tkeracer619
New member
I cannot for the life of me read any of the available test kits for copper. Seemed like my only chance was with the Hanna Copper Checker but Hanna has said that they cannot recommend its use in saltwater. I checked all over and most everyone said the same thing, except I randomly found one ReefCentral member (josephxsxn) who had shown the test kit working with Cuprion. I asked him if he had ever tested it to work with Cuprion and he showed what he did. It was however tested in freshwater.
I went ahead and purchased the Low Range Copper Checker to see if it would work for Seachem Cupramine in saltwater.
My method to test was to mix .5ml of Cupramine with 10 Liters of RODI. This should give me a reference of .5ppm. I would then do the same thing with 35ppt saltwater.
I ran the test 3x for each mixture, added the results, then divided the total by 3.
For Freshwater it measured .564ppm.
For Saltwater it measured .570ppm.
The accuracy of the kit is +- 10ppb so these readings fell within that range.
Further research suggests that the well regarded Hach copper test kit uses the same method for measuring copper in saltwater. This makes me wonder why Hanna suggests not using the kit in saltwater. Surely they can spend a day testing with various types of copper and confirming compatibility.
Until someone brings forth compelling evidence that proves otherwise I plan on moving forward to trust the results given by the checker, it seems to work fine.
I am going to ask josephxsxn to bump this thread when he runs his tests on cuprion in saltwater.
Thanks for following along!![Big grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I went ahead and purchased the Low Range Copper Checker to see if it would work for Seachem Cupramine in saltwater.
My method to test was to mix .5ml of Cupramine with 10 Liters of RODI. This should give me a reference of .5ppm. I would then do the same thing with 35ppt saltwater.
I ran the test 3x for each mixture, added the results, then divided the total by 3.
For Freshwater it measured .564ppm.
For Saltwater it measured .570ppm.
The accuracy of the kit is +- 10ppb so these readings fell within that range.
Further research suggests that the well regarded Hach copper test kit uses the same method for measuring copper in saltwater. This makes me wonder why Hanna suggests not using the kit in saltwater. Surely they can spend a day testing with various types of copper and confirming compatibility.
Until someone brings forth compelling evidence that proves otherwise I plan on moving forward to trust the results given by the checker, it seems to work fine.
I am going to ask josephxsxn to bump this thread when he runs his tests on cuprion in saltwater.
Thanks for following along!