Used Tank question

I bought a used 45 gal oceanic tank a few years ago and am getting ready to set it up and paranoia has set in. I was reading a reefing book today and saw some comments on being careful of buying a used tank since you don't know if anyone used anything toxic to reef inhabitants like copper. I know this was a reef setup since there was coraline algae all over the glass. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is there anyway to test the tank first?

Its an older model of the oceanic tech tank and I have everything designed around it so would hate to change to a different tank and the tech tank is pretty pricey.

Any thoughts?
Shawn

 

My advice is to first clean the tank with white vinegar and then rinse with plain water. Do not use any type of cleanser as the residue could seriously affect your livestock. Then fill your tank with R.O. water and buy a copper test kit from your LFS or bring in a water sample to your LFS and have them test it for you. It will probably be fine though.

With copper, the thing that you really have to be wary of is used sand or live rock from a tank where copper has been used. It doesn't sound like you have any of that, so you should be fine.

Good luck,

Jim

 

Thanks Jim. I had that same idea. Already cleaned with vinegar. Just wasn't sure how accurate a test would be. Didn't know if it took a while for the copper leach before it would show up on a test or if I would need to leave it set up for a while before testing. Are the copper tests pretty accurate?
Any thoughts on that?

 

I would wait 36 to 48 hours before testing. This will also serve to let you know if the silicone needs any repair anywhere.

 

Thanks, I'll try to get it filled tomorrow and test it next weekend. That should give it plenty of time.

 

fill it, test it, fix it.

 

Good way to look at it. So if I test it and have copper is the tank trash as a reef tank? Or is there a way to clean/fix it?

 

Seachem Cuprisorb will fix you right up. Polypads will help too but I suspect this method would take longer.