Copper question/Is my tank in trouble?

snorkeler · 03/04/2010, 04:13 PM

Hello, during a hood maintenance yesterday I accidentally let a 5mm long strip of electrical copper wire (on thin/single thread) fall into the tank. I tried to get it out sucking with a turkey blaster but ended up loosing it. It's somewhere either in the live rock or crushed coral substrate.

Question: will it decompose or rust in the tank? Will that release topic copper in the water column in enough proportions as to harm invertebrates (shrimp, pods and corals)?

Thanks...

snorkeler

w16227 · 03/04/2010, 04:32 PM

get it out!!!!!

no good can come of any copper in a tank with corals/inverts

Just dropping it in is no big issue - but you need to remove it pretty quick.

Running carbon is also a good idea - as this can help remove trace elements of copper from the water (this alone will not save the inhabitants).

drparker · 03/04/2010, 04:34 PM

I'm not sure about that small amount copper and what ppm it would leach into the water. But the copper will leach into the water and copper is bad for corals an inverts. If it was me I'd go hunting for it.

w16227 · 03/04/2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drparker

I'm not sure about that small amount copper and what ppm it would leach into the water. But the copper will leach into the water and copper is bad for corals an inverts. If it was me I'd go hunting for it.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...t=penny+copper

One penny can take down a 100g tank according to the resident chemistry expert. The thread has some good treatment advise as well.

wooden_reefer · 03/04/2010, 05:12 PM

Yes, get it out.

If you can't, a chemical filter may take out more dissolved Cu in the water.

Chiefsurfer · 03/04/2010, 05:30 PM

I would do polyfilter, carbon, and tear out every rock and every grain of sand to get that out sadly.

OH, and the penny crashing the 100 gal tank, copper wire will do it faster because it has more surface area, and can leach faster.

03/04/2010, 04:13 PM	#1
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	Copper question/Is my tank in trouble? Hello, during a hood maintenance yesterday I accidentally let a 5mm long strip of electrical copper wire (on thin/single thread) fall into the tank. I tried to get it out sucking with a turkey blaster but ended up loosing it. It's somewhere either in the live rock or crushed coral substrate. Question: will it decompose or rust in the tank? Will that release topic copper in the water column in enough proportions as to harm invertebrates (shrimp, pods and corals)? Thanks... snorkeler __________________ Tank: 180L (46gal) 60cm cube DT visible from all sides with central overflow column, 10cm crushed coral base, LR, 79L (20gal) sump with skimmer, ATS and refugium. External jerrican DIY ATO. Livestoc

03/04/2010, 04:32 PM	#2
w16227 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: chicago Burbs Posts: 479	get it out!!!!! no good can come of any copper in a tank with corals/inverts Just dropping it in is no big issue - but you need to remove it pretty quick. Running carbon is also a good idea - as this can help remove trace elements of copper from the water (this alone will not save the inhabitants). __________________ call me "w" - easier to remember Current Tank Info: 125g All Glass rr, 50g sump/fuge, RKE, T5 Retrofit Lights, Deltec Turbo Skimmer, PM Kalk Reactor

03/04/2010, 05:30 PM	#6
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	I would do polyfilter, carbon, and tear out every rock and every grain of sand to get that out sadly. OH, and the penny crashing the 100 gal tank, copper wire will do it faster because it has more surface area, and can leach faster. __________________ Chief Current Tank: 20 Gallon tall, 4-bulb t5 HO, Eshopps psk75H, ac-70 fuge. So far, green clown goby, striped goby, more gorillas than I wish I had, 5 SPS frags, 3 LPS Frags, 1 Softee, Turkey Wing Clam. Plan for the future: 120 gallon 4ft glass tank. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tall Reef Tank

03/04/2010, 04:34 PM	#3
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	I'm not sure about that small amount copper and what ppm it would leach into the water. But the copper will leach into the water and copper is bad for corals an inverts. If it was me I'd go hunting for it.

03/04/2010, 05:12 PM	#5
wooden_reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4,670	Yes, get it out. If you can't, a chemical filter may take out more dissolved Cu in the water.