My 320 Gallon Build - Father of 10

[Imrahilwjz]

"Shoot. I wonder if this could have been the source of my copper problem. If so it hasn't significantly raised the copper yet this time, since I still have living snails, emerald crabs, and hermit crabs. Maybe it's a good thing I left all those absorbing pads in the sump."


The SP2000 pump from my skimmer. I found a replacement pump on line at Premium Aquatics and found this when I disassembled the skimmer

The photo didn't upload the first time.

 

[tbrown]

That much rust could cause a significant amount of algae growth as well.

If that exposed the copper windings of the motor I'd say there's a chance that's where copper could have come from but I'd figure that if the water made contact with the windings the motor would likely have shorted out.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

That's what I would have guessed as well. When we were continuing to have problems last time, the LFS owner said that he had seen submersible pumps get water in the windings and continue to work for a while (and add copper to the water). That surprised me but I did check my pumps at the time (sort of, I wasn't too thorough to be honest as it still seemed unlikely to me). It didn't occur to me to check the skimmer. I know there was no copper in the water before I added the skimmer. I'm going to send in another Triton test, just to be sure.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

That's what I would have guessed as well. When we were continuing to have problems last time, the LFS owner said that he had seen submersible pumps get water in the windings and continue to work for a while (and add copper to the water). That surprised me but I did check my pumps at the time (sort of, I wasn't too thorough to be honest as it still seemed unlikely to me). It didn't occur to me to check the skimmer. I know there was no copper in the water before I added the skimmer. I'm going to send in another Triton test, just to be sure.

Although I was using this skimmer in my old 90 gallon system up until it crashed in the ice storm, and I had conchs and snails in that tank

 

[tbrown]

My skimmer pump wire got nibbled on by my Urchin and exposed the copper wires. Killed the skimmer and the Urchin and I didn't notice it for a day or two. It took several water changes for the more sensitive SPS to stop dying, and that was just a couple of days and very small amount of wire exposure. I was very happy it didn't just electrocute the tank.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Straight up!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

I'm sending in a test tomorrow. Hopefully it'll show that I'm worrying needlessly. In any case I'm glad to be able to fix it now

 

[tbrown]

Yep!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Back in action

 

[tbrown]

Look what just showed up on Instagram!



Do you run activated carbon in your tank?

 

[tbrown]

They're finding some carbon contains elevated levels of copper and barium and oftentimes silicon as well.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

That's not good

 

[tbrown]

That's not good

I saw that and immediately thought about your system early on and the issues you were having.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Blast!

Copper

69.00 µg/l

Zinc	24.00 µg/l

Iron

5.00 µg/l

dimes will get you dollars that that skimmer pump was the cause. Before I put the skimmer back in all those numbers were zero. Hopefully treating the tank will work this time since the source is probably gone.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

It hasn't killed my snails yet. water change time

 

[Imrahilwjz]

So I was mixing more salt water and the submersible pump in there failed. Long story short I removed it from the tank and sent my last ICP test in with mixing tank water to make sure it's not contaminated now. There was brown sludge on the pump and cord, but I think that just happens with this salt. Hope I'm right since the salinity is now spot on and I can do water changes as soon as I know. I also dropped the last of my Triton Detox in the water and 3 days later put carbon in (as the bottle instructs). I've ordered Chemipure elite to try treating the water going forward as I saw some people say they run it all the time and it absorbs heavy metals..

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Happy Easter! This is the day the Lord has made. rejoice and be glad! Just out of bed after staying up until after 2 AM for Easter Vigil, would have liked to stay in bed, but the younger kids want to go to the egg hunt at church this morning.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Don't know where this came from but I like it when stuff pops up. Copper must be coming down

 

[tbrown]

Don't know where this came from but I like it when stuff pops up. Copper must be coming down

Is that a Chiton?

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Is that a Chiton?

Not sure. I've been trying to figure out what it is. It's moving slowly. It changed position while we were gone