ich-copper sulfate

[davidank]

I posted this before and nobody really gave me an answer if I will be safe or not on this:

Will any amount of copper sulfate for ich, even 1 drop in a 55 gal. tank (prob 50 gallons of water in the tank) be enough to be toxic for my live rock that I am planning on getting this weekend.

I accidentally got about 1 drop of copper sulfate in my tank I drained out and put new RODI water in and new substrate in, becuase I dosed a lot of copper sulfate to kill ich but killed my other LR and I learned later it bonds to the substrate and the LR wont ever regrow anything. so I had to tear down and start over.

I dont want to buy 50+ lbs of new LR only to have that tiny amount prevent the corraline and other inverts from growing AGAIN.

There's got to be somebody out there that can confirm if I have to completely drain my tank again and add new substrate or if I am ok with this (about) 1 drop of copper sulfate ich medicine in my tank.

Thanks.

 

[davidank]

12 views and no response, that sucks.

I guess My only choices to make sure I am as safe as I can be is I am going to take out 1/2 of thw ater and dilute the copper sulfate by adding fresh RODI water. I then will get a few snails and see if they live for 2 weeks in the tank. If they do I assume everything is good and I will add the LR.

 

[metal1971]

I've always heard that copper/reef = very bad news. But 1 drop in a 55g I'm not sure about. you might want to take this to the chemistry forum for a better responce though.

 

[davidank]

ok, thanks for the tip/info metal1971

 

[snorvich]

Adding copper to a reef tank will kill most everything and will make your live rock useless.

 

[NCSUsalt]

1 drop in a 55 sounds like it would be at trace levels, I think you're fine. just run some cuprisorb or carbon if you're paranoid about it

 

[davidank]

to the exact amount, it's probably 1/8 to 1/16th (at most) of a tsp in the entire tank. The dosage instructions are 1 tsp per 4 gallons. There is a tiny amount in there nevertheless.

I am going to run carbon (if that hopefully absorbs the copper) and do a few 25% water changes this week (I know not a good idea maybe but in this cases it is probably beneficial) before I add my new LR. Thanks for all the info everybody!