I had a tank crash and all of my fish are in a QT currently. I had copper treatment in my main tank and mixed it with clarifier not realizing it was toxic. Now that the tanks empty whats the quickest way I can get the copper out. Should I mix new water or keep the old water. Also how long can my 7 fish be okay for in a 5 gallon quarantine.
Need Help Fixing Water Levels
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Oscar47f
Valuable Member
Running carbon and doing water chances should take care of the copper however i have heard it soaks into rocks? im not sure about that, but regarding your quarantine i would monitor the levels of ammonia and nitrates and do water changes to be safe.
If your sand and rock has been in the main tank with copper treatment, it probably needs changed out...just fixing the water you'll have to do a 100% water change. But copper can get into your sand and rock and will likely be in there for some time. sorry that's not exactly a fun or easy route. what fish do you have in your QT?
Robink
2500 Club Member
Your going to have to do a big water change and I would get some Cuprisorb. Might take days to get the copper out, hopefully you don't have too much live rock. You're probably going to have to do daily water changes to keep that many fish in a 5 gallon qt. I'd get a bigger qt tank or container or several containers.
I'm sure some experts are gonna chime in here shortly.
I'm sure some experts are gonna chime in here shortly.
Brew12
Electrical Gru
I would recommend getting the Cuprisorb or at least running carbon.
Hard to say how long the fish will be ok there for. Really depends on the size, your filtration, and their feeding needs. Odds are you will need to be very careful since that is such a small tank. Ammonia will not be your friend and could build up quickly.
I'm guessing you have a FOWLR, so the fact that you used copper in your DT isn't a huge issue. If you can get Cuprisorb in there tomorrow that would be great and you should be able to add the fish back in 24 hrs after adding it. If you use activated carbon instead, you may want to give it an extra 24 hrs. The impact of the water clarifier will only last a few days anyway but you need to reduce the copper level to keep it from shocking the fish before putting them back in.. Leave the carbon/cuprisorb run for at least a week to help pull the copper out of the rocks and sand.
If your fish can tolerate it, you may not want to feed them in the 5 gallon aquarium. If you do have to feed them, do it very lightly and clean the tank immediately afterward.
this. all of this.
importantly get the qt stable. imo look into a ten gal. pve etc. what fish btw. watch the ammonia in the qt. get an ammonia badge and prime or bacteria standing by.
id be prepared to wait and check the dt for a couple days or more wc carbon etc.
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