How to reduce copper to 0

[Oliver199234]

My DT has no sand, I've removed all the live rocks while doing water change everyday but my Hanna Copper Test Kit still shows 0.09

I'm not sure why is this happening because I did a large water change every week and brought copper level down from 0.40 to 0.09 and now I'm stuck here.

I'm not even sure this Hanna Copper Test Kit is accurate because at 0.09, I did 50% water change (twice in a week) and it still shows 0.09

I am using Row Activated Carbon, should I change it to Cuprisorb? I haven't use this product yet.

My plan is to get copper down to 0 before putting in my designer rock

 

[GARRIGA]

Cuprisorb works. Although seems an odd you’re getting a reading. That Hanna might need calibrating. Perhaps get titration test kit just to confirm it’s actually above zero. Do t want to run CupriSorb just to run it as it might deplete other needed elements.

 

[mpatterson42]

What does the Hanna checker show for your RODI and saltwater before you add it to your tank?

 

[Oliver199234]

What does the Hanna checker show for your RODI and saltwater before you add it to your tank?

that's a good question. I haven't thought about it at all. Ok. Then I'll need to test my RODI water.

I thought RODI water should be clean enough

 

[LPS Bum]

The most efficient way to remove copper is through large water changes. Although that tends to be easier to accomplish in smaller systems. Next best option is cuprisorb and poly filter. Using both methods together works well for me in my bare bottom QT.

 

[Crabs McJones]

First question, how did copper get in the system in the first place? Did you treat with copper in tank? Using non RO/DI water? As others have said Cuprisorb works well to remove copper, but knowing how it got there first might help as well.

 

[gbroadbridge]

My DT has no sand, I've removed all the live rocks while doing water change everyday but my Hanna Copper Test Kit still shows 0.09

I'm not sure why is this happening because I did a large water change every week and brought copper level down from 0.40 to 0.09 and now I'm stuck here.

I'm not even sure this Hanna Copper Test Kit is accurate because at 0.09, I did 50% water change (twice in a week) and it still shows 0.09

I am using Row Activated Carbon, should I change it to Cuprisorb? I haven't use this product yet.

My plan is to get copper down to 0 before putting in my designer rock

The Hanna HR copper checker is unreliable at levels under 1ppm copper, and will give you a false positive.

You could test any running reef tank and see readings like you are seeing.

FWIW, you cannot check accuracy using RODI water, as the Hanna HR test is specific to salt water.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

My DT has no sand, I've removed all the live rocks while doing water change everyday but my Hanna Copper Test Kit still shows 0.09

I'm not sure why is this happening because I did a large water change every week and brought copper level down from 0.40 to 0.09 and now I'm stuck here.

I'm not even sure this Hanna Copper Test Kit is accurate because at 0.09, I did 50% water change (twice in a week) and it still shows 0.09

I am using Row Activated Carbon, should I change it to Cuprisorb? I haven't use this product yet.

My plan is to get copper down to 0 before putting in my designer rock

Some of that 0.09 ppm reading may be an artifact, as the meter has a +-0.05 ppm resolution.

The easiest way I know of to see if the copper reading is an artifact is to mix up some fresh seawater and test it, comparing that to the reading from your tank.

 

[Miami Reef]

Copper tests are inaccurate for low levels. You need an ICP test.

To remove copper, use polyfilters and cuprisorb.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As folks have noted, the Hanna copper checker is inaccurate at the lower end of its range and is unsuitable to determine if there is too much copper for a reef tank.

 

[Oliver199234]

The Hanna HR copper checker is unreliable at levels under 1ppm copper, and will give you a false positive.

You could test any running reef tank and see readings like you are seeing.

FWIW, you cannot check accuracy using RODI water, as the Hanna HR test is specific to salt water.

Thank you for your reply.

I think I will run Cuprisorb for a week before adding my designer rock.

I did another 30% water change today and the reading from Hanna Copper Test Kit is still the same.

Some of that 0.09 ppm reading may be an artifact, as the meter has a +-0.05 ppm resolution.

The easiest way I know of to see if the copper reading is an artifact is to mix up some fresh seawater and test it, comparing that to the reading from your tank.

ok thank you. I will try this on tomorrow.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

To be honest, we do not know why the Hanna reads off at the low end, and I’d be wary of assuming that if it reads zero in new salt water, that means it is accurate in tank water. There are many differences between tank water and new salt water in addition to the hypothesized copper.

If you are really wanting to know the copper level, I’d get an icp test.

 

[EuphyllinOHk]

To sort of piggyback on this, as I have a copper fouled QT that would be nice to use later, what is the generally accepted "safe" level of copper? I'd imagine it's below a level detectable by anything other an ICP test.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

To sort of piggyback on this, as I have a copper fouled QT that would be nice to use later, what is the generally accepted "safe" level of copper? I'd imagine it's below a level detectable by anything other an ICP test.

It is true that no home test can test low enough to say that copper is sufficiently low for a reef tank.

 

[Oliver199234]

Just to be safe. I'll run Cuprisorb for 5 days.

It's been more than 10 hours after I added Cuprisorb but there's no color change at all.

There's literally nothing. I haven't test my water again but will do so in the next 3 days

 

[jbeanz24]

Just to be safe. I'll run Cuprisorb for 5 days.

It's been more than 10 hours after I added Cuprisorb but there's no color change at all.

There's literally nothing. I haven't test my water again but will do so in the next 3 days

How did you make out in the end? Im going through s very similar situation now.