Copper filter pipes

Is there any risk in replacing the plastic pipes between the filter and the tank with copper pipes?

Would copper have a negative influence on the fish?

This is in my fresh water tropical tank.

 

Copper that gets into the water can have negative effects primarily on inverts, plants and the biological bacteria in your filter, and at a high enough concentration can be acutely toxic to fish too. IMO not worth the risk, but if you want to be technical I'm not sure what the rate of copper leaching would be into the water (given the copper tends to leach mostly from pipes at high temperatures). However, given time I have no doubt that the concentration would rise over time, leading to toxicity issues down the line.

 

Best to avoid copper in your aquarium.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...ipe-have-in-a-freshwater-aquarium-132203.html

 

Thanks, I will be replacing my cartridge filter tomorrow, I cleaned it today and saw one side of the pump chamber is leaking on the seam. While replacing the unit I will remove the copper and fit plastic.

Thanks for the responses and links.