old FW tank for a SW tank

Acronic · 11/02/2009, 05:31 PM

I have an old 55 gal tank that i want to plumb to my reef. The thing is i have used copper ich meds to treat fish in the past. What are the chances it will poison my tank. Does it get into the silicone or what??? thanks

ludnix · 11/02/2009, 05:43 PM

People on here seem to say it can get into the silicone and leech out. I'm not sure if there is any evidence to that, but frankly why risk it when a 55g tank really isn't that expensive.

If I were going to do it, I'd fill the tank with water and run a powerhead, heat it up pretty warm and run polyfilter on it and see if it changes color to indicate that there was copper in it.

Acronic · 11/02/2009, 06:10 PM

that sounds like a good idea. ive heard of these poly filters, do you get it at the LFS? Its been years since ive used the meds, do you think it would have leeched out already?

vikubz · 11/03/2009, 07:01 AM

How recent was the treatment? I had a couple tanks that I switched over which had been treated. I kept FW in them for quite a while before switching them over, so if there was any residual copper I'm sure it leached out before any SW went in. I've had no problems that I can blame on copper.

11/02/2009, 05:31 PM	#1
Acronic The Fifth Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,813	old FW tank for a SW tank I have an old 55 gal tank that i want to plumb to my reef. The thing is i have used copper ich meds to treat fish in the past. What are the chances it will poison my tank. Does it get into the silicone or what??? thanks __________________ Kevin I have lost all concept of reality and live in an SPS world now.

11/02/2009, 05:43 PM	#2
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	People on here seem to say it can get into the silicone and leech out. I'm not sure if there is any evidence to that, but frankly why risk it when a 55g tank really isn't that expensive. If I were going to do it, I'd fill the tank with water and run a powerhead, heat it up pretty warm and run polyfilter on it and see if it changes color to indicate that there was copper in it. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

11/02/2009, 06:10 PM	#3
Acronic The Fifth Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,813	that sounds like a good idea. ive heard of these poly filters, do you get it at the LFS? Its been years since ive used the meds, do you think it would have leeched out already? __________________ Kevin I have lost all concept of reality and live in an SPS world now.

11/03/2009, 07:01 AM	#4
vikubz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cedar Falls, IA Posts: 599	How recent was the treatment? I had a couple tanks that I switched over which had been treated. I kept FW in them for quite a while before switching them over, so if there was any residual copper I'm sure it leached out before any SW went in. I've had no problems that I can blame on copper.