Originally posted by landmeier:
<STRONG>Even if your tests are showing up 0 copper, there is still some copper left in the silicon(SP?) seals of the tank. That is if it is a glass tank. There will always be copper in your tank and the only way to get rid of it is to get a new tank. Washing, scrubing, carbon, and your magic cure that "gets rid of everything bad" isn't going to work. You should never add copper to a tank you want to put coral or inverts into. You should have a small quarintine tank for copper treatments. This tank is doomed. You will only be able to have fish in it.</STRONG>
There's always one to dispute
I have only had my saltwater tank for about 3 months, but as everyone knows, the learning curve is steep for a "newbietanker", especially one who likes to experiment and read. I originally had about 5 fish in a 30gal fishonly tank. They all got sick--classic toxic tank syndrome (I was also impatient at the time). I ended up treating the tank with copper among other things.
I don't have fish anymore, but I do have a scarlet reef hermit, emerald, snail, and cleaner shrimp. They are all doing fine--in the same tank. Of course, this is after 100% water changes and the addition of liverock. The only thing that was a carryover from the copper days was the tank and the gravel (both of which I rinsed thoroughly with hot water). My point is once you copperized your tank, it is not doomed (at least with respect to crabs, shrimp, and snails). Although Landmeier's statement sounds intuitive, from a practical point of view, I think it's an overstatement. But that's only my 2 cents.
sam
