How to get rid of copper safe in an acrlyic tank

[cavyroo]

I have a 400 gal. acrylic system which I have been using as a fresh water system for the past 6 months this include a sump with plastic bio balls. I have been treating this system with copper safe once a month for the past 6 months. I now want to turn it into a salt system stalking corals inverts etc.. What do you all think is the best method of cleaning it to insure all the copper safe is out

 

[Domboski]

IMO, If you are going to run a reef system, you should drain all of the water, clean all of the equipment and start fresh with RO/DI water and Tropic Marin salt mix. Usually the best way to get copper safe out of the system is weekly changes in the carbon but I wouldn't take the chance of using the same water in the tank for a invert system. It may take more time to get the copper safe out of the water you are currently using than it would to filter new water.

If you meant how to make sure there was no copper safe residue on the walls of the tank, I would use an algae scrapper, tap water and scrub the whole tank down. I am not sure, but I don't think the copper safe bonds with the acrylic walls. As far as the bio balls, I would just buy new ones.

That is a nice size tank! I wish I could get my hands on one of those.

I hope my post helped.

 

[steve-s]

Best suggestion is empty the tank out completely and rinse any debris/gunk from the old system. Re fill the tank with plain old water from that tap, bare bottom and employ any of the old equipment that is going to be used in the switch over. Any substrate, rock, filter material or the like should not be used. Run the tank like this for a few weeks or so. While you do so, run some <<Polyfilters>> in the tank so water flows through them with a good amount of force. Do not place the filters passively or water will flow around them and will not perform properly. After the first week, test the copper down to the lowest concentration the kit will go. I would even use ½ the amount of sample water to increase the sensitivity of the test. You will know when to change the Polyfilter by the color change.

Cheers
Steve

 

[jsmkmavity]

i agree with steve. completely empty and clean the tank then refill with fw and let everything run that was in before. test for copper after a couple days so you have a reference. then empty and refill with fr again and if copper is still detectable repeat every 3-4 days or maybe a week to let any residual copper leach out of the plastic. when copper is no longer detectable reduce the sample by 1/2 but use the same amount of reagent which will increase the sensitivity. the gravel i would toss and if any rock is to be reused cure it in a separate fw tub and use the same method but more time. the best thing though is to get marine rock of some type. make sure to test for copper if you get any used rock-you never know what the previous owner has done!

 

[nasher8860]

Yes the polyfilters work wonders.^^

 

[Domboski]

If you haven't already, check out this thread: http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15666

 

[MCary]

Do not stalk your corals and inverts. Thats just creepy. Once you stock them, leave them alone.

Mike