Perry, yes, they are copper wires. I'm guessing I shouldn't be using any copper that touches the solution? I didn't think about that when I set up this tank. In my old bucket, I had copper wire to run the electricity around the bucket to each piece of rebar, but I used steel wire to hold the iron.
BTW - the light colored chips floating around are the same color as whatever this pot was coated with.
Also, I'm starting a new thread about this piece. I probably screwed up again. Ugh.