Carbon dosing and Copper

[DanTheShark]

Is it ok to carbon dose (ie. vinegar, nopox) a qt tank with therapeutic level of chelated copper? Running protein skimmer as well.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is it ok to carbon dose (ie. vinegar, nopox) a qt tank with therapeutic level of chelated copper? Running protein skimmer as well.

While you can, I don’t recommend it as coppersafe has elements that can break down

 

[DanTheShark]

Im using copperpower if that makes a difference

 

[winxp_man]

Im using copperpower if that makes a difference

Same. They are both chelated copper.

Also a protein skimmer will make it to where you constantly will have to check copper level. As in possibly even every few hours. While it’s skimming it will also be taking out copper. Is this a QT setup you’re running??

Edit: just saw some posts from Randy, one of the chemistry guys here, he does not see the benefit to it if it’s a QT you’re running. So it does not have any effect, from what I was reading, copper.

I am curious on the reasons.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is it ok to carbon dose (ie. vinegar, nopox) a qt tank with therapeutic level of chelated copper? Running protein skimmer as well.

You can, but it may scavenge too much oxygen. I don't see a need for this in a QT.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Same. They are both chelated copper.

Also a protein skimmer will make it to where you constantly will have to check copper level. As in possibly even every few hours. While it’s skimming it will also be taking out copper. Is this a QT setup you’re running??

Edit: just saw some posts from Randy, one of the chemistry guys here, he does not see the benefit to it if it’s a QT you’re running. So it does not have any effect, from what I was reading, copper.

I am curious on the reasons.

Have you seen protein skimmers remove amine-chelated copper? I haven't noticed any appreciable removal....

 

[vetteguy53081]

Im using copperpower if that makes a difference

Coppersafe works the same

 

[vetteguy53081]

Same. They are both chelated copper.

Also a protein skimmer will make it to where you constantly will have to check copper level. As in possibly even every few hours. While it’s skimming it will also be taking out copper. Is this a QT setup you’re running??

Edit: just saw some posts from Randy, one of the chemistry guys here, he does not see the benefit to it if it’s a QT you’re running. So it does not have any effect, from what I was reading, copper.

I am curious on the reasons.

Skimmer will not make a difference

 

[winxp_man]

Have you seen protein skimmers remove amine-chelated copper? I haven't noticed any appreciable removal....

I’m my big 100g tank it was not something drastic .01-.02 a day. my smaller tanks even up to .05 within half a day. And again depends how wet you run it.

Over all I found no use for skimmers because I do WC’s. Speaking of that…. Last night I did a WC on a pair of percula clowns QT tank I’m running. And water was really clean. Don’t have to feed them as much. My 150 right now is an observation tank. And had two angles, two clowns and a basslet. My skimmer almost does not skim anything. I feed small spectrum pellets. And waste is super minimal. I guess more info from the op on why a need for a skimmer. Maybe many fish in the tank.

Personally I rely on WC for QT. But the tank size can make it a real chore. So I get the extra filtration question.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m my big 100g tank it was not something drastic .01-.02 a day. my smaller tanks even up to .05 within half a day. And again depends how wet you run it.

Over all I found no use for skimmers because I do WC’s. Speaking of that…. Last night I did a WC on a pair of percula clowns QT tank I’m running. And water was really clean. Don’t have to feed them as much. My 150 right now is an observation tank. And had two angles, two clowns and a basslet. My skimmer almost does not skim anything. I feed small spectrum pellets. And waste is super minimal. I guess more info from the op on why a need for a skimmer. Maybe many fish in the tank.

Personally I rely on WC for QT. But the tank size can make it a real chore. So I get the extra filtration question.

I can see copper export from a wet skimmer based on the amount of water removed, but I’ve never seen a skimmer remove copper at a rate greater than that small amount.

I don’t see a lot of use for a skimmer in a QT, but since many people don’t aerate like they should, it would help with that issue.

 

[winxp_man]

I can see copper export from a wet skimmer based on the amount of water removed, but I’ve never seen a skimmer remove copper at a rate greater than that small amount.

I don’t see a lot of use for a skimmer in a QT, but since many people don’t aerate like they should, it would help with that issue.

I run in tank UV filters. They can really move water. Aquatop makes a nice one. And it aerates very well. Prevents algae bloom to.