Keshia Govender Author

Special Issue Article Open Access

The efficacy of various filter media in removing copper from treated seawater

Author(s):

Keshia Govender

Antiparasitic copper treatment is an integral part of routine marine aquaria quarantine, and, at times is even used to treat fish on exhibits. Free copper will react with calcareous materials (e.g. coral, rock or limestone), to form insoluble copper carbonate. This will leach out into fresh, untreated saltwater once a bath treatment is completed. As copper is extremely toxic to invertebrates, any residual copper can cause unexpected mortality. This project investigated and compared the efficacy of various filter systems in removing residual copper in saltwater. The four filter media examined were activated carbon, zeolite, polyfilters and powdered banana peels. The experiment was undertaken using five glass tanks each having seawater, airlines, copper lines and canister filters. The fir... view more»

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