New Garage, New Fishroom, New copper pipes???

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David R

David R

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MFK Member
Apr 26, 2005
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I just realised that the pipes in the new garage where I will be (was planning to anyway) get water for water changes from are copper. Is this likely to cause problems for my fish? I know clown loaches are sensitive to copper, and I'd hate to lose my bog pack of them! The house is ~40 years old and AFAIK also has copper plumbing, but am I right in thinking the older stuff isn't really a problem?
 
just add sediment and a carbon block filter... problem solved
 
Will look at something like that long term as I'd like to set up a continuous drip system, although I'd also like to catch rainwater off the roof to reduce the water bill which would mean its not necessary, but for now new house = no money. And not enough time given that we're moving in 3 days!
 
Just be sure you have fresh carbon inserts in all your filters, and change them every 2 weeks, you'll be fine. Also remember, bring as much of your old water with you as you possibly can to properly acclimate your fish. HTH
 
Not a big deal bro. Just run your water for a minute or so to purge the water that has been sitting in the copper pipes if your worried. You should be so lucky to have copper plumbing lol. I prefer it over pex plumbing (Before you guys start a debate I trust copper as its had time to prove itself pex has not) and put all copper in my house.
 
I don't think you have to do anything. the concentration of copper you are going to get from your pipes is likely nowhere near the level that would cause any harm to your loaches or anything else.

aren't most standard water lines in houses copper? if so, people everywhere are keeping loaches with no ill effects. I know the water lines in my laundry room appear to be copper, and my loaches are doing great.

now, if you are specifically dosing with a copper based medication, that is a different story. but I doubt you are going to see any effect just from using water from your taps.
 
i believe my house is around 80 years old, give or take a few years. i know theres all old copper pluming in my house, and my fish have never seen ill effects.

i usually let the water run for 2-3 minutes before ill start filling a tank with it, in hopes of flushing any water that has been sitting in the pipes out already. this way, im thinking the water has no time to absorb any copper from any pipes in my house. with flushing and using PRIME, im hoping my way of thinking is right that no copper cna be transferred

ive been keeping fish for the better part of 20 years here. while most of that time was admittedly community, goldfish and cichlids, the last few years have been a huge aray of fish, some of which are/were very sensitive, and *knock on wood* never had a problem i could trace back to anything but avoidable human error for the most part
 
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