Copper Question!

[Darren_co]

Hi All,

I was talking with a friend of mine who only keeps guppy's, Molly's and Platy's. He told me that he puts a few copper coins into the bottom of his filters. I asked him why and he told me copper is good for these fish and he hasn't had any problems. He told me he puts about 10p in 1 and 2p coins in each filter!

Is this doing his fish and filters any good or not, is he just being silly or is he putting his tank as a whole at risk?

I don't know what to think, hence the question!

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

Kind regards

Darren

 

[Matty P]

Copper is a very strong medication and can prove fatal if overdosed.

 

[Pablo76]

1p and 2p are not made from copper and never have been

 

[rabbut]

1p and 2p are not made from copper and never have been

Pablo is right, 1 and 2p pices are made of alloys. However, even in they were pure copper, the outer surfaces should oxidise within a few hours of being cast, effectively locking in the pure copper. I belive this make the coins harmless. Copper is used in medications for fish and as Matty pointed out, is poisonous in large amounts. If for some reason, these coins did leach copper into the tank and the tank was of small volume, the coins could caures serious problems for all occupants. The risks are minimal in a large body of water though and the coins he has should be harmless. Don't see any benifits for having them in there either.
HTH
rabbut

 

[Matty P]

Yeh I wasn't sure what the coins consisted of, so I didn't want to say if they would be a problem or not.

 

[backtotropical]

I'd say it does no good, not sure if it does any harm.

In a marine tank, it would be a big no no.

 

[Matty P]

1p and 2p are not made from copper and never have been

Pablo is right, 1 and 2p pices are made of alloys. However, even in they were pure copper, the outer surfaces should oxidise within a few hours of being cast, effectively locking in the pure copper. I belive this make the coins harmless. Copper is used in medications for fish and as Matty pointed out, is poisonous in large amounts. If for some reason, these coins did leach copper into the tank and the tank was of small volume, the coins could caures serious problems for all occupants. The risks are minimal in a large body of water though and the coins he has should be harmless. Don't see any benifits for having them in there either.
HTH
rabbut

If they are not made of copper then they are not going to have any affect, but they may be full of other nasties so it is definatley NOT recommended.

 

[Leitch]

Think how many dirty hands the money has been in..

 

[Darren_co]

Thanks for all the replies!!

I have spoken with my friend (who will remain nameless ) and he has taken out the coins.

I had a good idea of what some of the replies would be, but I was asked to check, which is what I did!

Thanks again.

 

[Matty P]

Good on ya!