Copper in tank?

fareforce · 04/29/2007, 10:11 PM

So I just picked up a 29 gal tank with stand for free!

It was used as a freshwater tank, and they kept low doses of copper in the tank. Of course now everything is out of the tank. So, is there anything else I need to do other then bleach it out, and rinse it really really well to use it? I am not reusing any of the equipment, except for the light which didn't get a dose of copper..

I am hoping to do a seahorse tank with it.

kau_cinta_ku · 04/29/2007, 10:17 PM

copper will also have soaked into the silicon. and will leak back out.

fareforce · 04/29/2007, 10:30 PM

Would there even be enough to worry about? There will only be cheato, and seahorses in the tank.

Vitaly · 04/29/2007, 10:58 PM

I would recommend against using bleach to clean the tank. I would suggest using vinegar and water to wash the insides and outsides of the tank.

Regarding the copper levels. Set-up the tank...and let it run for several weeks. This will give you time to let everything cycle. Upon completing the cycle take some water to an LFS that does copper tests (most will do it)...or buy a copper test kit.

I suspect that you will only detect trace levels of copper. That being the case, then you should be fine introducing invertebrates into your tank (how sensitive are sea horses to copper and other metal).

Just my thoughts...good luck.

04/29/2007, 10:11 PM	#1
fareforce Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK (Alaska) Home of the frozen weasel Posts: 1,811	Copper in tank? So I just picked up a 29 gal tank with stand for free! It was used as a freshwater tank, and they kept low doses of copper in the tank. Of course now everything is out of the tank. So, is there anything else I need to do other then bleach it out, and rinse it really really well to use it? I am not reusing any of the equipment, except for the light which didn't get a dose of copper.. I am hoping to do a seahorse tank with it. __________________ It's not my fault!!! It was an I.D.ten.T. thing.. Gosh!!!! (ID10T) --------------------------------------------- Click the red house to see my current build thread! Current Tank Info: Current Project. 110 gallon starphire.

04/29/2007, 10:30 PM	#3
fareforce Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Anchorage, AK (Alaska) Home of the frozen weasel Posts: 1,811	Would there even be enough to worry about? There will only be cheato, and seahorses in the tank. __________________ It's not my fault!!! It was an I.D.ten.T. thing.. Gosh!!!! (ID10T) --------------------------------------------- Click the red house to see my current build thread! Current Tank Info: Current Project. 110 gallon starphire.

04/29/2007, 10:58 PM	#4
Vitaly Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 1,300	I would recommend against using bleach to clean the tank. I would suggest using vinegar and water to wash the insides and outsides of the tank. Regarding the copper levels. Set-up the tank...and let it run for several weeks. This will give you time to let everything cycle. Upon completing the cycle take some water to an LFS that does copper tests (most will do it)...or buy a copper test kit. I suspect that you will only detect trace levels of copper. That being the case, then you should be fine introducing invertebrates into your tank (how sensitive are sea horses to copper and other metal). Just my thoughts...good luck. __________________ Vitaly A. Stepensky Current Tank Info: 110 gallon reef

04/29/2007, 10:17 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	copper will also have soaked into the silicon. and will leak back out.