How to make coppered tank reef safe

SaltyDr · 05/14/2009, 09:43 PM

My 20G QT/hospital tank had copper in it when I treated a fish for ich. There was no substrate and only a powerhead and PVC in the tank. I am thinking about using this tank for a reef. Is there a way to make it reef safe? The only thing that could have absorbed the copper was the caulking and how much could be in there? I understand rocks can hold copper, but what about just the tank? Does anyone know FOR SURE? Should I run cuprasorb or carbon? I guess I could break down and buy another tank since they aren't that much but I have this one here already...

gutter · 05/14/2009, 11:42 PM

since no one else answered i'd say run carbon and maybe a poly filter too...with the work/time involved i'd just buy a new one.

logicalthinking · 05/14/2009, 11:58 PM

I dont know FOR SURE but when I started the reef hobby I started with a 55 that I used for freshwater for several years and treated for ich personally twice with copper and when I switched it to reef I bought a copper test and tested water from the tank and it tested with no copper according to the the test three times so I personally wouldn't worry about it.

Michael · 05/15/2009, 12:01 AM

imo it will never be reef safe, theres always the chance it can leach out of the seals and get into the water stream, i wouldnt risk it, imagine the senario, you have built up thousands of dollars worth of corals and inverts and live rock and it ends up a graveyard, ok its possible you may get it all out, but surely its just not worth the risk.

PRDubois · 05/15/2009, 01:02 AM

Michael,
The Waterkeeper says if you soak it in a acid bath it will be fine.
But you need to ask the Waterkeeper what kind of acid because I cannot remember

PRDubois · 05/15/2009, 01:14 AM

Here it is
------------------------------------------
Then add enough muriatic acid, obtainable at a swimming pool supply store, to the old QT to make about a 25% solution. Let it soak overnight and then rinse it well.
-------------------------------------------

becact · 05/15/2009, 02:13 AM

To be super safe you could also reseal the tank. Not hard to do on a small one.

Demonic · 05/15/2009, 04:22 AM

Why not just spend about 30 bucks on a new one? Better safe than sorry.....

Michael · 05/15/2009, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PRDubois
Michael,
The Waterkeeper says if you soak it in a acid bath it will be fine.
But you need to ask the Waterkeeper what kind of acid because I cannot remember

THANKS PAUL, however i dont believe him

billdogg · 05/15/2009, 05:06 AM

i would just rinse it out in the sink or bathtub and use it. my current reef tank still has the same rock in it from 20+ years ago ( a ~ 100lb chunk of lava i carved into a reef structure and siliconed to the bottom)and i know for a fact it was coppered heavily several times. if it bothers you too much, put a piece of polyfilter in it someplace. it will be fine

SaltyDr · 05/15/2009, 07:50 PM

I just can't imagine that the trace amount of copper that would be in the seals could have a devastating effect on your tank. I would think that the concentration would be in the parts per billion. Plus, I would think that it would leach out slowly, and with water changes you could take care of it.

Indymann99 · 05/16/2009, 05:00 PM

While I seriously doubt tha that enough copper could come out of the seals to do much harm....

I have purchased many 20g tanks for $20.00 ....

I would keep it as a fish QT/hospital tank.

my 0.02

rkelman · 05/16/2009, 05:08 PM

I'd just scrub it out with water / vinegar. There won't be enough copper left to hurt anything. There is trace amounts of copper in many things in our tanks. People are so afraid of copper... It takes a decent amount of copper in a tank to do anything to inverts. Trace amounts aren't going to do it.

Michael · 05/17/2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SaltyDr
I just can't imagine that the trace amount of copper that would be in the seals could have a devastating effect on your tank. I would think that the concentration would be in the parts per billion. Plus, I would think that it would leach out slowly, and with water changes you could take care of it.

well if your comfortable re-using the copper treated tank then do so, i just gave an opinion, im sticking to my thoughts on it, however as mentioned by a few of the guys it may be fine.

05/14/2009, 09:43 PM	#1
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	How to make coppered tank reef safe My 20G QT/hospital tank had copper in it when I treated a fish for ich. There was no substrate and only a powerhead and PVC in the tank. I am thinking about using this tank for a reef. Is there a way to make it reef safe? The only thing that could have absorbed the copper was the caulking and how much could be in there? I understand rocks can hold copper, but what about just the tank? Does anyone know FOR SURE? Should I run cuprasorb or carbon? I guess I could break down and buy another tank since they aren't that much but I have this one here already...

05/14/2009, 11:58 PM	#3
logicalthinking Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Saint Charles Posts: 19	dont worry I dont know FOR SURE but when I started the reef hobby I started with a 55 that I used for freshwater for several years and treated for ich personally twice with copper and when I switched it to reef I bought a copper test and tested water from the tank and it tested with no copper according to the the test three times so I personally wouldn't worry about it.

05/15/2009, 12:01 AM	#4
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	imo it will never be reef safe, theres always the chance it can leach out of the seals and get into the water stream, i wouldnt risk it, imagine the senario, you have built up thousands of dollars worth of corals and inverts and live rock and it ends up a graveyard, ok its possible you may get it all out, but surely its just not worth the risk. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

05/15/2009, 01:02 AM	#5
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Michael, The Waterkeeper says if you soak it in a acid bath it will be fine. But you need to ask the Waterkeeper what kind of acid because I cannot remember __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

05/15/2009, 01:14 AM	#6
PRDubois Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 3,626	Here it is ------------------------------------------ Then add enough muriatic acid, obtainable at a swimming pool supply store, to the old QT to make about a 25% solution. Let it soak overnight and then rinse it well. ------------------------------------------- __________________ http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2534403 Current Tank Info: 225 gal Reef, 60 gal reef & 40b frag tank

05/14/2009, 11:42 PM	#2
gutter Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 34	since no one else answered i'd say run carbon and maybe a poly filter too...with the work/time involved i'd just buy a new one.

05/15/2009, 02:13 AM	#7
becact Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 550	To be super safe you could also reseal the tank. Not hard to do on a small one.

05/15/2009, 04:22 AM	#8
Demonic Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 815	Why not just spend about 30 bucks on a new one? Better safe than sorry..... __________________ 23,996 thawed iced cubes in a big cube and filled with flowers that grow under water.

05/15/2009, 05:06 AM	#10
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	i would just rinse it out in the sink or bathtub and use it. my current reef tank still has the same rock in it from 20+ years ago ( a ~ 100lb chunk of lava i carved into a reef structure and siliconed to the bottom)and i know for a fact it was coppered heavily several times. if it bothers you too much, put a piece of polyfilter in it someplace. it will be fine __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

05/15/2009, 07:50 PM	#11
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	I just can't imagine that the trace amount of copper that would be in the seals could have a devastating effect on your tank. I would think that the concentration would be in the parts per billion. Plus, I would think that it would leach out slowly, and with water changes you could take care of it.

05/16/2009, 05:00 PM	#12
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	While I seriously doubt tha that enough copper could come out of the seals to do much harm.... I have purchased many 20g tanks for $20.00 .... I would keep it as a fish QT/hospital tank. my 0.02 __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

05/16/2009, 05:08 PM	#13
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	I'd just scrub it out with water / vinegar. There won't be enough copper left to hurt anything. There is trace amounts of copper in many things in our tanks. People are so afraid of copper... It takes a decent amount of copper in a tank to do anything to inverts. Trace amounts aren't going to do it.