Copper rock (1 Viewer)

[beefyg]

i just picked up some liverock from somebody and they said they used a copper ich med once about three years ago. Can i use this rock in a reef tank? Is there a reliable test for residual copper?

 

[tektite]

Not sure about a test, but no, you can't use it in a reef. Good thing they told you!

 

[Ostentum]

Not 100% true, but I would err on the side of caution and not use it.

 

[fightmeaboutit]

http://www.marinedepot.com/Salifert...ater_Aquariums-Salifert-SF1119-FITKCO-vi.html worth a try

 

[DustinB]

It would be good to read this thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1265702

It basically states that the copper is only soluble at the pH of the water. Given that the pH in the rock is fairly different than the water column, this means that the copper is only bound to the surface of the rock. Using a solution of muriatic acid for 20 minutes as described in the linked thread should do the trick.

 

[tektite]

Interesting, didn't know that.

 

[beefyg]

Does anyone know the bonding or absorption mechanism? I asked a physicist at work and he said theres not really a mechanism for copper to bond or attach to carbonate.

 

[beefyg]

I'll probably do the bleach bath and use it. The guy I got it from had snails and hermits in his tank so it should be ok. It has some funky cyano and green hair algae on it so the bleach would do it good and I've got plenty of good rock in my old tank to seed it the new tank.

 

[huntmarlin]

If you use it I would run cupizorb it removes copper I had a problem where copper got in my reef tank and wiped every thing out but the fish. 7 months latter of running cupizorb I have Sps in my tank