Macroalgae & copper

[scout]

I finally broke down and ordered some tang heaven and caulerpa from the net. I would like to keep the stuff in my FO and transfer to my reef a little at a time, but I have used Coppersafe in the FO tank maybe 5-6 months ago. Will the copper leach into the caulerpa and tang heaven while it's in the FO? If so, would it harm my reef?

Thanks!
Mike

[scout]

Any ideas, I kinda need an answer by Weds because that's when the shipment arrives?

Mike

[icemark]

What sort of substrate and deco do you have in the tank treated w/ copper that you are trying to keep?

[scout]

My 72 gal FO has about 1/2" of cc and just some decorative rocks and bleached corals. I really am hoping I can keep the macros in the FO and dole out to the reef as needed. I have a purple tang in the reef and I'm guessing if I place the macros in the reef they will not last long.
I do have a empty 10 gal that I use for hospital tank. I guess I could but the macros there if I need to, but what nutriants will be needed for the macros to survive?

Mike

[scout]

btw - just tested water for copper using American Pharm Dry Tabs and got 0 ppm, no color at all.

Mike

[icemark]

The crushed and dead decorative coral will retain some of the copper, and that will leach out over time. I havn't used the copper test you mention so I can't say how accurate it is, but if you are getting no reading the copper may have leached out on the surface of the CC. If you have used carbon in the past that will also help remove some of the copper.

There still maybe some of the substrate down a couple of inches; that contains copper though.

From what you tell me I think you would be okay using the FO with the CC for the storage of the caulerpa, but to be on the safe side you want to make sure you do not use/mix that CC into the reef tank in anyway.

[scout]

I'll make sure the macroalgae is washed off before adding to the reef.

I do throughly vacum the cc every 2 weeks when changing water and run carbon 24/7.

Thanks Mark,

Mike

[cwa46]

Scout,

Macroalgae is used to export nutrients and trace elements. It absorbs them in the tissue. I don't think you will have any problems with the copper, but if it is in the tank, the macroalgae will incorporate it into itself and you will move it into the other tank.