Bugs in Copper Tank?

[Ivan]

I'd designed a biogas digester a while ago based on a redundant hot water cylinder. It seems like a good option - with a bit of ingenuity, you can utilise the existing ports, you can use the coil for heating and it's insulated. However, will the copper kill off or inhibit the bugs? Copper is well-known for its semi-bactericidal properties, so is this an insurmountable flaw in the plan (scrap stainless steel cylinders aren't quite so common!)

[Billy]

They still use copper in the antifouling for little boats.  My bottom is very clean so it must do something.  Whether it kills or dissuades smaller organisms I don't know but it reduces the weed and shell growth considerably.  They also use copper in resin (cut back to expose copper) and still copper in sheet.

Billy the Barge.

 

[Rhea View]

My bottom is very clean so it must do something. 

You may want to rephrase that Billy! 

[dhaslam]

I wonder if it is the same electrolytic effect as with snails. 

http://www.groworganic.com/item_PBR650_SnailBarr_Copper_Barrier_3_x_20_.html?welcome=T&theses=6354783

[northern installer]

If you look at a copper(or lead) roof,any area washed by the runoff is totally bereft of algae,I would suggest this points to the toxic nature of such metals.which of course,is one reason they are used for this purpose!