converting from fresh water

smeesus · 08-02-2005, 11:14 AM

I have a 55 gallon tank that I got from my brother, who was using it as a freash water tank. I spent my whole weekend cleaning the tank out, but there is some green algae under the caulking around the edges. I just can't seem to get all of the algae. Would that hurt and/or cause disease with the fish if I were to just leave what I can't get out?

Thanks for all your help.

the_colonel · 08-02-2005, 11:25 AM

First ask your brother if he ever used copper based meds in the tank. If so, start looking for a new one. Second, doubtful the algae would hurt, prolly not alive anymore.

smeesus · 08-02-2005, 01:37 PM

What would the copper based meds do to the tank?

pnkpanther · 08-02-2005, 01:40 PM

invert and corals dotn like copper, it'll kill them

Loverotties · 08-02-2005, 01:40 PM

Nothing to the tank just every coral and inverts would die!The tank is the cheapest part of the setup.

smeesus · 08-02-2005, 02:00 PM

ok, I will ask my brother after I get off work. How/does the copper stay in the tank? or would it still be there after I creaned it good?

pnkpanther · 08-02-2005, 02:07 PM

i see you're from mpls

stop by the TCMAS forum

COpper can soak in silicone and leach out into water so i'm told

the_colonel · 08-02-2005, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeesus

ok, I will ask my brother after I get off work. How/does the copper stay in the tank? or would it still be there after I creaned it good?

You can't clean the Cu from the tank, once it's in the silicone, its there for good, and leaches back into the tank. It takes very little Cu to wipe out all your inverts, and do some serious damage to the corals.

Another thing to keep in mind 55's do not make good reef tanks, too skinny and tall, a real PIA to aquascape. Just my $0.02, there are some nice 55 reef tanks out there, however I would personally stay away from them.

pnkpanther is right, check out the TCMAS forum here on thereeftank.com, great group of reefers right here in the Twin Cities area.

Ms. K · 08-02-2005, 11:11 PM

I just bought a 125 that had been used as a FO tank. Copper had been run in it. I cleaned it really well and just tested the water for copper several times. The test was always negative, so I proceeded without incident. My reef is alive and well. I know of other people who have had similar results. Definitely do NOT start up a reef without filling the tank with freshwater for a week or two and testing for copper first. Otherwise, just buy a new tank, like suggested earlier.

tdwyatt · 08-03-2005, 01:14 AM

copoper in tnks is the major cause of unexplained failure to thrive for inverts in general, the tank may see fine, but the corals just seem to never make it (or other inverts, they may accumulate the copper over time to levels that begin to affect their general health)