Copper contamination

[Shnetts]

is everything used in a copper treatment tank no good anymore? Or is that just the tank itself. I mistakenly used a nice pump in a qt tank, can I clean it and use in a reef tank again?

Or did I just absolutely toast a AI axis for no reason lol

 

[Lucas Savioli]

Is always good to be in the safer side and segregate things used in copper and keep them to use in copper again and not use in the reef/normal tank.

 

[Shnetts]

dang, such a waste lol

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I’m not sure it’s a waste. I think only porous things absorb and hold onto copper. I suggest a good wash with bleach solution/soak and re-evaluation. If it does leach a small amount of copper it can be removed with cuprisorb in the tank. Let’s see what others think.

 

[Lucas Savioli]

I’m not sure it’s a waste. I think only porous things absorb and hold onto copper. I suggest a good wash with bleach solution/soak and re-evaluation. If it does leach a small amount of copper it can be removed with cuprisorb in the tank. Let’s see what others think.

If the pump is valuable, and worth the risk, this is a approach.
Testing for copper is essential to evaluate if there is any release, and how much.
Also, different animals have different sensibility for copper, it also depends on animals you have.

 

[Miami Reef]

I mistakenly used a nice pump in a qt tank, can I clean it and use in a reef tank again?

Rinse well, ensuring there isn’t sand or calcium carbonate on the pump, and you can use it for your reef.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can soak it in an acid like citric or muriatic and then rinse it off.

 

[Shnetts]

Awesome. Thanks guys. After I clean it could I soak it in saltwater for a bit and then test the water? Would a Hanna tester pick that up?

 

[Lucas Savioli]

Awesome. Thanks guys. After I clean it could I soak it in saltwater for a bit and then test the water? Would a Hanna tester pick that up?

Yes, the Hanna tester should be able to pick that up, specially the low range one.

 

[exnisstech]

I've used cuprisorb to remove copper from live rock and used it in a reef tank.

 

[Shnetts]

Yes, the Hanna tester should be able to pick that up, specially the low range one.

There’s only one Hanna copper checker and it’s a high range

 

[Lucas Savioli]

Yes, the Hanna tester should be able to pick that up, specially the low range one.

There’s only one Hanna copper checker and it’s a high range

In the brazilian market there are two, high range and low range

 

[Miami Reef]

Awesome. Thanks guys. After I clean it could I soak it in saltwater for a bit and then test the water? Would a Hanna tester pick that up?

Sure. You can try it.

The checker doesn’t work for low levels, so disregard anything under 0.10ppm.

I wouldn’t bother testing. Just rinse well.

 

[Shnetts]

In the brazilian market there are two, high range and low range

Interesting. I’ve never seen the low range for sale in the states

 

[Lucas Savioli]

In the brazilian market there are two, high range and low range

Interesting. I’ve never seen the low range for sale in the states

The low range tests in the ppb range

 

[00W]

I've used cuprisorb to remove copper from live rock and used it in a reef tank.

Yep me too.