Copper--What to do?

[Ms. K]

I have a new 125 gallon tank to which I would like to upgrade from my 58 reef, using the 58 as a fuge. The previous owner ran copper to treat ich...last treatment was over a month ago. Seams look good, no discoloration. I will be starting with new sand, water, everything. What can I do to make this tank reefsafe? Do I need to change the bioballs in the sump? Will filling the tank with new water dilute the copper enough? I was told to place a shrimp in after I set it up and that everything is ok if the shrimp is still alive after 3 weeks. Comments? Suggestions?

[Lifestudent]

If it were me, I'd rinse the tank a few times with fresh RO water each time. Then I'd fill the tank with just RO and let it sit for a few weeks with a powerhead or two in it for circulation and then I'd test for copper either with a test kit or take a water sample to your County Extension Center and ask them to do a water quality test, especially for copper.

If they find some copper, I'd remove the silicone and reapply it and test it for leaks. If however they don't find any copper, then I'd either refill the tank with the same RO water and then turn it into saltwater, then place this water into buckets and setup the tank with sand and LR as you wish. Afterwhich I'd add back the saltwater.

Just my 2 cents.

I'd like to know what others would suggest too!

Good luck!

Bob

[yousuredo]

well, I always re-silacone any used tank before I set it up....
the stuff is so cheep and easy to apply...why not do it and make it look and feel new again
as well as being safer

[mycorize]

Mainly I would sure test for copper with a kit..I have 5 reef tanks going and they were all used for my Discus fish over the years..I have used copper in all of them over the years as well..I have corals in all 5 tanks now for over three years and have not had any problems what so ever with any critters introduced to the tanks ...even my sps seemed fine from the get go..

If in doubt a resilicone job is easy to as stated earlier by Bob...I have had about any kind of critter in my tanks at one time or the other..Just be sure to test it out first..
cheers

[jimbeau]

I agree with everyone above but would add that I would not replace the bioballs, I would just do away with them altogether.

Jim

[Ms. K]

Thanks everyone. I've checked several resources and have this plan:

1) Discard bioballs. All sand, water, decor, etc. have already been discarded.
2) Fill the tank with fresh RO water and use Polyfilter to remove copper.
3) Run for one to two weeks, then test for the presence of copper.
4) If no copper is detected, then I'll mix the saltwater, add some cycled liverock and live sand.
5) Place an invertebrate (cleaner shrimp) in the system.
6) If all appears well, hook up the 58 (fuge/current reef) to let the water parameters between the two tanks stabilize before transporting reef to main display tank.

Of course, if copper is present, I'll think of something else (such as re-siliconing the tank). Oh, and I plan for this process to take at least a month before I hook up the tank and transfer the reef. Thanks again for your help.

[robsmith32]

if the poly filter doesn't turn colors, think its blue for copper, not sure.
then it should be ok. but if you know what copper was previously used, I'd get that brands test kit and just make sure it doesnt'' show anything.
plain ol activated carbon removes copper as well. as well as water changes.
All i'd do myself is drain water, toss decor/any porous matter that was in it.
Fill back with RO and test, then add salt and test. remember most salts actually have a limited amount of copper in it.
Actually before rinsing with RO, i'd actually rince with Gasp. Tap water. then ro.
Really shouldn't see any more copper after that, if so just poly filter and maybe an activated carbon, cuprisorb, purigen, chemipure.