Removing copper for new shrimp

[smallfry]

Hi all,

I think I want to buy some red cherry shrimp as an algae squad for my white cloud mountain minnow nano set-up. They seem to be ideal for diatoms and other algae. And from what I've read, they won't try to crawl out of the tank and run across the floor at the speed of light like an amano. (I read they eat more types of algae than amano's too). One canadian breeder web site indicates they will accept a low temp down to 59F / 15 C without dying. This is ideal, because I keep the White Clouds very cool - and during the dead of January - they might get to 64 degrees.

So anyway - I have a problem. I read that copper is deadly to all shrimp (and snail, lobsters, crabs etc). I have just finished using Aquarisol (copper) in my White Cloud's tank. I have read that copper can be absorbed by some items - but what?

My tank is acrylic (I think - it is not glass anyway). The gravel is tiny round river rock. The plants are java fern (soon to add java moss). When I am done doing water changes - do I have to worry about residual copper for the shrimp's sake?

Help with this copper issue please?

Also - will Cherry shrimp eat the eggs of my White clouds? (If they do I'll survive, but I hope they don't - their parents already eat enough!)

Thank you!

 

[Mgamer20o0]

it gets into the silicon and then leaches back out.

the shrimp holds the eggs. they might eat the baby ones.

 

[smallfry]

Thank you for answering.

How do I know if silicon is in my river rock, or my tank material? (The tank is one continuous piece - it has no "glue" holding seams together - there are no seams)

PS: I just googled silicon and silicone and discovered they are two different things. Which one did you mean?

silicon: [SIZE=-1]A trace element in the marine system. It is an element which is a building block for many organisms with silica shells

silicone: [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]A synthetic gel[/SIZE]

 

[pixl8r]

I'd recommend doing frequent water changes for a while and check the copper levels in your tank.

When they get down to zero get some ghost shrimp and see how they do. If they don't panic (swim around constantly, searching for a way out of the tank) then you should be able to add RCS.

FYI, at those lower temps, RCS will survive, but they may not breed, or reproduce very slowly. So once your ready for them, purchase a larger number, if you want 'see' them often.

 

[jm1212]

it will take a long time to get the copper out of the tank. frequent water changes are essential, but even then it is still going to leech into the tank water

 

[smallfry]

Thank you both for replying.

A copper test? Who makes it and where do I get it?

That's okay if they don't reproduce - I don't want to be overrun. And it will only be cold 2 months of the year, luckily.

jm1212 - what is the copper absorbed by though? Is it absorbed by the plastic/acrylic tank walls? There is no glue/gel used in my tank - it is a one piece injection molded tank.

Thanks for any further thoughts. I want to avoid putting them in danger, but I hate to get a new tank because I finally got this one (gloriously) full of diatoms for the shrimp to eat.

 

[Lupin]

A copper test? Who makes it and where do I get it?

Sera company has one.

 

[smallfry]

Does anyone know for sure, what is the copper absorbed by?

Is it absorbed by the plastic/acrylic tank walls? There is no glue/gel/sealant used in my tank - it is a one piece injection molded tank.

Is it absorbed by smooth river rocks?

Does anyone know for sure? Or, where could I seek an answer that's accurate?

 

[cichlidcichlid]

I have done this already!

How long ago did you use tyhe treatment?


I did it with an injection molded 1 gal and after 2-3months i pyut some snails in and it was perfectly fine.

Just to make sure get one ghost shrimp and test it out if theres a prob then wait a few months more then you should be good to go.

Make sure you change out weekly 50% to get it all out of the water column.

 

[smallfry]

Phew! I feel better hearing someone has actually done this. I hate to hurt anything.

I just finished the aquarisol last week. I left it in extra long to make sure everyone was healthy.

My white clouds seem to be very hardy so they'll be fine with the big water changes. Maybe I'll do more than 1 per week.

Thank you all for your help!

PS: Is the ghost shrimp recommended as the "canary in the coal mine" for any reason vs the other shrimp?