Copper in Reef Tank

[gbroadbridge]

I would leave the cuprisorb in for a a few months and replace it every week just to be safe.

It is not a good idea to use a product like cuprisorb for longer than a few days as it will strip essential trace elements from the water.

 

[ReefStable]

I would do a 50% water change daily if you can until the copper reading is gone. While it may be a bad reading, the amount of water added with that small of a tank could very well be a problem.

I agree with the cuprisorb as well. Though I wouldn't run carbon, it's not likely to help with much at this point. Just use cuprisorb.

Best of luck!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would do a 50% water change daily if you can until the copper reading is gone. While it may be a bad reading, the amount of water added with that small of a tank could very well be a problem.

I agree with the cuprisorb as well. Though I wouldn't run carbon, it's not likely to help with much at this point. Just use cuprisorb.

Best of luck!

Which, if it is test error as I suspect, will not happen. Change after change, nada.

I do not know how much lfs water he added or if he even knows for sure it contained copper or just guess based on the Hanna reading, but if the fish was in 3 cups of water, and that was added to 20 gallons of seawater, a 2 ppm copper level in the starting water is well below the Hanna reading (0.02 ppm copper).

 

[Naekuh]

It is not a good idea to use a product like cuprisorb for longer than a few days as it will strip essential trace elements from the water.

This is true, but i was under the assumption he would do at least a weekly water change.

 

[Biokabe]

I’m dealing with something similar. Went on vacation for three weeks and just got back to a few SPS with STN. Ran all major tests and all checks out. Had the Hanna copper test on hand and ran that and it showed 0.35. No idea though how copper could have entered the tank and haven’t done anything different in a couple months. Sent in a ICP test too but do not have the results back yet. I’ve read Randy saying the Hanna copper test can be inaccurate at lower levels. Just not sure if I should do anything more to address the Hanna copper reading now or just wait for the ICP. I did add activated carbon to see if that will help. Most corals are okay just a few that are having STN issues.

Check your RO/DI source. I had an issue like that a few years ago - saw the copper result on my Hanna checker and followed up with an ICP, which confirmed copper at roughly the same levels as the Hanna result. It took multiple ICP tests to isolate the source, but eventually figured it out.

The source of it ended up being my RO/DI system. The piping in my home is mostly good, but it will occasionally release high quantities of sediment at once. My RO system wasn't robust enough to catch the initial spray of sediment, but after about 30 seconds or so it would work itself out. Over time, a small but non-zero amount of copper had built up in my RO reservoir, and as my ATO topped off my system, small doses of copper built up over time to an actual low-level toxicity.

I solved the problem just by letting the RO run for about a minute or so before using it. It's been my standard practice since then, and I've not had a repeat of the issue (or of the copper readings) since I made that change.

 

[Swbvegas]

I'll run the cuprisorb for about 2 more days and get copper checked again. I'll do biweekly water changes as well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Perhaps you will believe examples better than just my assertions:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hanna-hi702-copper-checker-error.853064/
My tank tested positive for Copper! Using the Hanna Hi702 checker, it read .15 (reagent expires 2025).

FYI, I sent water from both tanks off for ICP tests & both tested negative for copper even though my Hanna says it is there.

 

[ReefStable]

So is it fair to say, maybe try a new test kit and check if the Hanna is accurate or not? It's possible there was copper from another source.

Red Sea and salifert are my go to kits.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So is it fair to say, maybe try a new test kit and check if the Hanna is accurate or not? It's possible there was copper from another source.

Red Sea and salifert are my go to kits.

I’m not aware of any useful copper kit for level low enough to ensure reef suitability. You need icp for that.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/red-sea-blue-bucket-copper-level.710569/
Decided to do a copper test on my salt mix the other day and noticed its at .18ppm on my hanna tester. Tested the tank after and it shows .19ppm.


Ok, ICP test is back.
RODI squeaky clean, everything is 0.
Heres my tank analysis,
Shows copper as u.

 

[Dutch_Roots]

Check your RO/DI source. I had an issue like that a few years ago - saw the copper result on my Hanna checker and followed up with an ICP, which confirmed copper at roughly the same levels as the Hanna result. It took multiple ICP tests to isolate the source, but eventually figured it out.

The source of it ended up being my RO/DI system. The piping in my home is mostly good, but it will occasionally release high quantities of sediment at once. My RO system wasn't robust enough to catch the initial spray of sediment, but after about 30 seconds or so it would work itself out. Over time, a small but non-zero amount of copper had built up in my RO reservoir, and as my ATO topped off my system, small doses of copper built up over time to an actual low-level toxicity.

I solved the problem just by letting the RO run for about a minute or so before using it. It's been my standard practice since then, and I've not had a repeat of the issue (or of the copper readings) since I made that change.

Thanks for the feedback. I did come back from vacation and found my RODI filters were in need of replacement and showing 2 TDS on the meter. It filled my reservoir while I was gone on vacation so wondering if that maybe caused issues. Changed all filters and have a seven stage RODI. Should get my ICP back this week I hope to see if anything looks to be off. I’ll check the initial fill too on my RODI like you mentioned.

 

[Dutch_Roots]

Received my ICP results back and Copper was undetectable. Seems to be consistent with what Randy has said and that the Hanna and hobby grade test kits are just not reliable to detect lower levels of Cooper and will give false readings.

 

[Swbvegas]

Alright so what's the harm in running cuprisorb to eliminate even small traces?? Like what's acceptable amount of copper?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Alright so what's the harm in running cuprisorb to eliminate even small traces?? Like what's acceptable amount of copper?

Lowering copper and other trace metals too low is the reason to not use it unless needed. Copper is a required trace element.