Cuprisorb and loss of trace elements

[goblin072]

I plan on running cuprisorb and carbon in my sump for the next 6 months to keep any leaching Copper out of my system.

I know it removes copper, iron, maganese and probably other things.

Will a 20-30 gallon per week water change (330 gallon FO tank) be enough or should I add something like Seachems trace to the tank each week?

I do not want to starve my fish or inverts of needed minerals.

[Seahorsedreams]

Why is there copper in your tank? What inverts do you have in there?

[goblin072]

Long story on the CU. A local FS company did it (Knowing that I wanted inverts back in it) they said its the only way. At the time I did not know much, found out that putting CU in a show tank is a no no. Been trying to get it out for 6 months and pretty pissed about it.

[lReef lKeeper]

i think i would be doing something to get a NEW tank from that LFS !! copper leaches from the joints in the tank AND from the LR, so you MAY never get rid of it all the way.

[CarmieJo]

I run carbon all the time with no ill effects but I am not sure about the Cuprisorb. I use regular water changes to replace trace elements and everything seems happy.

[Seahorsedreams]

I personally would never but inverts in a tank that had LR treated with copper. LR is like a sponge for the stuff.

[goblin072]

They can't give me a new tank. Its a custom made Acrylic, it cost 20k. There is a photo in my gallery. Yea I am a bit pissed about it.

The inverts I had were doing great. I love the cleaner shrimp and starfish.

The cuprisorb is taking it out slowly.

I just checked my sump bag of cuprisorb. Arghh! Its all gone, the bag I purchased had holes that were too large. The pumps must have slowly sucked it all out of the bag over the past 2 weeks. Now it must be in my sand. I don't think it hurts anything as it ties up the copper and does not release it. I wanted to reuse it (Can be cleaned) I put another one in the sump this time I used my wifes nylons as the bag. I hope nylons are ok in the sump.

I personally would never but inverts in a tank that had LR treated with copper. LR is like a sponge for the stuff.

[CarmieJo]

I imagine nylon is inert. But, in your sump do you actively have water flowing through the Cuprisorb? This is far more effective than passive use.

[Seahorsedreams]

I wouldn't ditch the tank... I would remove the LR. Just my .02

[CarmieJo]

Aren't acrylic and Weld-on inert?

[tim]

I would remove the rock and sand and scub everything and reset back up I know its a pita, but thats what I would do IMO. ask them to replace the rock and sand then.

[goblin072]

I just fired them and called it a lesson learned.

Yes the cuprisorb is in the sump just before the water gets sucked back into the system. I have another drain that goes to a pool type filter I have carbon in that one.

I think I have two 3 inch drains, one goes to the 60gallon sump full of bio balls (It has a split for putting carbon thermometers etc. From there it goes to skimmer then back up to sprayers at the top of the tank
The other drain goes to a 12 inch diameter by 10 inch tall round filter with pressure meter. I can put carbon or other things in the center of it. From there it goes to UV then chiller then back into the tank.

[CarmieJo]

Can the water, following the path of least resistance, go around the Cuprisorb or must it go through it?

[lReef lKeeper]

I would remove the rock and sand and scub everything and reset back up I know its a pita, but thats what I would do IMO. ask them to replace the rock and sand then.

i agree, that is the least they could do for you. i would not care if the tank costed 20k or $20, they would be doing something to repair their irresponsible screw up. even if it meant suing them for negligence. this is just my opinion, but i get pretty angry when "experts" mess up because they dont know how to do the job that they were hired for.

[tim]

so sad at folks screw up like that. it may be hard to break down but trust me its worth it

[goblin072]

They scratched it all up too. They just said "Its plastic so its going to scratch". I'm just scratching my head in disbelief. I wanted to key their car and say the same thing to them Not talking about tiny ones either 5 foot ones you can feel with your finger.

I decided I would rather screw up my own tank than pay someone to do it for me.

It would be near impossible to break down. Its a giant cube seal on all sides, even the top. There are two smaller covers at the top. The insert can't come out. Sort of like a ship in a bottle. They built the tank around it then seal it all up.

It can be drained then hand washed from above, and your correct it would be a pain in the butt. I'm going to give the cuprasorb another week then put a few snails and cleaner shrimp in and cross my fingers that they all live. If not its FO or I break it down.

[goblin072]

Can the water, following the path of least resistance, go around the Cuprisorb or must it go through it?

The bag sit in the bottom of the sump and water goes through and around it. I don't think I can force all the water to go through it. If I put it in the center of the other filter more water might go through it.

[tim]

I would be so pissed. did make a complaint at your local BBB

[lReef lKeeper]

and they scratched it !! i would have a new tank from them ... their insurance would HAVE to pay for it. i am sure you have to be insured when in a business like that.

[CarmieJo]

When I want to run media actively in my sump I put in on the top plate, right where the drain line comes into the sump. I use an old wet/dry so your setup may not be able to work this way but maybe it is a possibility.

[goblin072]

If I could get the top off the sump I could put the bag on top of the drip plate. (piece of plastic with many holes) Would that be the best location? Its all plumbed with huge PCV pipes, I will have to see if I can dismantle the PCV going into the top of the sump. If its glued then I don't think I want to cut it. I think there is a giant plastic bulkhead at the top but the pipe coming off it might be glued.

The way they put the scratches in was gravel in between the magnet on the outside of the tank. Looks like 5 perfectly straight lines exactly the width of their magnet. I have a better magnet but the person still used their own. I looked at it and the felt was gone on it. It was for glass and no acrylic. I think they only work on glass tanks and maybe never worked on a large acrylic before.

You can't believe how nonchalant they were about the scratches. It was like come on everyone in the fish business knows Acrylic tanks scratch so its no biggie.

Paint on a nice car scratches too so I guess using that logic I can wash the car with a rock

Instead of addressing the scratches they wanted to sell me a 2000 skimmer. My skimmer is brand new and works fine. They messed with it and hooked up a drain tube and set the flow too high. It drained the tank over the weekend. When I saw the tank it was white with a million bubbles top to bottom. The sump was dry and the pumps were sucking air and blow it into the tank. I know it not good to run the pumps dry but they still seem to be working ok.

Its a 400.00 and maybe not the best but I certainly did not want to buy a new one. I think they just figured we were morns and had money to burn. Why would I buy a skimmer from people that mess up my tank?

[CarmieJo]

That is so irritating. IMO, you pay the maintenance company and they have an obligation to do things right. I would see if you can file an insurance claim against their insurance. I have never had an acrylic tank but I think that there is a way to repair scratches on them. Send Amphibious a PM, I know that he uses acrylic tanks.

[goblin072]

Yes they can be fixed but its a pain in the rear. Basically drain the tank and the sand. And use various grits of wet sand paper.

The people that made the tank can make it like new for about 1200. I probably could get it done for less locally but I don't want to open a new can off worms just yet. Need to get that copper out.

When I cleaned it I put ZERO scratches in it. Just do not clean it DRY and when you are near the bottom do not agitate the sand. They used super fast strokes which stirred up all the sand, then it dropped in between the tool and the tank. Basically sanding with gravel. When algae grows in grows in those scratches first which makes them stick out.

Anyone with a plastic tank a car or even eye glasses. The key is not to clean it dry and no grit on the tool. Its not that hard to prevent. The people that make scratches are in a huge hurry to be someplace else. It takes maybe 5 more minutes to clean it a little less vigorous.

I have a acrylic at home with ZERO scratches and its not new. Just have to be a little more careful. Little light scratches do not really show up, its those nasty deep ones created by gravel stuck in the tool that are noticeable.

My old cichild (Glass) tank is the most scratched one I have. Damn rock slide made some nice ones. Scratches on glass can't be fixed.

[Seahorsedreams]

Yes they can be fixed but its a pain in the rear. Basically drain the tank and the sand. And use various grits of wet sand paper.

There are kits that can be used underwater without you ever draining the tank.

Scratch Removal Kit

[goblin072]

Thanks for the link. Its going to take some time and probably more than one kit to do it. Have 16 feet x 5 lines of scratches. I might get tank elbow from all the sanding The ones at the gravel line might be tough.

There are kits that can be used underwater without you ever draining the tank.

Scratch Removal Kit