View Full Version : Copper leaches into silicone?
Hi. I'm a visitor from the freshwater forums! I have a question that I think reef-keepers might be able to answer. I have a 20 gallon tank that I plan to sell on craigslist. I formerly used it to QT some new fish, who I treated with Coppersafe for 10 days. My question: Is it true that the copper leaches into the silicone and makes this tank permanently unsuitable for reef systems and/or invertebrates? If this is the case, then I'll make it clear in my craigslist ad that the tank should not be used for reefs or inverts. Thanks!
kimmisc
03-28-2008, 8:28 PM
Yes the copper will leach back out of the silicone into the water for a long time to come.
That is really nice that you'd check into that so you could add the warning.
I question what is considered a "long time" for it to leach back into the tank. General rule though is to not use the tank for sw/reef if it was treated with copper. I used my tank that was FW and treated with copper and had no problems, but I also did not know about how bad copper was for SW at the time, if I did, I would not have used the tank. It was 6 years as just a porupine puffer tank after my FW days before I turned it into a reef tank. I would definately state that is was treated with copper in the ad though.
Thanks for the help! I'm about to post my craigslist ad, and now I have a follow-up question. Based on what Ace25 says, my tank is bad for all SW systems? Or would it be ok for a fish-only one? (Sorry--I've never kept a SW tank so I don't know what goes on in them at all.)
I'd use it for a FO personally, I'd just consider what I stocked it with.
schigara
03-28-2008, 11:55 PM
I would never consider any tank treated with copper taboo for use as a SW/Reef tank. Copper seeps into the silicone and leeches back out over X number of time, yadayadyada.
Re-sealing a tank is just so easy that it's a non issue. I might use it as a negotiating strategy but would not deter the use of the tank. Most any tank can be stripped and re-sealed in less than an hour.