New invertabrates dead within hours, fish fine... - Reef-Fanatics.com - The Authority In Coral Reef Keeping And Saltwater Aquariums

DrDon · 10-05-2007, 12:35 PM

I have had my marine tank set up since June. All levels fine, no phospates, no copper. Have 2 fish and 4 live rocks. Grow green algae well. Lighting is both white and blue (T1). Regardless of how I introduce the snails, anemones, starfish, etc.. (drip or float) they usually die within hours. What is the problem??? Help.

Aqua-holic · 10-05-2007, 04:13 PM

That is a sure sign of copper when you test the water is it testing 0 even a trace of copper will kill inverts. sometimes if copper has been used in a tank previously the residue will remain in the sand, silicone, even glass or acrylic, so it may be residual copper that is the culprit with the drip method how long do you take to acclimate? when you put the snails in are they turned face down? snails that are face up sometimes can't get turned over and drown. Do you have any metal fittings on your tank or on your Ro unit? metal fittings are usually copper or brass and both will cause problems if you don't have an ro unit double check with the place you buy your water from if you use city water it is most likely in that all of our local water has copper in it and some areas have quite a high level

DrDon · 10-05-2007, 04:28 PM

My testing for copper is completely negative and I did put the snails in face down. The water I used was reverse osmosis, does that not remove the copper? If there is copper in the water is there anything that can remove it?

Aqua-holic · 10-06-2007, 11:47 AM

yes ro does remove copper but if the fittings are copper in the unit it can put it back in. or if you have and plumbing fittings on you system that are copper it will put the copper in the water I have seen thi happen in the past with customers.

Aqua-holic · 10-06-2007, 01:28 PM

one other thing you might check is how high is you alkalinity very high alk. will effect inverts

greg78 · 03-16-2008, 03:19 PM

i have 1 way 4 u 2 find out if u do have copper in your system try using a poly filter in your sump or mecanical filteror just float a peice on the surface of ur tank the polyfilter changes colour when in contact with different metals and chemicals hope this solves your problem + u should float bags bags in tank 2 match temp then set up a drip 2 climatize the invert and lights off 4 a few hours

DJChesnutRabbit · 03-16-2008, 08:47 PM

Poly filter will remove copper, but will not tell you if you have copper. Unfortunately, like Lynda said, you may have trace amounts that do not show up on common aquarium tests. call around to the LFS's in your area and see if any of them have a Hanna coper tester.

Another tell-tale sign is you say your growing algae well. Algae will flourish with copper. It's common in fertilizers.