Filtering out Coppersafe?

[pristinephoenix]

Six weeks ago, my new 40 gal saltwater reef aquarium sustained a huge blow and obtained marine velvet from clowns from a "reputable" reef store. Needless to say I lost 2 orange and 2 black osc clowns and a beautiful pseudochromis. I (as a new hobbyist) was not informed of the importance of a quarantine tank. I now have a 10 gal quarantine tank that I was able to save a pajama cardinal in. (What a horrible, awful disease). I have been treating Mr. freaky (pajama) with Coppersafe for six weeks now, with weekly water changes and my 40 gal reef tank has cycled with inverts and corals for six weeks with bi weekly water changes. NOW I want to know what's the best way to clean the Coppersafe out of my 10 gal saltwater quarantine tank without draining my already awesome cycled water? I'm wanting to buy a couple new family members for the quarantine tank but don't necessarily want them in copper.
Thank you!!

 

[geridoc]

You probably cannot remove all of the copper from your qt. Copper forms complexes with a variety of substances that are found in tanks - rocks, sand, etc. Then, over time the copper is gradually released back into the water. For fish this does not pose a problem since the copper levels will be too low to cause sickness (after the levels have been initially lowered with water changes). However, it is likely that any inverts you put into the tank will be exposed to potentially toxic copper levels since they are much more susceptible to copper poisoning. In other words, for fish, you don't have to worry, just don't put inverts into the qt.

 

[pristinephoenix]

Yes I've decided to keep it a copper-treated quarantine tank as long as I am introducing new fish. I will probably eventually try to filter out most the copper (coral guy in tulsa introduced me to a filter media that's great) and continual water changes and scrubbing surfaces and siphoning substrate. I love my inverts, so I'll have to buy a couple test ones once I get to the point I'm ready. Trying to be very careful about everything I do. Allowing lots of time.

 

[smallreef]

If you've used copper in it, it will never really be reef safe again...unless you feel like replacing the silicone that holds the glass together...filter media will get 99.9%of the copper out but there are some very sensitive shrimps and such that even with those measures will never be kept alive very long Ina tank that has run copper...best advice...keep it as a fish qt and if you want another 10g just buy one during a dollar a gallon sale at the big box store....

 

[pristinephoenix]

Oh yeah I never planned on using it for a reef tank! I was going to stick a couple crabs in there and a snail to keep the ecosystem going, but as long as I have fish in there I'll be ok. I'll probably just let it filter out with water changes.

 

[smallreef]

Fish will be okay, crabs and snails will most likely keep dying....truly a fish only tank....