Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Pests, Nudsiance Algae and Prevention => Topic started by: ohioreef on May 12, 2021, 21:31:42

Title: Copper Level Issues
Post by: ohioreef on May 12, 2021, 21:31:42

I have a Hanna Cu tester. I am trying to get my Cu level to .5 in my QT.

I started with .29 Cu so I added 10 drops Cu, tested and got .45 Cu.

Added 5 drops, tested and got .49

Added 2 drops, tested and got .44

Added 3 drops, tested and got .39.

What the heck am I doing wrong?!? Cu should be going up, not down. I’m trying to do this very carefully as I don’t want to kill the three tangs I have in the QT.

I’m half tempted to pull them and just put them in the DT. I got them from djonesjr and he had them since Oct with no issues.

Title: Re: Copper Level Issues
Post by: ohioreef on May 13, 2021, 19:31:38

Go figure....tested this evening and I’m at .5 which is about where I expected it to be based on number of drops I’ve added.

Title: Re: Copper Level Issues
Post by: ohioreef on May 14, 2021, 16:49:29

I give up....  .42 when I tested today.

Anyone have any suggestions? Ideas what I’m doing wrong?

Title: Re: Copper Level Issues
Post by: SweetReefOH on May 16, 2021, 08:37:03

Do you have rock, ornaments or sand in the QT?

Title: Re: Copper Level Issues
Post by: ohioreef on May 16, 2021, 11:31:10

I have a couple plastic items for the fish to hide in. I also have ceramic rings in the HOB filter.

I texted with Lazy a couple days ago and I have a better understanding what’s going on now.

Title: Re: Copper Level Issues
Post by: SweetReefOH on May 17, 2021, 07:17:10

Quote from: ohioreef on May 16, 2021, 11:31:10

I have a couple plastic items for the fish to hide in. I also have ceramic rings in the HOB filter.

I texted with Lazy a couple days ago and I have a better understanding what’s going on now.

Cool. I’m not a copper expert but I would think that something was absorbing the copper until it was saturated.

Title: Re: Copper Level Issues
Post by: ohioreef on May 17, 2021, 07:23:50

Basically what Lazy said. He said the bio media could be absorbing it as well as the bacteria actually consuming some of it.

I’ve been testing and trying to figure about what I’m using each day. I’m lucky in that, in my QT, one drop cupramine is about .01ppm Cu so it’s pretty easy to adjust once I know the level.