Copper ????

[sparky0028]

In the begging I took the advise of my lfs to treat ick in my tank that was about 2 months old. I had no live rock or live sand (had some base rock and still do) and used Seacure Copper treatment for approx. two weeks. The ick eventully went away. Two months later I started adding lr and topped off my base with some live sand. I have been using carbon in the filter to ride the tank of left over copper. Will the early cooper treatments have a BAD effect on the live rock that I placed in the tank two months later. Also will the sand eventually restore itself?:help

 

[elfdoctors]

Most of that copper is still in your tank, probably bound up to your old sand.
Carbon has little effect in removing copper, it primarily removes organic wastes. Water changes will have a slight effect to lower the total amount of copper in your system but it can only affect the soluble (not bound) copper.
You probably should have thrown out that sand after you finished with treatment (most people don't have sand in their tanks if they are dosing copper). It is unclear how much copper is still in your system. You may be okay by diluting the copper with more sand. I would watch invertebrates closely. If snails start dying, particularly your sand sifters, you will need to replace the sand. I am also somewhat concerned that some of the copper will move and kill off some of the beneficial life in your live rock. IMO, I would probably just watch it, if inverts die off you would need to change your sand.
Also, be very careful that you are not introducing more copper into your system (e.g. from tap water).

 

[sparky0028]

It has about 5 months since I used copper, around august/september I started to put in hermits and snails. As of toady most of the hermits and all the snails are fine along with a green brittle star. I am using ro/di for water changes (15 gals weekly).Can I add new ls and lr and be ok and will the old base rock start to grow benifical bacteria or has the copper made the base rock useless?:notsure:

 

[elfdoctors]

IMO, you are probably fine. The RO water, combined with regular changes should help gradually lower the total copper load in your tank. The beneficial bacteria on your base rock involved with ammonia and nitrite removal should do fine.
I'd probably just chalk this up to a newby mistake which you got away with. Just don't do it again as you probably lost any wiggle room for the future.
You were also lucky that the ich went away. The sand sometimes inhibits proper treatment with copper. Hope you can maintain your luck!

 

[bang guy]

Your snails are probably the most sensitive to copper because they eat algae off the rocks.
If your snails are fine then you're probably OK.

 

[sparky0028]

Thanks BangGuy and Elfdoctors. You can rest assure that copper will never be used again.

 

[clarkiiboi]

IMO, I would of removed the base rock that was in there when you used the copper, just to be safe, cause it can still leak back in from what I understand. You didnt have the sand in there when you did it right? That should be ok, if none is leaking in from somewhere (base rock or even your corner seals). I have just always heard/read here that once copper is in the tank its always present to some degree. Glad that all is working out though, its not often we get away with a mistake. Have you check your readings for copper, is any detectable?