Copper in reef tank

[yajur]

I have some RTN issue in my SPS i think it can be due to bacterial or copper and will salifert copper test can able to find trace of copper also in water ?

 

[jsker]

Hmmm, are you using RO/DI filtration?

 

[CodyRVA]

What else is in the system? I would imagine if you had copper related issues you'd see other coral and fish struggling. What are your parameters and lighting?

 

[yajur]

Hmmm, are you using RO/DI filtration?

Iam using ro unit only tds 5

 

[yajur]

What else is in the system? I would imagine if you had copper related issues you'd see other coral and fish struggling. What are your parameters and lighting?

Fish are healthy few corals only have the issue alk at 8 in hanna also in salifert no3 is 1 ppm in salifert po4 is 0 in hanna mg is 1380 in salifert calcium is 390ppm salifert.

No gfo or activated carbon running.

 

[CodyRVA]

Fish are healthy few corals only have the issue alk at 8 in hanna also in salifert no3 is 1 ppm in salifert po4 is 0 in hanna mg is 1380 in salifert calcium is 390ppm salifert.

No gfo or activated carbon running.

How long have you had these colonies and what's your lighting?

 

[jsker]

Fish are healthy few corals only have the issue alk at 8 in hanna also in salifert no3 is 1 ppm in salifert po4 is 0 in hanna mg is 1380 in salifert calcium is 390ppm salifert.

No gfo or activated carbon running.

I run my No3 up around 4 to 6 ppm and P04 at .02 or lower if I am lucky. I would say that you are having RTN for the reason you corals need a slight amount of Po4's and at least 3 to 5 on the No3's

 

[CodyRVA]

I run my No3 up around 4 to 6 ppm and P04 at .02 or lower if I am lucky. I would say that you are having RTN for the reason you corals need a slight amount of Po4's and at least 3 to 5 on the No3's

Agreed, I would say it's a parameter issue not relevant to copper. If you had copper issues... My guess is you would know it.

 

[jsker]

Agreed, I would say it's a parameter issue not relevant to copper. If you had copper issues... My guess is you would know it.

Back in the day copper was actually suggested, to run a slight amount in the system, in fish only live rock tanks. I also agree with @CodyRVA about the lights

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you can detect copper with a kit, it is too high. But showing zero with a kit may still mean too much since kits cannot detect very low. They are intended to monitor copper medication levels, not tank levels.

A Triton test might be more useful in this regard.