ATO container question--Once had copper in it

[Susan Edwards]

I was planning to use a 20 gal hex for my ato container. Whatever I use has to sit beside my tank in the living room so figured that, with a decoration in it, would look nice or natural.

My question: it was my qt tank. Once I used copper (now I use cp and not copper) to treat survivers of marine velvet (last June). Tank after was just used for a qt tank. It's been cleaned and dry for a bit now. Will it be okay to use this as my ato container

 

[ca1ore]

Neither glass nor silicone will absorb or retain copper. Make sure to wash it out well, but no issues using it.

 

[Flameback Pair]

If it was used with a copper solution for a very long time you would start to see copper getting between the silicone and glass but it would be very minimal and like I say, take a long time. I would still carefully inspect the silicone seams to make sure no copper residue made it's way between the glass and silicone. It would just be on the inside edges of the seams.

 

[Big G]

If you wash it with vinegar, it will precipitate any of the remaining copper into a harmless compound. Rinse 2x with RODI and dry. Good to go.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Thanks Everyone. It was only used 30 days with copper over 6 months ago. Sheesh, that means the pcv stuff I used to make a tower in there is no good anymore, or only in qt...

 

[Flameback Pair]

If it was used with a copper solution for a very long time you would start to see copper getting between the silicone and glass but it would be very minimal and like I say, take a long time. I would still carefully inspect the silicone seams to make sure no copper residue made it's way between the glass and silicone. It would just be on the inside edges of the seams.

Of course this is just hypothetical on my part but years ago I used a razor to scrape algae off the glass and nicked the silicone in a few places. Where the silicone was nicked it formed a flap and detritus got underneath.