Copper Poisoning — a way forward

[Biologic]

Hey all,

So recently I reset my tank up after Hurricane Ida. Went with a bigger tank. 50 gallons system volume. Bare bottom. Refugium. Filter socks. Reefi LED. More flow. Nutrients quickly fall quickly, which I love now that I can feed without worrying about nutrients.

I am not 100% where my contamination came from. I’ve searched all the obvious. Heaters. Magnets. Pumps. All negative at this point.

When I saw I had STN, I figured it was either nutrients or heavy metals. I lost significant pigment and florescence in a few acros. I found a dead Emerald Crab which lead me to believe copper. I immediately got an ICP test, performed a 50% water change with readjusted nitrate and phosphates.
Got my test back a week later, I was right sadly…. 53 ppb (ug/l) before the 50% water change. Got some cuprisorb and running some zeolites, which are shown to work removing copper and other heavy metals. Performed another 50% water change. Assuming now at 13 ppb. So the total time at these levels I am figuring it was about 1 month.

Performed another 2 more 50% water changes for the past two weeks. So I am figuring I am no more (even without the help of the chemical absorption) around 3 ppb. At this point, the STN stopped. I am seeing encrusting again where tissue was receding. Some color is regaining in less effected pieces.

So the advice is am seeking is — Ideally sure I want to be 0 ppb. At this point I don’t want to cause any additional instability by 50% water changes. I want to give it another month of cruising at the **assumed level of 3 ppb and media absorption, hoping it’s at near zero ppb. Then perform another ICP to see if the water changes A) removed copper to be at 3 ppb or below, if it’s above this, my problem is something with the equipment leaching B) know if the chemical media is absorbing C) wait another month, perform another ICP levels are not rising from the assumed 3 ppb (or near zero value).

Is that a good way forward? What’s the long term prognosis? Will I ever get things back to where they were? Talking about a year of recovery? What would you do?

 

[mdb_talon]

That sucks to hear. Personally i would get a copper checker and be testing at least weekly to make sure it is not leaching from rocks/equipment/etc. You have put a lot into bringing it down but need to find out if it still coming into the system or it all for nothing. I think the ICP makes sense also but i would want to be able to measure every few days to see how it is going rather than just having the periodic ICP tests

 

[Biologic]

That sucks to hear. Personally i would get a copper checker and be testing at least weekly to make sure it is not leaching from rocks/equipment/etc. You have put a lot into bringing it down but need to find out if it still coming into the system or it all for nothing. I think the ICP makes sense also but i would want to be able to measure every few days to see how it is going rather than just having the periodic ICP tests

ive seen varying opinions on copper testers, the resolution and accuracy leading me to opt for ICP. I know ICP is not without fault, but it has the resolution I am looking for.

Hanna’s range is 1 to 999 ppb with a resolution of 1 ppb but an accuracy of ± 10 ppb ± 5% of reading. When you want zero, I want a resolution down below 1 ppb, which ICP MassSpec can do into ppt, parts per trillion.

omitted in the original post I also had high nickel, and moblybdenum, which is why ICP is just a better option over all for diagnosing problems.

 

[mdb_talon]

ive seen varying opinions on copper testers, the resolution and accuracy leading me to opt for ICP. I know ICP is not without fault, but it has the resolution I am looking for.

Hanna’s range is 1 to 999 ppb with a resolution of 1 ppb but an accuracy of ± 10 ppb ± 5% of reading. When you want zero, I want a resolution down below 1 ppb, which ICP MassSpec can do into ppt, parts per trillion.

omitted in the original post I also had high nickel, and moblybdenum, which is why ICP is just a better option over all for diagnosing problems.

Yes i am not suggesting not to do an ICP test just suggesting i would also do checks in between. There was a lot of math in your post based off assumptions of what it should be based off WC and absorbtion, etc. Its going to be 5+ weeks from your previous ICP before you have any idea if any of that is close to correct. When you get that ICP if it still shows much higher than expected you will have no idea if that is because your assumptions on removal were wrong or because you still have input coming in.

I am not a fan of hanna in general and certainly there is a margin of error, bit if nothing else it at least can give you a trend with intervals of days rather than weeks if your only test is periodic ICP tests.

 

[Biologic]

Yes i am not suggesting not to do an ICP test just suggesting i would also do checks in between. There was a lot of math in your post based off assumptions of what it should be based off WC and absorbtion, etc. Its going to be 5+ weeks from your previous ICP before you have any idea if any of that is close to correct. When you get that ICP if it still shows much higher than expected you will have no idea if that is because your assumptions on removal were wrong or because you still have input coming in.

I am not a fan of hanna in general and certainly there is a margin of error, bit if nothing else it at least can give you a trend with intervals of days rather than weeks if your only test is periodic ICP tests.

correct. That’s where I am sitting from the original icp. I am wondering if my LFS could do it for me before I jump and spend money on a tester or a kit or another ICP. If I am sitting at 5 instead of 3, I should skip the ICP and water change and retest.

 

[gbroadbridge]

ive seen varying opinions on copper testers, the resolution and accuracy leading me to opt for ICP. I know ICP is not without fault, but it has the resolution I am looking for.

Hanna’s range is 1 to 999 ppb with a resolution of 1 ppb but an accuracy of ± 10 ppb ± 5% of reading. When you want zero, I want a resolution down below 1 ppb, which ICP MassSpec can do into ppt, parts per trillion.

omitted in the original post I also had high nickel, and moblybdenum, which is why ICP is just a better option over all for diagnosing problems.

My understanding is that the Hanna HR Copper Checker accuracy is +- 50ppb +- 5%

The Hanna LR unit is not suitable for seawater.

 

[Biologic]

Just to add some color to the conversation and how variable the effects of copper really is on SPS.

my orange Sentosa, poker star purple and green montipora, had a minor setback but now looks incredible.

I had a green “generic” tenius , With a slight minor setback, actually lost some tissue at the base, but now looks incredible considering. It’s nice and vibrant green.



I have some type of no id green turquoise stag with blue tips on the axilites, never lost any tissue at all, but did lose some of its color. Now almost regained all its color.

my all purple monti cap, stop growing, but looks great.

What took a hit — ORA Turquoise stag, browned out, lost all of his tissue and died within two weeks. Red monti cap, is dull. Not growing at all. Leng sy purple rim, turn brown, no purple room. Not growing at all. purple encrusting monti with green polyps, browned out, has no polyps, stop growing, but is actually starting to push out one or two green polyps now.

what took no hit at all, was a brain coral and Duncan. They look just fine.


I am very happy that I caught it fast. Corals are pretty resilient.