Need Help regarding Copper

zemuss · Nov 5, 2012

I recently read the following article: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-forum/98456-copper-reef-aquarium-discussion.html and a light bulb went off because lately my tank hasn't been doing very good. I lost all SPS and Chalice that I owned and started to really think about leaving the hobby. After I read the article I bought a Copper test kit and discovered that I have a copper issue, so I went to the LFS and bought some Chemi-pure to remove the Carbon. FYI: The test kit revealed a light blue color which indicates about .2 Copper.

My questions are:

Should I remove the sand and rock?
Should I purchase a RO/DI unit
If so what type of RO/DI unit should I purchase
Is there anything else I should do besides run carbon to remove the copper?

Thanks in advance!
"Z"

ritter6788 · Nov 5, 2012

Poly filter should help also.

#1 try to find the source of the copper. If you're not using RO/DI water then it's probably in your source water.

zemuss · Nov 5, 2012

I think I found the source of the copper which was me using tap water to "rinse" food. (Yes flame away!)

I purchase my RO water from the LFS and it doesn't seem to have an issue.

"Z"

zemuss · Nov 5, 2012

Anyone have one of these? Aquarium Water | Reverse Osmosis | RODI Water | ReefKeeper Water | Mighty Mite 50GPD with DI Added

-Logzor · Nov 5, 2012

I would run cuprisorb, I'm currently running it in my system and it hasn't caused any problems. I'm also having SPS issues and thought heavy metal contamination would be the problem.

I honestly don't see how rinsing your food in tap water would increase copper in your aquarium that much. I would suspect the food itself before the water?

maidia · Nov 5, 2012

Poly filter will not help. Copper in the tank silicon, rock and sand. Don't waste money to those filter or chemical. I did that when I first start reef tank. I got copper too. Spend money on a lot of filter, carbon...still not work. I take all the rocks out cook them with Muriatic acid for a few days. Start the tank over with new sand. Clean the silicon seal at all corner of the tank lot of time (I did my 4 time with vinegar). My tank and corals all happy by then. Hope it help and don't give up. You can start over now, not too late. Also you need RO/DI unit because your water source run by copper pipe in your house(I think). Good luck.

Bry · Nov 5, 2012

How large is the tank? I'd be surprised if your getting enough copper from just rinsing your food with tap water to cause an issue.

zemuss · Nov 5, 2012

Tank is 34 gallons with a 5 gallon sump. Its a Solana with a modification because I didn't want any equipment hanging on the back or sides.

I top my tank off with RO/DI water.

Looking for other suggestions before attempt to start the tank over which really isn't a option right now. I still have some coral left and other inhabitants (Fish, etc) living. Thanks for the suggestion but I would like to see if carbon and Curpisorb will do the trick before starting over.