Ammonia reducers with copper. Why not?

[smalltown reefer]

I have a Blue Hippo tang with a bad case of ICH right from the store. I tried Cupramine for ICH. Took 5 days to get to the therapeutic level(.5). Then he completely stopped eating at day 2, and devleoped a nasty case of fin rot, as well.
At day 6 I am back down to 0 copper and started treating with the trifecta. He started eating(thank God) so I will finish the ABX'S. But I am still going have to address the ICH eventually.

I may have unknowingly done a bad thing by using Amquel to help control ammonia while dosing copper. Why is this not suggested and could that have been a large contributor to the rapid decline of the fish?

 

[Sashaka]

I have a Blue Hippo tang with a bad case of ICH right from the store. I tried Cupramine for ICH. Took 5 days to get to the therapeutic level(.5). Then he completely stopped eating at day 2, and devleoped a nasty case of fin rot, as well.
At day 6 I am back down to 0 copper and started treating with the trifecta. He started eating(thank God) so I will finish the ABX'S. But I am still going have to address the ICH eventually.

I may have unknowingly done a bad thing by using Amquel to help control ammonia while dosing copper. Why is this not suggested and could that have been a large contributor to the rapid decline of the fish?

I definately think it was the mix of the water conditioner and the copper that caused the issue. Amquel plus is a dechlorinator like Prime. My understanding is the Cu+2 will be reduced to Cu1. Cu1 and becomes 10 times more toxic than Cu2. In other words, Amquel or any other other water condition that uses "reducing agents " will turn copper into a deadly form of Cu1 .

 

[smalltown reefer]

That's what I was afraid of. Should have paid more attention in Chemistry [emoji3]. So is it safe to say? The only real way to control ammonia(while dosing copper) in a QT tank is with water changes?
I am afraid to put the poor guy through another round of copper.

 

[yama]

could try OODINEX by eSHa instead? ive had good results with eSHa products both freshwater and Saltwater and have never had a problem with inverts when they say its safe to use.
I would advise fitting an airstone or increasing surface agitation when using their products though.

 

[Sashaka]

I always keep Marine Pure cycled in one of my MD tanks so I can just put it in a sick tank as needed...instant cycle! Marine Pure cleans up from copper quite well. Not all media does. If you can get some floss or a used filter from someone's tank, that will help jump start the cycle. I don't worry about putting bad bugs in a sick tank because I'm going to treat the tank anyway. You can also buy and add Microbacter7 to your tank to quickly cycle. I've had good luck with that product. Really, any live bacteria product that is supposed to jump start a cycle will help cut down on water changes. I still do weekly water changes in any event. I still use an ammonia badge to watch levels carefully. I don't use rock or sand as they absorb copper and it can leach back into the tank if the PH drops and raise the copper levels to toxic levels.

Good luck!