Using A Tank That Has Had Copper Meds In It.

[xxBarneyxx]

Is there any safe way to completely remove any traces of copper from tank that has had copper medication used in it previously?

I have a bunch of old hospital tanks sitting around and wanted to use one for a fuge but all of them have had copper meds used in them at some point in the past.

For the sake of £50 should I just go and buy a new 12g tank?

 

[Underwurlde]

Clean the tank with undiluted water conditioners - the ones that use chleators such as Tropica. I THINK that would be OK, but I'm no chemist.

Chuck any substrate away etc.

Andy

 

[andywg]

If possible, perhaps consider running RO through it a few times. The lack of elements in RO should cause any copper that wants to leach out of any silicone out. A few times of this should cover you fairly well.

While I don't doubt the effects coper can have on creatures, the tank I currently use for a sump on my tank has previously been used to treat FW ich, so almost certainly has had copper in it. To date I have had no issues.

 

[1entra]

It might be worthwile giving the tanks a good clean and also getting a copper test kit of some sort.

Then fill the tanks with RO water and let them sit for a few days or so. Then test the water for copper to see if any has leached out into the water. If not then they should be safe to use.

If copper is detected however, empty the tanks out and re-fill with fresh RO water, and again leave for a few days and re-test. If the copper levels are stable (the same) then its not worth using the tank as it will leach out copper into your tank and stress/kill your inverts. However, if the copper levels have reduced/dropped then this shows the RO water is absorbing teh copper and so eventually should bring levels down to 0 so keep following the above steps until 0 copper can be detected in the water and then the tank should be safe to use in your system!

 

[DarrenUnwin]

Hi,

In addition to the methods listed above you can purchase copper safe to add to your filters. I used this on a trpoical tank I converted to marine and had no problems

Daz

 

[steelhealr]

You can also do a dry run and test the water for Cu after it is filled. SH

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thanks guys. I will leave it to soak with RO water in for a few days and pick up a copper test kit this weekend.

 

[SkiFletch]

Thanks guys. I will leave it to soak with RO water in for a few days and pick up a copper test kit this weekend.

That's what I'd do