Copper Pipe

[Dan F]

Ok, we'll go with that as our official statement.

However, polishing will decrease the reaction sites (not atoms). It will also skin over rapidly (many metals are self protecting via their oxides).

And the levels of ionic copper will not reach medicinal levels, let alone toxic levels. I use copper wire (high purity) in two of my tanks to provide copper. Those tanks get live feeders and the copper is to help keep ich and other hitch hiking parasites down. I still have to treat with Copper Safe or Rid Ich every now and then.

And I am fairly certain that the author of Oddballs quote was speaking in reference to SW systems. Freshwater fish can tollerate very high levels of ionic copper (compared to marine and reef tanks).

I didn't mean to say that copper is harmful to freshwater fish, only that polishing the pipe will increase the leaching of copper.

I have done some experiments in electrolysis using copper and zinc in my science classes and polishing the metal greatly increases the rate of transfer.

I have no experience using copper except once about 20 years ago when I had a snail infestation. I filled my AC 500 (now AC 110) with copper fittings. Within a week the snails were all dead and the fish survived, so it can't be all that bad.

 

[nes999]

if u have inverts or loaches its toxic

 

[John7429]

I honestly don't think its worth the risk

 

[Oddball]

Also keep in mind that copper has detrimental effects on herps. Keeping aquatic turtles, snakes, and amphibians in systems with copper will cause liver dysfunction and has been attributed to causing neurological disorders.

 

[CHOMPERS]

I have done some experiments in electrolysis using copper and zinc in my science classes and polishing the metal greatly increases the rate of transfer.

I remember now doing that too. Electrolysis definitely trumps lowering the number of reaction sites. I'm curious to see if there is a measurable amount of mass loss in my copper wire. I don't have a starting mass but I could weigh it and an identical length of fresh wire to make a comparison.

 

[CHOMPERS]

Also keep in mind that copper has detrimental effects on herps. Keeping aquatic turtles, snakes, and amphibians in systems with copper will cause liver dysfunction and has been attributed to causing neurological disorders.

I didn't know that.

I had a softshell turtle in one of my copper treated tanks. "Had" as in he didn't live the years expected of a turtle. However, I took him in because he swallowed a fish hook (he may have died of complications from the hook).

 

[FishHeadSoup]

Extremely toxic to things like catfish and shrimp pends what ur keeping

The toxicity of copper sulphate is dependent on the kH of the water. If your kH is higher than ~12 degrees (~200ppm) all of the copper will precipitate as CuCo3.