Omar is back...

Scott,

Just as a faith check, I would take some water and have it tested with a separate test kit. Either that or get some water that you KNOW doesn't contain copper and see what your test kit shows.

John

 

[quote author=JohnO link=board=General;num=1090546851;start=0#10 date=07/22/04 at 21:48:58]
Scott,

Just as a faith check, ...[/quote]

Hiya John...

Did just that...and is what motivated change from the Red Sea Cu test kit (gave quirky readings on every test) to the "Aquarium Systems" ("fasTest&quot - which seems much more reliable and consistent.

Tested against both own RO/DI (local) water and Sea. Aquarium water which both showed no readings whatsoever for Cu.

Additionally took some of my tank water down to LFS to have them confirm my readings...yep...was same....

Good thought.

Scott

 

Scott,

Do you have another tank where you can house the fish for a while? From what I have studied copper is virtually impossible to eliminate from a tank that has rock and sand without completely tearing it down.

Copper also has a longer term effect on fish, it will not kill them straight away but will effect their internal organs and gills and eventually kill them.

Sorry for the bad news mate, but if it was me, and considering what you have told us, I would immediately quarantine the fish in another tank to stop further damage and proceed from there.

John

 

- you are right John...not good news re: copper in tank.

Webmedia.com (Cu Removal) has quite allot of info on getting the stuff out of an existing tank. Have been thru it all...

I will certainly consider a total tank breakdown and rebuild if the current levels do not subside in the next few weeks.

Water changes and use of the "Poly Filters" has greatly reduced the levels since I first discovered the stuff was in tank. --- We are talking about very low levels now --- So hopefully risk to fish is minimal for a bit longer.

If sand/rock continue "leaching" any measureable amounts I will do as you say.

Would be much more comfortable if I could pin down source in the first place. Still a great mystery as I have no copper based meds on hand, no brass fittings in tank, etc. etc. ???- :-[

THX

Scott

 

[quote author=omard link=board=General;num=1090546851;start=0#0 date=07/22/04 at 18:40:50]
Shortly after my "ozone experiment" my snails started to die off.

Right after starting ozone when first signs of problems were in tank I did a major water change.
[/quote]

Omar Just curious What was your " Ozone Experiment" and what did it entail? Because you mentioned twice in your first post that this all started just after what ever you did in the process of your " Ozone Experiment".
IMO I think that I would back track threw all your steps you took while doing this Experiment and just maybe you will stumble upon the source of the copper. Just a thought Good Luck ................................ John

 

Oh man Scott, I feel for you, what a horrible time you've had.

I as well know little about the effects of copper on LR and LS. I would try an experiment when your ready.
Take some fresh tested SW and add a piece of your LR. Swish it around and let it sit for a day or two. Then test for copper. You could repeat this with your sand bed. This should tell you if your LR is continuing to leak Copper.

I is my understanding that your findings will be no to your liking. But if you are satisfied you maybe able to restock with your current LR and LS, but again you may find it just to risky to attempt.

J

 

That's a cool idea Jason.
I like it. [smiley=thumbs_up1.gif]

 

Hi all...

Update on tank status...

Have decided to take safest path and break down tank...replace all substrate and LR...re: John's and other's suggestions.

In process now, but is going to take a while to do to ensure safty of fish.

Have most sand removed now, and only about 10 lbs of lr remaining in tank.

25 lbs of new lr and sand are now "cycling" in a old 30 gal tank on back porch. Have decided to do the new LR in 25 lb "batches" which is about all I can handle at a time with with the 30 gal. tank. (that "spare" Remora coming in handy now).

Fish population is too large to try and move them to small tank and cycle in the large one.

The water column is clean of Cu in the main tank (those "Poly-Filters" work wonders!)...but am taking no chances with old rock and sand. If the remaining sand and rock is "leaching" copper, the "Poly-Filter" is picking it up. But it will be outta there before long.

When new lr is fully cycled in aux tank...will pull remaining sand and lr from main tank, and swap in new rock after couple of days of making sure no remaining Cu left in tank.

Fish are happy, and so am I, now that I am doing something positive about getting this mess cleaned up.

Am still looking for that brass fitting, screw, or penny that I think must be in tank someplace to cause this ugly event in the first place.????

Scott

 

Scott,

Any forward direction is good

Did you ever check out that ' small well pump ' you used, it could still be the culprit. Particularly if you had used it before for salt water and there was some corrosion in the form of oxide.

Anyway, don't look back.

John