Copper in Kent Tech M

[Leafer]

I have used Kent Tech M some to raise magnesium levels. I am preparing for a new and larger display where I had indented to use the existing rock and current display as a refugium. My copper test kit showed no detectable copper but recently I add a few small snails and each died within a few days. I know the issue could have been something else but does this exposure to copper mean I can use my current system to seed my new one?

[sporto0]

How do you know Copper is the culprit at all? That is kind of irresponsible of you to title your thread like that, I use Kent Tech-M & I can assure you there is no Copper in it. There are any number of reasons a few snails could die & because you read that Copper was poisonous to inverts, you just assume yours were subjected to it?

[jason2459]

Actually Tech-M does have copper in it. But so does your salt that you use for water changes and most likely the food you feed.

Though I doubt the trace amounts of copper in Tech-M is the issue. It could be a lot of things. What is the salinity of the water the snails are coming from and what is the salinity of your tank water? What are you using to check the salinity and how is it calibrated? Also, what is the magnesium levels of your water and how are you testing for it? Snails can go into shock at high levels and you may think they are dead or if the levels are really high they may just be dead.

[Leafer]

Hi guys,

I tried to phrase my post such that I didn’t think copper or Kent Tech M was necessarily the culprit. It just made me pause to consider possibly transferring something unwanted to my new and expensive setup.

Let me summarize the takeaway from the postings so far regarding the purpose of my post – Continue to use Tech M to the raise magnesium level as I am doing. The trace amounts of copper will not be detrimental to your current or future system. (and, which I was working on any way get your water chemistry in order and balanced properly before adding more livestock)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Are you using large amounts of it?

[sporto0]

Jason, I am not a chemist nor do I pretend to be, Could you explain the type of copper present? Is it chelated, copper sulfide? How can we have trace amounts not built up to harmful doses?

[jason2459]

Jason, I am not a chemist nor do I pretend to be, Could you explain the type of copper present? Is it chelated, copper sulfide? How can we have trace amounts not built up to harmful doses?

I'm not a chemist either and Randy is the most qualified that has responded in this thread. I do however know that copper is present in Tech-M, salt mixes, and most of the foods that we feed to our fish. Copper is present in many places including the ocean.

[Leafer]

Are you using large amounts of it?

No, I have used a capful twice a week for my 55g + sump. Probably less than recommended actually. I've only dosed a few times but have used this before more than a year ago. I just wanted to ask if there is any reason I should discontinue as I just learned that there is copper in the product.

[jason2459]

No, I have used a capful twice a week for my 55g + sump. Probably less than recommended actually. I've only dosed a few times but have used this before more than a year ago. I just wanted to ask if there is any reason I should discontinue as I just learned that there is copper in the product.


I would not be worried about the copper levels in it unless you already have an issue with copper in your tank. Many people have been using some mega doses of Tech-M to get rid of some algae and haven't had issues with copper killing anything. I use Tech-M myself and dose it once a week when I do a water change to bring the Mag up a bit.

Have you tested for copper or your magnesium levels? You really should at least be testing your Mg levels if you are dosing for it.

[gmate]

If the amount of copper in Kent Tech-M killed inverts, that product would not be on the market as nobody would purchase it.

If you do a copper test and come up with results, it's coming from something else in your system. If copper is even the culprit.

[jason2459]

This was perfect timing. I just ran accross this link in another thread talking about phosphate levels and posted by Randy.

In the article gives a break down of copper along with many other elements in food which seem to all be labeled as the "ash" content.
http://web.archive.org/web/20010720071031/http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish/data/foods.asp