[elgordoinavw]

hello everyone,

i used to have a fowlr, well i had a big out break of ich and i used copper to get rid of it. now i changed the water, cleaned the hell out of all the parts (ps,pump,new sump, etc...) the live rock i left out of water for about a week, i got angry at my tank. but i changed the sand only thing i have from the old tank is the dead rock. will this ruin any chances of me setting up a reef???
also when you buy lr from a classified ad is it posible to know if copper has ever been used?

can i use one of the pads that are meant to absorb heavy metals, and will it help with any copper?


thanks-

 

[Buzz_Hog]

I really don't know the answer to your questions...

I would fill up the tank, let it sit for a few days, then test the water for copper...

For your rock, I would do the same... soak it in 5 gallon buckets and then test the water for copper after a few days.... The copper thing is still a big mystery to a lot of us....

There is a company out there that makes a media that you can put in your sump or filter that is supposed to remove copper traces... But this is from the water column and not from equipment... as the copper seeps into the water, the media will pull it out of the water... Not sure if it works, or is much help with regards to keeping a reef though...

 

[Mrs Smith]

I'd try as Buzz suggested - put the rock into buckets with new saltwater. Let it sit a week, and test for copper. I'm afraid it will be permanently contaminated, though.

As for buying a used tank, asking the prior owner is the best way, but it isn't foolproof. If the tank was used as a reef, it's a safe bet, but if it was FW, all bets are off. Fill the tank, wait a few days and test for copper is the only think I know to do.

HTH,
Danielle

 

[big t]

When you buy lr from the classifieds take your copper test kit with you and just test the water that it is in. Hopefully if the rock has previously been exposed to water it will show in your test.
HTH

 

[elgordoinavw]

well tanks for the advice.

 

[dotel]

a couple days ago a customer (fellow reefer) came in to show me the new thermo electric chiller he got off ebay. it looked great. except the exchanger was made of copper. AHHHGGG. Glad I pointed that out before he hooked it up.