Copper has been used effectively for many years to control algae and fish parasites in freshwater and marine systems. Because copper does not discolor the water, it is a preferred treatment for use in display aquaria.
Yes, copper ions in the water will kill algae but these come from things like algacide and ionizers. What comes off of a chunk of pipe is so minimal as to be useless. You would need several pounds of pipe to be effective and then you have to worry about metal stains.
Typically, you will notice a change in the color of the algae within about 24 hours, which indicates that the algae have died off. Still, you do need to wait 7 days before treating other areas of the pond as too much copper algaecide will cause oxygen depletion in your pond water.
Using too much copper-based algaecides can spike up the copper levels in your pool and turn your pool water green.
Copper is an essential mineral element for chickens. In broilers, copper promotes growth performance. Recently, based on meta-analysis, it was concluded that higher copper content is beneficial for the production performance of broilers (Feng et al., 2020).
You can't swim in it. Those are two big ringing bells. with its use. While it can control algae and other unwanted plant growth, it can also negatively impact the health of fish and different aquatic life and the environment.
One source for the fear that copper might contaminate drinking water for birds comes from reports of heavy metal toxicosis resulting from putting USA copper pennies into pet birds' drinking water. This is usually done to reduce algae growth in the water.
Adding copper fittings, pipe, or pennies to your pool can have some effect on algae growth. The copper from the metal objects slowly dissolves and reacts with the water to create copper ions that are toxic to algae. But this probably isn't the best way to control algae in your pool.
So, because it looks like algae, some people will shock-dose their pool with chlorine which leaves pool stains. When they do this, it oxidises the copper which turns the copper into a dark colour almost instantly. You do not have to drain your pool to remove metal stains.
Proper maintenance, regular water changes, appropriate lighting and sensible stocking and feeding practices are far more effective at preventing and controlling algae growth. That said, sometimes outbreaks occur that do not respond to natural methods of preventing or eradicating them.
This is not a good idea! Copper can help slow down algae; most algaecides have copper in them. However, the rates are incredibly slow compared to just using chlorine. Maintaining free chlorine (FC) levels and properly balanced pool chemistry will do more than any copper pipe in the skimmer basket ever will.
The fact that copper can inactivate bacteria and viruses in your pet's water bowls makes copper bowls an obvious choice if you want your pet to drink the healthiest and cleanest water.
Many people like the idea of using copper drinking cups for their morning brew. Drinking coffee in copper cups is perfectly acceptable, provided the cup in question is one with a food-grade lining over the copper itself.
It can lead to many health complications like liver and kidney diseases, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. In some people, drinking copper water can also cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, liver damage.
Liquids with a pH of 7, like water, are considered neutral. Liquids like wine, beer, fruit juice, soda, tea (and even water with a dash of lemon in it) all have pHs well below 6. In short, the only safe use of a pure copper mug is for drinking water, which has a neutral pH.
Fish kills have been reported after copper sulfate applications for algae control in ponds and lakes. Oxygen depletion and increased debris have been cited as the cause of most fish deaths. This is sometimes due to the sudden death and decay of algae and plants after an application.
Copper sulfate is a way to treat the water and kill the algae but can lead to high copper levels in the water, which can be harmful to cattle.
Apply 5-10 pounds Copper Sulfate Crystals per acre.
Copper sulfate is frequently used for algal control, and sometimes it is applied on a routine basis during summer months, whether or not it is actually needed.
Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) produce toxins which can be deadly to chickens if ingested in large amounts. It can grow in any stagnant water source, such as poultry waterers, water troughs, buckets, ponds, lakes, baby pools, etc.
Now, I'm getting tons of comments asking how to get rid of algae in water fountains. My secret hack for getting rid of algae in your outdoor garden fountains is copper pennies. It only takes a few and you will never have algae again;) . . .