Heavy Metals Urgent Help

[EdinburghReef]

So, for the past month it’s been a mystery why anytime I put a fish into my new system it dies. I ended up doing an ICP test and it showed heavy metals. Copper at 25, zinc at 117, so I imagine that’s the issue. The problem is I don’t know where it’s coming from. Where is the most likely place?

 

[BryanM]

I guess my first question would be how old is the tank? Lots of other happy residents?

Seems like more info is needed, so more knowledgable people can help you.

 

[Peace River]

While we are waiting for others to chime in, you may find this thread helpful:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/icp-test-high-zinc-38ug-l.781199/

 

[EdinburghReef]

I guess my first question would be how old is the tank? Lots of other happy residents?

Seems like more info is needed, so more knowledgable people can help you.

Sorry that’s true,
The tank was bought used, even still it was less than a year old. The day I bought it it was thriving with fish and coral, so I stripped the tank. I put the fish and coral into my old tank. I tried putting 3 clownfish all at different times into the new tank, they all died. Which lead me to doing an ICP which showed the high levels of metals. So right now there’s currently no fish in it, apart from one hermit (I have no idea how it’s alive)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

25 ppb copper? That won't hurt fish. Probably not the zinc either, although maybe.

What else is in this tank? Any inverts besides the hermit?

Look for metal parts anywhere such as hose clamps, screws, nails, etc.

 

[EdinburghReef]

25 ppb copper? That won't hurt fish. Probably not the zinc either, although maybe.

What else is in this tank? Any inverts besides the hermit?

Look for metal parts anywhere such as hose clamps, screws, nails, etc.

Not sure, yes the hermit is the only living thing in there.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Not sure, yes the hermit is the only living thing in there.

IMO, that's not going it impact a fish. It think it is borderline for impacting inverts. My tank ran 13-15 ppb copper the one time I tested it and it was fine.

 

[Fenral]

@Randy Holmes-Farley, there was another thread. The ICP was a stab at getting an idea. Considering he supposedly was using RODI water (that had not been replaced in how long???), I suspect the elevated levels are just an indicator that work was done to the pipes outside his house, and some other contamination was not picked up on the ICP tests. just trying to figure out what that could be...

 

[EdinburghReef]

This is the Zinc too, I don’t know too much about the chemistry in reefing yet. I’ve ordered up poly and seachem curisorb. To help with the heavy metals. The thing I really don’t understand is why fish die within hours, yet I’ve had a hermit in there for 2 weeks now doing perfectly fine.

 

[Fenral]

still seems short on a lethal dose in the time frames you where discribing…

 

[Bubblehead8292]

So, for the past month it’s been a mystery why anytime I put a fish into my new system it dies. I ended up doing an ICP test and it showed heavy metals. Copper at 25, zinc at 117, so I imagine that’s the issue. The problem is I don’t know where it’s coming from. Where is the most likely place?

Run a magnet through the sand. It could be loaded with ferrous metals, which can be toxic. I had this sand in an aquarium and it was loaded with magnetic particles. My fish died after a few weeks, every new batch, one by one. Until I discovered the issue with a magnet and replaced all the sand.

CaribSea Arag-Alive Hawaiian Black​