Another Use for Old Pennies

[SusanMN]

If you put 8-10 pre 1982 pennies at the bottom of a birdbath you won’t have algae growth. I read it online and it seemed so unlikely I had to try it. It actually works quite well.

 

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[Megalodon]

Interesting. I'll try that. Commercial algaecides use copper compounds so it makes sense.

 

[GopherDaGold]

How many for a retention pond?

 

[SusanMN]

How many for a retention pond?

Hmm. As many as you have? Or you could do the math - a little more than a gallon of water in a birdbath

 

[smokeythecat]

Copper sulfate is often used to kill algae in ponds. It is highly toxic. All copper is toxic. Don't eat the pennies. It will leave you cents less.

 

[xaos]

Yes, I was going to add that the copper in the water is toxic to wildlife....so is zinc...

 

[Citiboy289]

Been doing ot for years in my birdbath

 

[Honest Samuel]

Will the old cents kill fish in a tank?

 

[Megalodon]

Will the old cents kill fish in a tank?

Probably not - but I avoid all copper in aquariums. People typically over-medicate and some meds contain copper. It will kill invertebrates, so use for a shrimp tank is out since the copper will leach out of the silicone. For this reason, don't buy a used tank with greenish stained silicone. I won't take one of those for free.

 

[ticndig]

Copper deficiency can lead to problems with connective tissue, muscle weakness, anemia, low white blood cell count, neurological problems, and paleness. but Too much copper can be toxic.
Copper water pipe has been used for many years and even held together with solder that contained lead . yet here we we are living the dream...

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Will the old cents kill fish in a tank?

We need metals in our diet (fish too) like copper, zinc, calcium, and iron to exist . . . but too much in your system will cause problems. There is such a thing as copper posioning. A few cents probably won't hurt the fish. But if some reaction puts bondable copper in the closed tank it might not be good for the fish. There's a reason it kills algae (and moss on roofs - they used to run copper wires across slate roofs for the same reason).

 

[No gold in NY]

Thanks Susan. I'm tired of brushing the bird bath every week when it is hot. I just dropped in my ten cents worth.

 

[ColonelDan]

I have a copper birdbath and I've not seen any algae growth.

 

[Dug]

Should we make ten wishes when we put them in?

Great tip that I will pursue!

 

[Tony in SC]

Another use for pennies. I've had old engines(hit&miss) that had pennies soldered over small holes in the water hopper. Cheap easy fix even back then!

 

[Trezurehunter]

If Copper causes all of these problems, then what affect does wearing a Copper bracelet have on a person ?

 

[Dug]

Copper deficiency can lead to problems with connective tissue, muscle weakness, anemia, low white blood cell count, neurological problems, and paleness. but Too much copper can be toxic.
Copper water pipe has been used for many years and even held together with solder that contained lead . yet here we we are living the dream...

I have dug a few city lots in New Orleans where we were pulling chunks of lead pipe up that had been used as water lines. The interior and exterior were chalky white. Of course I saved all the lead pipe I found.

 

[Tony in SC]

It turns your wrist green!!

If Copper causes all of these problems, then what affect does wearing a Copper bracelet have on a person ?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It turns your wrist green!!

You beat me to that answer. Might keep mold from growing between your fingers. ;-)

 

[ticndig]

You can even buy a copper infused Rona mask to make you super duper protected from the Covid crud , just don't wear two of them as that may be toxic.