Copper, inverts, and tap water.....

mfp4073 · 09/17/2006, 02:21 PM

Alright, I am probably going to open a can of worms here, but I am going to do it anyway. It is widely accepted that copper is VERY bad for inverts. Trace amounts will kill or weaken anything in the tank. I have seen people go as far as suggesting that if you drop a copper wire in a tank and then pick it out the damage is done. Silicone, rock, tapwater, and just about anything else can carry the copper and kill marine animals.

Heres where I am going to get in trouble....it seems that most of this is anicdotal at best. I am not saying that copper does not harm them in higher amounts, but it cannot be on the amount that is often believed. marine tanks are so envolved and complex that stuff seems to die all the time and real scientific data is not available to back up why....everyone proffers a reason, but its all a guess really.

Finally, the point.....freshwater hobbiests have kept various kinds of shrimps and inverts for years, throughout the country. I have never seen on any of the boards people requiring such vigilance of the copper and tap water. I honestly have not heard of many people on the several FW forums even talk about rodi units. And these are people who are breeding cherry, yamamoto, glass, wood and other shrimps.

I am not saying that dosing copper to an invert tank is a good idea, but just that it does not seem logical when put into context with other fish folks (and my own) experience.

......discuss

boxfishpooalot · 09/17/2006, 04:19 PM

what you are seeing is the fact that copper binds to organic molecules. There they remain safe away from life.

Freshwater has completely different chemistry compared to saltwater. You cannot compare the two, even the fish osmorgulate different than saltwater. Freshwater need salt ions, where saltwater need water, and expell salt.

What are you trying to advocate, that copper is good for the tank? Or your looking for an excuse to use tap water?

Well you can use tap water. copper will aid you some time by attaching to organic molecules. But if not skimmed out, it may destroy your tank in time.imo.

09/17/2006, 02:21 PM	#1
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	Copper, inverts, and tap water..... Alright, I am probably going to open a can of worms here, but I am going to do it anyway. It is widely accepted that copper is VERY bad for inverts. Trace amounts will kill or weaken anything in the tank. I have seen people go as far as suggesting that if you drop a copper wire in a tank and then pick it out the damage is done. Silicone, rock, tapwater, and just about anything else can carry the copper and kill marine animals. Heres where I am going to get in trouble....it seems that most of this is anicdotal at best. I am not saying that copper does not harm them in higher amounts, but it cannot be on the amount that is often believed. marine tanks are so envolved and complex that stuff seems to die all the time and real scientific data is not available to back up why....everyone proffers a reason, but its all a guess really. Finally, the point.....freshwater hobbiests have kept various kinds of shrimps and inverts for years, throughout the country. I have never seen on any of the boards people requiring such vigilance of the copper and tap water. I honestly have not heard of many people on the several FW forums even talk about rodi units. And these are people who are breeding cherry, yamamoto, glass, wood and other shrimps. I am not saying that dosing copper to an invert tank is a good idea, but just that it does not seem logical when put into context with other fish folks (and my own) experience. ......discuss

09/17/2006, 04:19 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	what you are seeing is the fact that copper binds to organic molecules. There they remain safe away from life. Freshwater has completely different chemistry compared to saltwater. You cannot compare the two, even the fish osmorgulate different than saltwater. Freshwater need salt ions, where saltwater need water, and expell salt. What are you trying to advocate, that copper is good for the tank? Or your looking for an excuse to use tap water? Well you can use tap water. copper will aid you some time by attaching to organic molecules. But if not skimmed out, it may destroy your tank in time.imo. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.