Concerns about copper in gravel!

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micstarz

micstarz

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2008
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Hong Kong
I bought 15 kgs of SUDO "Real Black Sand" for my aquarium and I see gold flakes (small) in the gravel. Could this be copper?!!!

EDIT: my tank is saltwater. The website said the sand is meant for freshwater fish but my LFS said it was ok...
 
It's not always copper. Check the label of the substrate and test for copper traces using a copper test kit.
 
Sounds like iron pyrite, but it's hard to tell. Most naturally ocurring copper is a green oxide.

If it seems to be affecting your inverts I would set up a quarantine tank for your animals and then get a copper test kit.

Sorry to hear about your Mantis!:confused:
 
Ah...iron pyrite is fool's gold, right?

Is it harmful?

My mantis died today.

Edit: I think she may have been poisoned because I saw zoanthid slime go on her maxillipeds.
 
Dan Feller;2872154; said:
Sounds like iron pyrite, but it's hard to tell. Most naturally ocurring copper is a green oxide.

If it seems to be affecting your inverts I would set up a quarantine tank for your animals and then get a copper test kit.

Sorry to hear about your Mantis!:confused:
Click to expand...
You beat me to it.

Elemental copper is going to quickly turn green in SW. It's either pyrite or real gold. :grinno:
 
That's good to know. Hopefully she was just at the end of her life span instead of there being a problem in the tank.
 
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