Shrimp+Copper

[spectrum]

I have a small cube tank with very little in it at the moment, it was set up about 2 and a half years ago, I was wondering about taking all the fish out of it and replacing them with cherry and amano shrimp, the only issue is that when I first had the tank I used Protozin, which I know contains copper (I think the active ingredient is Copper Sulphate) I was wondering if the traces left by that from at least a year ago could be harmful to shrimp, I wouldn't want to get any if there is even a small risk. Thoughts would be appreciated

 

[SchottayB]

I have many shrimp in my tank and dose fertz with copper in, never had any deaths. I think the trace is so small it doesn't harm them.

Someone else might be able to word it better though

 

[hanny93]

I recently had a major disaster feeding daphnia which i think must have come soemwhere that used copper.

It killed a large percentage of my shrimp! So id say give the tank a good rinse out fill up with water again and maybe take a sample to your lfs to have it tested for copper? I shouldnt imagine there being much problem now but better safe than sorry!

 

[StandbySetting]

Copper Sulphate in a medication will kill shrimp, the concentration of Copper in medication is a lot higher than that in plant fertilisers, run carbon for a week or so replacing it daily and it'll be fine.

 

[micko]

Give it a good scrub and it should be fine.

 

[Caprichoso]

I'm curious about this because I heard that the silicone in the tank if exposed to copper meds will retain it and leach trace amounts of it back into the tank even after cleaning the tank. Which could be very harmful to shrimpies! Does anyone know for sure one way or the other? I re-siliconed a tank that I bought from someone for this very reason, although it was looking old and a bit dodgy too. Has anyone tested the theory of silicone leaching meds back into the water?

 

[BigTom]

Had a major shrimp poisoning incident after adding plants from the far east to my tank earlier this year. With multiple 95% water changes it took about 2 months for the tank to be shrimp-safe again. I was also running multiple copper removal remedies and I expect the plants sucked up some as well, so not sure what the defining factor was.

 

[raptorrex]

I have a small cube tank with very little in it at the moment, it was set up about 2 and a half years ago, I was wondering about taking all the fish out of it and replacing them with cherry and amano shrimp, the only issue is that when I first had the tank I used Protozin, which I know contains copper (I think the active ingredient is Copper Sulphate) I was wondering if the traces left by that from at least a year ago could be harmful to shrimp, I wouldn't want to get any if there is even a small risk. Thoughts would be appreciated

I shouldn't worry about any remaining copper residue. if its a fair time since treatment, and the copper was going to leach, it would have done it by now anyway.
remembering also, the first time you use a Water conditioner/de-chlorinator,(after treatment) chances are, if you use a known quality brand, it will have "Heavy Metal" binding. making your copper safe. so its largely irrelevant other than as an intellectual exercise.

but it is, vital, you avoid adding any ( ionic copper) when you have inverts in the tank. this will mean ignoring, heart felt and genuine comments, from others, to the contrary. the reason i say this is we are talking in FACTS here. there is no argument that copper is poisonous (in ionic form. but vital in the diet, in a none ionic form) to inverts. there is simply no point taking the risk.

 

[twodoctors]

When people talk about copper being toxic to shrimp, they are referring to copper sulphate, not copper. If you look carefully at the ingredients of some fish food, quite a few will have copper. If I remember correctly Hikari shrimp food also contains copper!

I think you it is highly unlikely that there's much copper sulphate left in the tank that's been added at least a year ago assuming you have done weekly water change. If you are worried then you can do a few large water change which should further dilute what is left behind, and also use charcoal/carbon filter media to remove what remains. I really don't think you can blame it on the copper sulphate if your shrimps does die.

My 2p worth.

Adrian

 

[raptorrex]

When people talk about copper being toxic to shrimp, they are referring to copper sulphate, not copper. If you look carefully at the ingredients of some fish food, quite a few will have copper. If I remember correctly Hikari shrimp food also contains copper!

I think you it is highly unlikely that there's much copper sulphate left in the tank that's been added at least a year ago assuming you have done weekly water change. If you are worried then you can do a few large water change which should further dilute what is left behind, and also use charcoal/carbon filter media to remove what remains. I really don't think you can blame it on the copper sulphate if your shrimps does die.

My 2p worth.

Adrian

its not "just" copper sulphate, (though that is what's in meds.) its copper held in suspension(and this can come from any source) in its ionic form that's dangerous. this can come, over time, from a simple copper strip (through erosion/oxidation.) water contamination. even from the air.

 

[StandbySetting]

By Ionic Copper we mean those that are in ionic salts, such as Copper Sulphate as mentioned or Copper Nitrate etc.

Also water that comes into a contact with copper piping or tanks etc is safe as copper isn't soluble