Copper Problems

nonono dont add carbon. that will remove the copper

 

Hey Corailine....I made up a fresh batch of water. Dosed exactly as the instructions say. I got the exact ppm of copper I should have. So something in my tank is removing the copper. But what? ATI hydro sponge filter with the base, PVC pieces, a cheap heater from walmart, and thermometer, and thats it nothing else in the tank! Oh and an airstone to run the sponge filter. I once used this tank and had a bad hypo experience. Could left over arm and hammer baking soda absorb copper? I bleached and cleaned this tank thoroughly before starting this treatment but I remember there was some traces of a white film in the tank. I think it was baking soda??

 

I would start by removing the sponge for now and most of the PVC.

The flim of the baking soda I would not think would be enough to keep absorbing the copper. Also it sounds like you did a fine job of cleaning the tank after hypo.

I would just keep adding the copper since the test kit works and the copper is good, just slowly and have fresh SW just incase you over shoot the range.

The tang will probably looked stressed, reducing the lighting to the area or tank should help with this.

 

Okay so after taking your advice I started messing around with the water. I tested it....then retested it. Still the same amount of copper in it. (In my sample I made up per your advice) Then I did something I never thought of....I added my water conditioner like I always do.....tada 0 ppm copper! So this is my own mistake. I have messed up. I do about 2-3 water changes per week. So I am sure you will think this is a stupid question but do you add straight RODI water to your system without any water conditioner? I have an air water and ice reefkeeper rodi unit. I run 0-2 tds water. Can I add it straight to the tank with no water conditioner? And would my water conditioner really eat up all my copper like this? Thank you

 

That is great news I had not even thought of that.

I never use water conditioner. If you are using RO/DI there should be no chlorine or copper or at least not enough to do any damage to the QT.

Good lesson learned, good work.

 

Okay so I am thinking a large water change is needed. Like 50 percent. Just in case there is some way the copper in the water now could find its way into being active again. Then tomorrow start the treatment. Thoughts? Any better ideas??

 

Or should I do an even larger water change to get the water conditioner out? Like 75 percent? I think as long as there is water conditioner in the tank it may retard my treatment. How should I go about this?

 

I think cupramine uses a type of copper that does not show on standard tests. I think the bottle recommends a test kit to use. If you've dosed and dosed again, you may have way to much copper in the tank right now.

 

I have been using the Seachem copper test kit. Which is specifically recommended for Cupramine. However, I solved a mystery which has been driving me crazy for a week now. My water conditioner has been removing the cupramine or making it inactive. Either way it removes the copper from the system.

 

Yeah, I saw that after I posted... sorry.