Oops! Copper Thread

[aznt1217]

Hello Everybody, *sorry for long read*

I can't believe I am going to put this up. So today I had a very lazy moment and violated the never mix water from LFS into your tank. I had good intentions though.

So I bought an awesome Juv. Yellow Tang today. Acclimated for 3 hours. And I decided to use a cup to put him into my tank to let him slowly swim out... then after about 20 minutes I realized that the LFS used light copper-- even more diluted because when I arrived they just did a water change (no copper) :banghead:.

Steps Done
1. I quickly tested my tank for copper content (new test kit). It read below 0 (perfectly clear water with solution in it).

2. I proceeded to do a 5 gallon water change. Still same test kit reading below 0.

3. Set up a Reactor with Chemi Pure Elite (2 Bags in it). and an extra chemipure elite in front of my drain. Purigen running next to my return pump.

Tank is a 72 Bow with a 20 Sump. All my corals opened up as usual and I don't see any weird activity with my shrimps/crabs. I am assuming because my test kit color was below the zero mark I should be okay. Anything else I can do?

 

[KathyC]

Do your snails/inverts look ok?

This was only 1 cup of water - that had been diluted by your 3 hour acclimation?

Go to bed.

 

[aznt1217]

Snails and Inverts look okay. I had to reaquascape and the shrimp were doing the usual-- cleaning my arm.

It was a BIG CUP, I wanted to give the little guy room lol. The water in the bag wasn't much either. I feel like I'm bugging out. I am going to do another water change tomorrow--10 gallons.

 

[KathyC]

Can't hurt to do another water change.

The only other thing I can suggest - besides don't worry too much as you really didn't add that much to a system that size - just how big was this 'cup' anyway...?

Might want to pick up a poly-pad or 2 - you will know if there is any issue in there by the color they change.

If the inverts are ok, then so is your tank - any copper would affect them first ..and quickly.

 

[aznt1217]

Yea I was curious as to the time it takes for copper to affect stuff.

This was about 4PM that I came to this "revelation" (that I am a idiot). Just took a look and everybody seems to be doing what they usually do.

Cup was one of those Chinese takeout containers-- the quart but not full

Thanks for being the only one to reply also Kathy

 

[KathyC]

Yea I was curious as to the time it takes for copper to affect stuff.

This was about 4PM that I came to this "revelation" (that I am a idiot). Just took a look and everybody seems to be doing what they usually do.

Cup was one of those Chinese takeout containers-- the quart but not full

Thanks for being the only one to reply also Kathy

Too funny...we've all been there...

I was willing to walk out on the limb..if the advice is wrong, I'm toast.

The copper affects the uptake of oxygen in inverts - so bad things happen fast to them with copper. I don't think you have to worry at this point, but no harm in getting it all out. The Poly-pad will do it best.

 

[aznt1217]

Poly filter pads ordered. I really hope Marine Depot gets them to me by Friday.

 

[chanman]

set it and forget it. shake and bake. you should've gotten that dog.

 

[Master Shake]

if it was that diluted after they did a water change, also if you have a skimmer uv sterilizer, carbon plus what you did you are just fine. i wouldnt have worried about it that much to begin with but better you try to do something about it than nothing

 

[bizarrecorals]

you're worrying too much, eveything you did is fine.

 

[masterswimmer]

Make sure your wife has life insurance on you. With anxiety like that, you might not reach 25. (or whatever the next 5/10 year increment is from what you are ) I threw a penny in the ocean once.......I stressed that I might have wiped out the entire invert world. :sad2:

swimmer
btw, j/k

 

[pecan2phat]

Most retailing stores keep a low dosage of copper in their fish only systems, some don't but most do.
I would'nt worry about it too much. You need a substantial amount of copper sulfate in a virgin system for it to even register in your system and you are running carbon.

 

[JARRETT SHARK]

just run a poly filter to be safe!!
go to LFS and buy one then wait to friday

 

[aznt1217]

lol. I'm really anal retentive with stuff like this. Especially if it's something I kick myself in the head over. I know I did most of what I could do, but I figured hey let me decrease my paranoia by confirming and also putting information up so somebody new or somebody who has the same problem knows what to do.

Funny comment MasterSwimmer (Russ or Jim Iono lol)--- no worries I got life insurance already (not a joke)

 

[masterswimmer]

lol. I'm really anal retentive with stuff like this. Especially if it's something I kick myself in the head over. I know I did most of what I could do, but I figured hey let me decrease my paranoia by confirming and also putting information up so somebody new or somebody who has the same problem knows what to do.

Funny comment MasterSwimmer (Russ or Jim Iono lol)--- no worries I got life insurance already (not a joke)

lol

Anal is not a problem in reefkeeping. This is one of those obsessive type hobbies. You just took it to a new level :biggrin:

Russ btw :lol2:

 

[aznt1217]

Inverts and Corals still alive and kicking when I checked this morning. Going home from work early woo hoo so I can view them.

 

[reseter5]

at one time i had 4 tanks setup .. and did many experiments.. i have found that cuprisorb is amazing ... i have had a coppered tank and got it down to 0 ppm copper... for over a year.. kept coral and everything in the tank... one cup is not enought of diluted water to do anything unless u dump it right on an anemone... but stranger things have happened