Medicated quarantine tank with macro algae

[Coralnotquarrel]

Hi,
I have tons of clean ulva in my refugium and now setting up a quarantine tank with copper power. Saw the brs series where they use copper and then replace all water every 3 days to keep ammonia down as there's no bio filter as copper and antibiotics may kill? Carbon may soak up the copper and abx?

Has anyone set up a medicated quarantine with enough macroalgae to soak up the ammonia so the water changes not so drastic?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi,
I have tons of clean ulva in my refugium and now setting up a quarantine tank with copper power. Saw the brs series where they use copper and then replace all water every 3 days to keep ammonia down as there's no bio filter as copper and antibiotics may kill? Carbon may soak up the copper and abx?

Has anyone set up a medicated quarantine with enough macroalgae to soak up the ammonia so the water changes not so drastic?

Well, properly done copper won’t nuke your biofilter, and some antibiotics won’t either, so a well established biofilter is your safest way to go.

Macro algae won’t efficiently manage ammonia in any event. These may have a bacterial biofilm on them that does though, kind of like using live rock….

Copper kills some types of algae…but I don’t know about macros.

Jay

 

[Coralnotquarrel]

Well, properly done copper won’t nuke your biofilter, and some antibiotics won’t either, so a well established biofilter is your safest way to go.

Macro algae won’t efficiently manage ammonia in any event. These may have a bacterial biofilm on them that does though, kind of like using live rock….

Copper kills some types of algae…but I don’t know about macros.

Jay

Thanks Jay. Really appreciate your explanation. Yes, it very well could be the biofilm!

 

[bushdoc]

I use to add copper based algicide to my pool. Very effective killing microalgae. I would not risk adding copper to tank with macro algae.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I recently steralized my qt tank for a new round, and threw a bunch of chaeto and sea lettuce in it for food / shelter / ammonia control.

I had to start it off with a little DT water so they had some nutrients to keep them from melting, but with the macro algae being the only other addition from my DT, it stipped ammonia from showing up on a fresh seachem badge.

I am on day 12 and have no nitrogen coming out in any tests, but the tank gets some sunlight for the algae. On day 7 full copper and haven't had any melt. I have had sea lettuce disappear but it appears the flame angel eats it, not sure if thats the case, but if it is melting, the chaeto is soaking it back up.

At least I don't think it will hurt anything, but Jay knows way more than me, I only chimed in because I am actively doing it.

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I use to add copper based algicide to my pool. Very effective killing microalgae. I would not risk adding copper to tank with macro algae.

Maybe copper power is different? I've had little bits of chaeto grow in full copper before, but copper power.

 

[bushdoc]

Maybe copper power is different? I've had little bits of chaeto grow in full copper before, but copper power.

Maybe, I let you experiment, why I will stay away from mixing copper and macro algae.