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Neutralizing Copper


JavaJacketOC

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I'm probably overthinking it but I haven't been able to find a definitive answer (although I've only searched for about 15 min).

 

I used a piece of live rock in my QT tank about 6 months ago...the fish I placed in the QT tank was bagged with water from the store that contained a copper treatment. I did not treat the QT with copper but I did empty the bag into the QT tank that contained the live rock.

 

After the QT the piece of rock was left to dry for about 4 months but for my new build, I began to cycle all of my dry rock, including that piece.

 

Do I need to be worried about the small amount of copper treatment that may have been left on the rock? It seems like the potential amount of copper residual that the rock might have had would be inconsequential but I'm not sure.

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I'd use it....if I thought it was a cool piece I couldn't replace. I doubt you introduced much copper iF any into that rock.

I'm also a bit on the not so bright side......

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Short version: Yes, don't use that piece.

 

 

I'd toss that piece of rock for sure. Better to be safe than sorry!

 

Well.....it's been cycling for the last 2 weeks with all of the other rock and sand I'm planning to use...if it's a problem everything else is now too. I forgot when I started the process

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Well.....it's been cycling for the last 2 weeks with all of the other rock and sand I'm planning to use...if it's a problem everything else is now too. I forgot when I started the process

Hmm. I guess it is really a hard call. Maybe try it? If you start seeing inverts suffering, then you know. That's a hard call.

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You did not treat your QT with copper.....only added a bag of water from a treated system, correct?

 

That's right, so probably 2 cups of water from a system that had a copper treatment. The water in that QT tank was changed several times over during the QT process (it's a 5 gallon tank). I feel like it has to be so diluted that it's not an issue at this point but IDK.

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That's right, so probably 2 cups of water from a system that had a copper treatment. The water in that QT tank was changed several times over during the QT process (it's a 5 gallon tank). I feel like it has to be so diluted that it's not an issue at this point but IDK.

I wouldn't even bother testing.....just throw them rocks in your tank and start stocking.

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I wouldn't even bother testing.....just throw them rocks in your tank and start stocking.

And coming from the guy with the tank AIDS ;)

 

but I agree. I think you're right.

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Copper kills Tank AIDS. He's fine.

 

It also kills clams and other fun things :(

 

I'll probably just pay the 4.00 for the LFS to test for it. Better safe than sorry.

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It also kills clams and other fun things :(

 

I'll probably just pay the 4.00 for the LFS to test for it. Better safe than sorry.

$4 for peace of mind is worth it. Doubt you have any measurable amount to woody about though. Post the results....I'm curious now.

Worry. ...not woody :^ )

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$4 for peace of mind is worth it. Doubt you have any measurable amount to woody about though. Post the results....I'm curious now.

Worry. ...not woody :^ )

 

Will do.

 

 

 

Also, you said measurable about of woody, hue hue hue. Immature I know, but it's Friday.

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jedimasterben

I don't see the point in paying for someone to test for copper. Use a quality carbon (such as ROX 0.8) and either Seachem Cuprisorb or TLF Metalsorb UHC. Aragonite is an excellent sink for copper, so I would imagine it has large amounts bound to its surface.

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Will do.

 

 

 

Also, you said measurable about of woody, hue hue hue. Immature I know, but it's Friday.

And when Jack has a measurable amount of woody, its def measurable....

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/294681-lawns-lounge-%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90/?p=5170618

 

 

LOL, its Friday....in all seriousness, I would also probably pay the $4 for piece of mind, but I highly doubt you will find anything after multiple WCs and 4 months of drying out.

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Safest would be to discard, but...

 

A possible option may be to give it a good bath with a circulation pump in supersaturated kalkwasser. (Possibly heated?)

 

I'm not a chemist, but from Randy's article, it sounds like the calcium hydroxide would bind with and precipitate any free copper.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/5/chemistry

 

I'm not sure that will remove it all from the rock, but from my understanding, it should bind it into an inert precipitate that won't release back into the water. Could be worth an experiment with a few feeder shrimp.

 

disclaimer: this may be the unrelated to what is sometimes referred to as 'correct'

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I don't see the point in paying for someone to test for copper. Use a quality carbon (such as ROX 0.8) and either Seachem Cuprisorb or TLF Metalsorb UHC. Aragonite is an excellent sink for copper, so I would imagine it has large amounts bound to its surface.

This^ I was going to suggest Cuprisorb, but saw that Ben already recommended it.

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Just going to have the water i'm cycling in tested, it's only 2.00. Will be running carbon anyway but might step up to Cuprisorb or TLF Metalsorb UHC in the cycle tub if anything shows.

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And when Jack has a measurable amount of woody, its def measurable....

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/294681-lawns-lounge-%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90%a0%f0%9f%90/?p=5170618

 

 

LOL, its Friday....in all seriousness, I would also probably pay the $4 for piece of mind, but I highly doubt you will find anything after multiple WCs and 4 months of drying out.

:lol: It is hilarious that you found that post.

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like said upstairs, just run some Cuprisorb. I had ongoing issues with a frag tank, everything tested out fine, over and over. Corals just weren't happy and looked like crud, no matter what I did, including changing the lights. Turns out after cleaning off a rack there was a penny half buried in the sand. Cuprisorb to the rescue, ran the bag in a reactor for about a month and no more issues. Kids, nerf guns, pennies taped to darts not good

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So LFS tested the water from my curing bin with a Salifert kit (I think) and nothing showed. I may run that CupriSorb or just a big ass bag of good carbon.

 

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.

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