Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been reading for about 6-8 months now. It seems that everyone believes copper is bad for fish, both in food and copper piping. Anyone care to explain why / how?

Because the acidic water in aquaponics leaches nasty stuff out of the copper which will kill your fish

Copper itself is toxic, particularly to crustaceans !

O god, dont start this again lol

Do some research for yourself.

Aquatic life cant handle copper, end of story.

I'm already building my system with PVC. Maybe I should have been more specific.

I understand copper is bad and will hurt the fish, but what does it do to them? At what levels? In humans, copper helps digestion at low levels and is harmful at higher levels.

Will all compounds break down into copper such as copper sulfate or copper protienate found in some foods?

Will the plants pick some up and filter some out?

I meant to add this to my previous post about copper in humans:

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dw ... htm#health

Put 'Copper Toxicity in Fish' into google

Small amounts ar ok in us Warm blooded mammals, but not fish.

CopperCopper is a micronutrient and toxin. It strongly adsorbs to organic matter, carbonates and clay, which reduces its bioavailability. Copper is highly toxic in aquatic environments and has effects in fish, invertebrates, and amphibians, with all three groups equally sensitive to chronic toxicity (U.S. EPA 1993; Horne and Dunson 1995). Copper is highly toxic to amphibians (including mortality and sodium loss), with adverse effects in tadpoles and embryos (Horne and Dunson 1995; Owen 1981). Copper will bioconcentrate in many different organs in fish and mollusks (Owen 1981). There is low potential for bioconcentration in fish, but high potential in mollusks. Copper sulfate and other copper compounds are effective algaecides (free copper ions are the lethal agent). Single-cell and filamentous algae and cyanobacteria are particularly susceptible to the acute effects, which include reductions in photosynthesis and growth, loss of photosynthetic pigments, disruption of potassium regulation, and mortality. Sensitive algae may be affected by free copper at low (parts per billion) ppb concentrations in freshwater.

There is a moderate potential for bioaccumulation in plants and no biomagnification.Toxic effects in birds include reduced growth rates, lowered egg production, and developmental abnormalities. While mammals are not as sensitive to copper toxicity as aquatic organisms, toxicity in mammals includes a wide range of animals and effects such as liver cirrhosis, necrosis in kidneys and the brain, gastrointestinal distress, lesions, low blood pressure, and fetal mortality. (ATSDR 1990c; Kabata-Pendias and Pendias 1992; Ware 1983; Vymazal 1995).

That should clear it up

Yup. Clears things up quite a bit. Thanks.

Oh! I didn't konw that.
I put some copper sulfate in my system. The fish is still OK.

How much did you put in and how big is your fish tank?

My FT is about 200 liter.
I put a tea spoon of copper sulfate.

Why ?

Copper sulphate can be used to control algae and also control protozoans such as ich etc.