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?

[Loverotties]

It's quicker to just test for copper with a good test kit.

[Loverotties]

Well your going to have to get more LR so you'll have to let it cycle again any way.

[tims]

toss all the bio balls you dont ned them any way.
pick up a copopper test like rottie suggested.
if there was a lot of CC as subsrtate it may have been saoked up by that. you can also try contacting the manufactore of the tank to see what they suggest.

[JennM]

Do you know what brand of copper med they used? If it was Seachem Cupramine it can be removed with carbon and/or Cuprisorb. I'd get rid of the bio-balls, rock and substrate, but in my experience, the tank itself should be fine, although some will tell you that the copper will leach out of the silicone in toxic quantities for years to come.... I disagree with this statement. While some may have been absorbed by the silicone, it would have had to be lethal doses over long periods of time to be able to leach out in lethal quantities.

Copper *is* a naturally occurring trace elemement (*trace* is the operative word) and if you check your bottles of supplements, some even contain copper -- again in *trace* amounts (not "dose" amounts).

Empty the tank of porous substances, refill it, run it for a bit and test the water with a copper test kit - I like Red Sea copper tests for this, and see what the results are. I think you'll be fine.

Jenn

[VWD]

I don't think it will give You any problems. I have a tank that was given to me and it was treated with copper. and was also set up as a small reef tank after that and no problem with the inverts.

[Ms. K]

Thanks everyone. I've already discarded all of the substrate, decor, etc. I'll be ridding my sump of the bioballs today. I plan to fill it with fresh RO water and run a Polyfilter for a week or two, then test for copper. If the test is negative, I'll mix the salt and add some liverock and live sand. I hope to get these from local reefers, so hopefully the cycle won't be enormous.

[Justin]

Im with JennM I dont think anything will be left after the removal of the subtrate and bioballs. And by chance any detectable amount stuck in the silicone(which I highly doubt would be detectable in the first place) will be cleaned through the polyfilter(and any slow leaching can be picked up by consistant carbon use). Great choice seeing how the filter is made for just that. Enjoy your new tank!

-Justin

[Twitterbait]

The other option to remove anything like that from your tank is to run some zeolite through the system. That stuff will suck the bad stuff (copper, nitrates, ammonia, etc...). but be warned, it will take the good stuff too (calcium, nutrients, etc...) you may try to run some of it then drain the system, refill and test if all else fails.