Gear in copper

[Broose51]

Can I use a heater in a mixed reef tank which had previously been used in a tank with copper assuming I clean it with vinegar?

 

[lapin]

Glass heater with temp dial?
I would think if the glass is clean and spotless the only part to worry about is the cord and heater cap/ controller which are usually plastic.
My Ipinion:
Dilution is the solution. Small tank I would just get a new heater. Large tank no worries.

 

[pseudorand]

It may depend on what your keeping.

I've QTd frags in a tank that used to have copper and they did fine after rinsing things. However, astrea snails didn't last a week and an emerald crab died after a few weeks.

I later had ammonia problems in that tank when I put too many fish in too quickly, so I can't rule out ammonia instead of copper as the culprit. But I can verify that at least some coral frags do fine with whatever residual copper equipment might have after a thorough rinsing.

My corals were bird's nest, monti shelf, duncan, candy cane, favias, zoas and a kenya tree.