copper

[elmo]

I have just upgraded my tank to a 60uk gallon all was going well untill staturday when our male fighter died, we took him back to the LFD as we had only just got him and a water sample it was tested but the pH, amonina, nitrates and nitrites were fine - they gave us our money back, on Sunday two of our female fighters had died so we thought that the male may have introduced something. On monday our last female was looking very unhappy and i phoned the LFD for advise, they said to bring her down with a water sample. The water was tested and it had a high content of phosphates, 3.0! we had done water changes and put in a phosphate reducer bag into our filter and another filter justy incase it detected any metals, it did and it was copper. We are now doing water changes every day with mineral water and our phosphate level has come down to 0.5. however he fish are still dying a drawf gouriami, neon tetra and a platy so far. i would be grateful for some advise, is there anything to take out copper, how long will it take to take out the copper/phosphate from the water, will the fish still show ths signs of posioning if the posien is out the water. hanks for any advise.

 

[afireinside]

there's copper in the water? ooh, that's bad, what i recromend, is buying a whole bunch of bottled water to fill up your tank. that's the best idea, or buy a water purifier thingy.

 

[Fiori]

Have you got copper water pipes into your house? Maybe if you run the taps for a while, any water which has been lying in the pipes will have been got rid of, as water lying in the pipes can be contaminated by them.

This is quite an interesting read, although not specific to just copper.

http/www.dwi.gov.uk/pubs/tap/index.htm

 

[afireinside]

Mercury could also be a possiblity. Mercury is worse though...