Vitamins, Minerals & Copper in Aquariums
VITAMINS & MINERALS
Somewhat recently, Vitamin C has been the focus of a lot discussion and hobbyists now specifically look for it when choosing an aquarium diet. However, it’s important to remember the other essential elements in a well-balanced fish food, such as: Vitamins A, D2, D3, E, K, B6, B12, as well as Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pantothenic acid, Niacin, Biotin, Folate, Choline, andMyoinositol. Also minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Copper, Selenium, and Iodine.
Unfortunately, the vital role all these nutrients play is often overlooked.
Copper: This is a common mineral found in the bloodstream of crustaceans like Krill, (a main ingredient of a better quality food). Copper is an essential trace element for all living things, including fish. It’s a natural component of enzymes and vital for life processes. Natural seawater contains copper. Yet many hobbyists worry about the presence of any copper in fish food.
In water, at a rate of 0.8ppm (parts-per-million), copper sulfate is toxic to almost all fish. Copper sulfate within fish food can be up to 700-1,000 ppm, with the only symptom in some species being growth retardation. In commercial foods, only trace amounts of copper — far below even a tiny fraction of this concentration — are present. Biologically appropriate trace amounts of copper are beneficial, and are present in copper-rich crustaceans that are frequently used in higher-quality fish foods.
How about reef systems and invertebrates, including crustaceans? The hemoglobin (aka blood) of invertebrates like shrimp and crabs is copper-based in the same way our blood is iron-based. Iron isn’t toxic to humans at normal levels (humans often even take iron supplements). Copper in normal, trace amounts is likewise necessary for crustaceans. In excess amounts, copper can be toxic to invertebrates, similar to the way iron toxicity can occur in humans.
In fact, the effects of copper deficiency are noted even in papers like “Copper Hazards to Fish, Wildlife and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review” by Ronald Eisler on behalf of the U.S. Geological Survey. The paper notes that copper and its compounds are not harmful at “environmentally realistic concentrations”. Commercial aquarium diets have only a trace amount of copper. This is mainly from trace elements in the tissue of plants and animals used in the formulas.
In the next article, let’s talk about another nutrient and ingredient that’s the subject of a lot of myths and misinformation: garlic.
BIBLIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED READINGS
Roem A. J., Stickney R. R., Kohler C. C. Vitamin requirements of blue tilapias in a recirculating water system. Prog. Fish-Cult. 1990b;52:15-18 National Research Council Nutrient Requirements of Fish 1993 National Academy Press Washington, DC.
Insights into the mechanisms of copper tolerance of a population of Black-Banded Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia nigrans)(Richardson) exposed to mine leachate, using 64/67Cu Source: Aquatic Toxicology, Volume 62, Number 2, 24 January 2003, pp. 135-153(19)
De Boeck, G., De Wachter, B., Vlaeminck, A. and Blust, R. (2003). Effect of cortisol treatment and/or sublethal copper exposure on copper uptake and heat shock protein levels in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 22,1122 -1126
Supplementing copper to a fish meal based diet fed to Atlantic salmon parr affects liver copper and selenium concentrations Aquaculture Nutrition 4 (1), 67-72. Lorentzen, Maage, Julshamn (1998)
Effects of copper on survival and growth of larval false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris. Takeshi FURUTA, Nakahiro IWATA, Kotaro KIKUCHI, Kenji NAMBA (2005)
Finne, G. (1992). Non-protein nitrogen compounds in fish and shellfish. Advances in Sea Food Biochemistry. 393. Hemre & Sandnes (1999)Salmo salar.Aquaculture Nutrition (1), 9-16