed the tank up. That could be another option to be safe

 

[Deep Reef]

Great suggestion, I won't let the fresh water thing affect my decjsion. Thanks