Leeching Copper

[JPDVM2014]

Well, I'm looking into getting some shrimp, but i'm almost positive there is copper in my tank. I've had a couple snails die on me for no obvious reason. I use my tap water for water changes and it has copper in it. I wish i would have known to check for that before now. :headshake2: Anyway, I bought a test kit and it doesn't show any copper in the water. So, i'm guessing that there must be some leeching from the substrate. I've got some cuprisorb in the filter, but idk how to tell if it is safe to add any inverts. Or if it will ever be safe to add any. I really want some MTS for my sand substarte. So, any ideas? Thanks.

[Flaringshutter]

Hey JP, the copper test kits are usually spot on. I'd look for other reasons - what are you feeding the snails? Where did you buy them? What are the tankmates?

[JPDVM2014]

Well, I was feeding them the same algae wafers i feed my corys. And i also put some blanched vegetables in. One i bought at petsmart. (i know i know, but it is the only pet store within a half hour drive from me). I bought another one from a lfs. And I had one MTS that i got from a friend. All of them seemed to be doing fine for a few days, then they would just sit there half in half out of their shells, then a few days later they would be dead. And the tankmates are in my signature. I never saw any of those fish even give the snails a second look. Let alone bother them. Idk what it could be. Oh, and my water params are Ammonia=0 Nitrites=0 and Nitrates=20.

[Fishy_Fun]

the only thing i can see is maybe the nitrates are a little high for snails

[Flaringshutter]

Yeah, this is a real mystery. Petsmart can be iffy, but if it's not the only snail that died, then that's probably not the issue. Tankmates look fine, blanched veggies are good... nitrates are a touch over ideal, but nothing that would kill snails before it killed fish.

Have you treated with any meds recently - oh, or have you ever used malachite green or any other common ich med in the history of this tank?

[JPDVM2014]

Yea, I have used the Ick Clear fizzing tablets by Jungle. I wish i did a little research before using those though. All it did was stain my air hose. This was several months ago. The active ingredients are victoria green and acriflavine.

[Flaringshutter]

that might be the problem. ich medications that stain anything are highly toxic to snails and can leach back into the tank water. try replacing that air hose... is your silicone stained too? if it is then you may keep killing snails until that tank gets replaced. it can leach out into the tank for years.

[msjinkzd]

Unfortunately, I agree. Best of luckk and I hope its just your airlines.

[JPDVM2014]

Well, i can't really tell if the silicone is stained because it is either covered by a black plastic or the silicone itself is black. I'll try replacing the air hose and letting it run for a while then get another snail. Hopefully everything is fine.

[JPDVM2014]

I guess if worse comes to worse, maybe i can use this as an excuse to get another tank to use as a shrimp only tank. :-)

[Flaringshutter]

I guess if worse comes to worse, maybe i can use this as an excuse to get another tank to use as a shrimp only tank. :-)

Precisely! :D

[thebullit]

any old escuse for another tank lol.

[JPDVM2014]

Well, I'll keep this updated, but if for any reason i can't have some MTS or shrimp. Is there a really small pleco or something else i could get to help with algae on the glass?

[Lupin]

Bristlenose or clown pleco will do the job.

[thebullit]

i have B/N's and they do a grand job, and dont grow much more than 5"

[JPDVM2014]

Ok, thanks. I'll look into them.