RODI Mixing Station Container w/copper pipe

DSmithZ28 · Jun 26, 2023

I am planning on purchasing 2qty 250 gallon used containers. They were both used as lawn water system containers that was pressurized with water only. That I am very confident of. However the ”architect” of this system that a small piece of copper tubing put at the bottom of the container for algae control was a good idea. My question is can this cause copper leaching in the future? I plan to thoroughly clean these with bleach and scrub them out. I know there is mineral detoxification solutions I can use also along with running carbon on this system to break it in. Once this is done I will fill both containers and send an ICP test off. Will this plan work or is there anything else I can do to be absolutely sure nothing leaches out? These will produce saltwater for acro tank once completed.

wlmalek · Jun 26, 2023

Interesting.. is this fixed to the containers body? I mean you can’t take it out? Or you are worried that there is copper bonded to them?
Im not sure but you may get away if it’s only RO. But, I don’t think it would work in Salt water.

DSmithZ28 · Jun 26, 2023

wlmalek said:
Interesting.. is this fixed to the containers body? I mean you can’t take it out? Or you are worried that there is copper bonded to them?
Im not sure but you may get away if it’s only RO. But, I don’t think it would work in Salt water.

Yes they just put a small piece in the bottom of the container to control algae. The copper tube is already been taken out. It’s practically new and just needs some sediment cleaned out. You can see where the copper patina left some residue on the bottom since it’s been emptied out. No copper plumbing has been run to it and there was a filter of some sort pre container so it’s been filtered water to some extent.

Sisterlimonpot · Jun 26, 2023

If you're planning on keeping invertabrates (corals) then definitely remove it and try to remove any residue off the bottom.

Woodyman · Jun 26, 2023

DSmithZ28 said:
I am planning on purchasing 2qty 250 gallon used containers. They were both used as lawn water system containers that was pressurized with water only. That I am very confident of. However the ”architect” of this system that a small piece of copper tubing put at the bottom of the container for algae control was a good idea. My question is can this cause copper leaching in the future? I plan to thoroughly clean these with bleach and scrub them out. I know there is mineral detoxification solutions I can use also along with running carbon on this system to break it in. Once this is done I will fill both containers and send an ICP test off. Will this plan work or is there anything else I can do to be absolutely sure nothing leaches out? These will produce saltwater for acro tank once completed.

First what are the containers made of?

HDPE?

DSmithZ28 · Jun 26, 2023

Sisterlimonpot said:
If you're planning on keeping invertabrates (corals) then definitely remove it and try to remove any residue off the bottom.

Yes without question they have already been removed.

wlmalek · Jun 26, 2023

DSmithZ28 said:
Yes they just put a small piece in the bottom of the container to control algae. The copper tube is already been taken out. It’s practically new and just needs some sediment cleaned out. You can see where the copper patina left some residue on the bottom since it’s been emptied out. No copper plumbing has been run to it and there was a filter of some sort pre container so it’s been filtered water to some extent.

Got it. what it is made of? If it’s food grade you are fine.
they are nice size containers. I would clean them very well with RO water then fill them up and put a powerhead let it cycle for two weeks and test for any copper leaching.

you can use copper removal resin (ex. Coprisorb) and send an ICP test.

exnisstech · Jun 26, 2023

All of the plumbing in my house is copper so I don't see any problem with a piece of copper laying in the bottom that has been removed.
EDIT: I mix my rodi from the water that travels through those copper pipes and have for 8 years. I have done icp less than a year ago with no copper concerns. I think this is really a non issue.

Sisterlimonpot · Jun 26, 2023

exnisstech said:
All of the plumbing in my house is copper so I don't see any problem with a piece of copper laying in the bottom that has been removed.
EDIT: I mix my rodi from the water that travels through those copper pipes and have for 8 years. I have done icp less than a year ago with no copper concerns. I think this is really a non issue.

Copper pipes before the membrane are fine, because you're pulling any trace of copper out via the membrane.

You don't want to remove copper and then reintroduce it back into the water while it sits in that holding tank.

archercorals · Jun 27, 2023

Your plan sounds fine.

homer1475 · Jun 27, 2023

LOL so much worrying over nothing. Remove the pipe(you already have) clean them out with some tap water, and maybe some bleach, rinse well, and use.

in 250G of water once cleaned out will have very minuscule amounts of copper(if any) that will be a non issue given the water volume.

If your worried about it(more then likely they are absolutely fine), fill them up, let them sit for a couple days, then use a copper test to see of there is any leeching(highly doubtful).

We often times tend to over think simple things like this, as apparent by the comments.

exnisstech · Jun 27, 2023

EDIT : I have to agree with Homer. But nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution I suppose

Dburr1014 · Jun 27, 2023

There is copper in the ocean.
I agree with Homer, clean it out well and use it.

threebuoys · Jun 27, 2023

I believe salt water has the potential to cause electrolysis if any stray electricity in the tank and favorable conditions exist. Think electroplating. The longer the water remains in the tank unused, the greater the possibility of leaching. I once had traces of copper in my testing which I eventually traced back to a brass drain valve I used on my sump plumbing.

SteveMM62Reef · Jun 27, 2023

Get Two Quarts of Muriatic Acid from the Hardware and Safety Glasses or Safety Googles. Take the drum outside, Add Five Gallons of Cold Tap Water. ADD THE WATER FIRST! Then add the Acid. Cap and Roll Swish the a drum Around. Let it rest and repeat several times. It will strip the Copper and any other Metals, Calcium, Salts, Etc. from the Drum. Rinse by letting the Drum overflow with Cold Tap Water. I’ve used Muriatic Acid at work to clean water cooled AC Condensers, that had an inhibitor, in the Acid to protect the metal. After an Acid Wash, they’d be opened up to Tube Brush/Punch, if possible. The Copper would be nice and shiny with no Patina. BTW, I don‘t use gloves when acid cleaning, I use a bucket of clear cold water, and constantly rinse my hands. Seen some really bad burns from pinholes in gloves.

Sisterlimonpot · Jun 27, 2023

homer1475 said:
LOL so much worrying over nothing.

The OP was confused as to why he couldn't keep a copper rod in his rodi container. Not so much worrying as it was educating.

homer1475 · Jun 27, 2023

Sisterlimonpot said:
The OP was confused as to why he couldn't keep a copper rod in his rodi container. Not so much worrying as it was educating.

Umm, no...

The OP stated he removed the pipe, and was worried about the copper left behind in the container.

leepink23 · Jun 28, 2023

homer1475 said:
Umm, no...

The OP stated he removed the pipe, and was worried about the copper left behind in the container.

Yes he is a friend of mine and wanted to err on the side of caution. We had some issues in the past with water post Rodi that caused several large acro colony RTN and Zoa melting. Although it’s probably going way overboard and being extra cautious I know we both appreciate the advice. We probably have 1000 coral supported by these systems.