Hard time keeping Copper at therapeutic level.

[Japtastic]

I seem to be dropping by 0.05 or so every 24 hours. I’m trying to keep it at around 0.20

I thought it was the other filter media causing the problems. Then I thought it was the fake plant bases that was an issue. All removed.

Have now only got a couple of PVC fitting and internal filter. No sand or rock.

Is this media to blame or something else?

 

[Humblefish]

What filter media is that exactly?

 

[Japtastic]

I have no idea what it’s made of.

Does this help?

I only have the green part in the filter.

 

[Humblefish]

I would remove that pad and see if the absorption stops. BTW, what brand of copper are you using and how are you testing?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Humble we were just talking about how Seachem Matrix doesn't absorb copper, maybe changing his media will help?

 

[HotRocks]

I would assume the filter pad. Usually they absorb some but eventually it will stop.

 

[Japtastic]

Thanks, I will have to order some more Turbo Start as I don’t have any more pre seeded media. What about the other media that came with that filter? Ceramic rings and filter floss/media with the carbon removed shown in the pics?

Home made Copper with Hanna testers.

 

[Big G]

Looks like one of those filter pads that has carbon or carbon like substance inside.

 

[Japtastic]

Yes the white one did until I removed it but this green one doesn’t. It just like an algae scrubber type material.

 

[Japtastic]

Do those media rings look ok to use?

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Do those media rings look ok to use?

Those media rings could be what is leeching your copper, in addition to the filter pad. COULD be

 

[Big G]

Do those media rings look ok to use?

Do you know what brand they are? I've tested Fluval Biomax ceramic rings and they do not absorb copper. And Humblefish has tested Seachem Matrix with the same results. Others would have to be tested to be sure.

 

[Japtastic]

@RichtheReefer21 Only the green pad there at the moment which I have now cut in half and left 50% in

@Big G http://www.interpet.co.uk/Products/Filtration/Filters/Internal-Cartridge-Filter-CF-3

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Try to Get some seachem matrix for media in the filter..

@Humblefish did an experiment and found little-to-no copper absorbent into that media which might help u maintain less copper level leeching/loss without sacrificing biological filtration.

Worth a try anyways

 

[Big G]

@RichtheReefer21 Only the green pad there at the moment which I have now cut in half and left 50% in

@Big G http://www.interpet.co.uk/Products/Filtration/Filters/Internal-Cartridge-Filter-CF-3

Very likely that one or both of the filter materials are absorbing some of the copper. That "green" coating may be having some effect on the copper same as the Poly filters lots of reefers use to remove copper at the end of treatment. That being said, the ceramic rings could also be the culprit. True ceramic rings are in effect glass, so they should not absorb anything. But that would have to be tested to see if they are too porous and absorb copper.
Like I mentioned in the previous post, Humblefish tested Seachem Matrix and I tested Fluval Biomax. Both did not absorb any copper and work really well in a QT using copper treatment. As far as the pad is concerned there are lots of sheets of pad material that you can "cut to fit" almost any filter container. Something like this works real well and costs less than the pads that filter manufacturers sells for replacing old/dirty filter pads: https://amazon.com/Aquarium-Filter-...0389&sr=8-4&keywords=filter+pad+for+fish+tank

 

[Japtastic]

Thanks chaps, will pickup some Fluval Biomax tomorrow as they are stocked locally.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

Maybe it has something to do with your "homemade copper". I'd look to that first before anything.

 

[Japtastic]

Maybe it has something to do with your "homemade copper". I'd look to that first before anything.

The issue isn’t getting the Copper to the right level. It’s getting it to stay there. I do believe the most probable explanation is that the filter media is to blame.

The recipe actually works really well, tests good and is extremely cheap too.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-copper-med.364112/

 

[Humblefish]

The issue isn’t getting the Copper to the right level. It’s getting it to stay there. I do believe the most probable explanation is that the filter media is to blame.

The recipe actually works really well, tests good and is extremely cheap too.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-copper-med.364112/

However, it does take a few days in order to stabilize copper sulfate pentahydrate because the fish will metabolize it.

 

[Japtastic]

Thanks, I didn’t know that. Do they not continue to metabolise it after the few days?