Cali Kid Corals

Hello fellow reefers

M

mac96

Supporting Member
BARcard
“Hi everyone! I’m excited to join this group!

I don’t know where should I start


Long story short—since I started this hobby about eight months ago (if not longer), I’ve run into problems left and right. But my biggest mistake was adding a copper/metal valve, which started leaching copper into the tank. By the time I realized the issue, it was too late. I ended up throwing out all the sand and rocks and cleaned everything with vinegar and citric acid.

Do you think the tank or any other equipment could still leach copper? I’d love to hear any thoughts on that.

Either way, I’m currently setting up the same 90-gallon acrylic saltwater tank with new Marco Rocks and sand. I’m still learning a lot and looking forward to connecting, learning from you all, and hopefully contributing as I gain more experience!”
 
Welcome!

You could always run something like Cuprisorb and/or PolyFilter if you have any traces of copper left (there should be a natural amount that’ll show up on ICP but you shouldn’t get any readable amount with test kits). What are you using to test for Copper?

I think with tossing your sand and rock, you should be good. Good practice always to give your equipment a little clean before moving to your other tank which sounds like you did. I’ve heard of copper being bound to the silicone, but your tank is acrylic so no worry there.

We’d love to see some pics when you’re ready!
 
MarcosD said:
Welcome!

You could always run something like Cuprisorb and/or PolyFilter if you have any traces of copper left (there should be a natural amount that’ll show up on ICP but you shouldn’t get any readable amount with test kits). What are you using to test for Copper?

I think with tossing your sand and rock, you should be good. Good practice always to give your equipment a little clean before moving to your other tank which sounds like you did. I’ve heard of copper being bound to the silicone, but your tank is acrylic so no worry there.

We’d love to see some pics when you’re ready!
Click to expand...
I don’t have a copper tester, so I sent an ICP test, which showed that I had copper. I cleaned all my equipment and soaked it in a vinegar and citric acid bath for two days. I’ll also run CupriSorb just to be safe.
Thank you for the suggestion
When I get my tank fully ready I’ll put in some pictures
 
Welcome to the club! I also had a copper issue and couldn't have inverts or coral for 1 year even when I ran cuprisorb.
Come to the upcoming frag swap! It's a great experience and you can meet new people!
 
Mr. Seahorse said:
Welcome to the club! I also had a copper issue and couldn't have inverts or coral for 1 year even when I ran cuprisorb.
Come to the upcoming frag swap! It's a great experience and you can meet new people!
Click to expand...
That’s what happened to me I couldn’t get corals to open even when I had cuprisorb that’s why I decided to throw away the rock and sand because that’s what leaches copper
 
I wouldn't consider this conclusive, but during the short stint I quarantined things myself I researched copper and surfaces. My findings were that copper permanently damning anything it ever touches in a tank to be a leaching source seemed like another reefing old wives tale. Didn't seem to have proof, and the statements backing it up all seemed to be references to other references.

I'd just run a test. Put the stuff in saltwater. Run it as normal. Put some snails in, so really basic coral, and if you want fish. See if the snails/corals die. After awhile run another ICP test.

If they don't die, and the ICP is fine, I'd consider it proven.

I would do that without cuprisorb and I would do a strong rinse of everything (sounds like you did that already).
 
richiev said:
I wouldn't consider this conclusive, but during the short stint I quarantined things myself I researched copper and surfaces. My findings were that copper permanently damning anything it ever touches in a tank to be a leaching source seemed like another reefing old wives tale. Didn't seem to have proof, and the statements backing it up all seemed to be references to other references.

I'd just run a test. Put the stuff in saltwater. Run it as normal. Put some snails in, so really basic coral, and if you want fish. See if the snails/corals die. After awhile run another ICP test.

If they don't die, and the ICP is fine, I'd consider it proven.

I would do that without cuprisorb and I would do a strong rinse of everything (sounds like you did that already).
Click to expand...
Yeah that’s other idea I was just thinking to wait 2 weeks just give everything a chance to leach if it will hopefully not though and do ICP test and see what happens
For the fish I still have them luckily they didn’t get affected by the copper rn the tank is full of clean water and running with no sand or rocks I’m working on the rock scape
 
Found on r2r
Yes and very much so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in fact macro algae (usually dead and dried) is and can be used to clean up industrial wastes sites by absorbing lotsa nasties.
Dr. Walter Addey responded to an email of mine over 10 years ago that he had designed a system using live macro algaes to remove copper from cooling water on a nuclear power generating station.
After many years of speculations that other site years ago someone linked a WHO report on copper and corals. In one paragraph they reported actual scientific under controlled conditions of copper bioaccumulation of (live) macro algae. Several different algaes were exposed to varying level of copper (up to 250ppm) for different lengths of time for up to two weeks. The results were:
---- that none of the macros had reached to max and were still accumulating more copper.
---- The accumulation by the macros was linear too both the concentration of the copper and the length of exposure.
---- One macro exposed to 250ppm copper for two weeks increased copper in the macro from 30ppm to 1055ppm.
So IMHO macro algaes and even turf algaes do accumulate copper and in very significant quantities.
If need be I can see if that study is on my home computer which could be a problem as my nas personal cloud looks like it's failing.

can maybe run a macro tank for a little
 
Woeday said:
Found on r2r
Yes and very much so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
in fact macro algae (usually dead and dried) is and can be used to clean up industrial wastes sites by absorbing lotsa nasties.
Dr. Walter Addey responded to an email of mine over 10 years ago that he had designed a system using live macro algaes to remove copper from cooling water on a nuclear power generating station.
After many years of speculations that other site years ago someone linked a WHO report on copper and corals. In one paragraph they reported actual scientific under controlled conditions of copper bioaccumulation of (live) macro algae. Several different algaes were exposed to varying level of copper (up to 250ppm) for different lengths of time for up to two weeks. The results were:
---- that none of the macros had reached to max and were still accumulating more copper.
---- The accumulation by the macros was linear too both the concentration of the copper and the length of exposure.
---- One macro exposed to 250ppm copper for two weeks increased copper in the macro from 30ppm to 1055ppm.
So IMHO macro algaes and even turf algaes do accumulate copper and in very significant quantities.
If need be I can see if that study is on my home computer which could be a problem as my nas personal cloud looks like it's failing.

can maybe run a macro tank for a little
Click to expand...
“Can maybe run a macro tank for a little while”
Curious how often would you then keep tossing out the macro? since the absorbed heavy metals stay inside the macro its whole life. Nice reminder to source your nori wisely
Thanks @Woeday
 
MarcosD said:
Welcome!

You could always run something like Cuprisorb and/or PolyFilter if you have any traces of copper left (there should be a natural amount that’ll show up on ICP but you shouldn’t get any readable amount with test kits). What are you using to test for Copper?

I think with tossing your sand and rock, you should be good. Good practice always to give your equipment a little clean before moving to your other tank which sounds like you did. I’ve heard of copper being bound to the silicone, but your tank is acrylic so no worry there.

We’d love to see some pics when you’re ready!
Click to expand...
Welcome!

I also suggest poly filter. Before we had copper tests, we used this as a method of checking of a tank still had traces of copper from cupramine. It should turn blue if there's significant copper present as it will precipitate out and crystallize.

Your tank should be fine at the concentration of 22 ppb measured in the ICP test because the copper sulfate therapeutic level for marine ich (cryptocaryon) treatment is 15-20 ppm (basically 15,000ppb).

If you want to test biologically, I suggest getting a free tester coral from the club swap coming up and see if you can keep it alive.
 
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