Copper and antibiotics
- Thread starter Ocelaris
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melypr1985
totally addicted
It's safe enough to do as long as you take into account that a bacterial bloom is possible and also the fact that all these meds will take up oxygen from the water. Adding extra O2 to the QT during this is essential. If the water gets cloudy, do a water change asap.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Theoretically you can mix them but if you can I would wait. Mixing metro in particular is likely to creat a bacterial bloom - which isn't the end of the world, do a water change and wait until it settles and re-dose. You'll definitely want an extra airstone or pump hitting the surface for extra oxygen if you try this.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
We posted the same thing at the same time! Haha!
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Ocelaris
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Thanks, I just did a water change and added back copper to get it back up to therapeutic levels yesterday, and I noticed some scratching, so got me a bit nervous. I have a lot of biological filtration and extra air in the tank.
melypr1985
totally addicted
You want to be sure that you are dosing the new water with copper before it goes into the QT. Having the levels drop like that then rise again isn't going to work well.
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Ocelaris
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It was immediately after the water change, all of one minute after the fresh water was put back. I was trying not to contaminate a bucket with copper. But if that's a problem I could try and mix 20 gallons with copper and then add it back? It's just a pain to do the intermediate step.
melypr1985
totally addicted
Yes. Do this.. It will be a problem if not done this way. You'll have to start the 30 day clock over from this last water change I'm afraid.
Can you explain more the steps. Im confused about the fresh water and mixing copper and "add it back".
Copper won't get absorbed by the bucket. You don't want copper concentration to drop below therapeutical level, this might cause treatment to fail. Just measure how much water you need for the WC and mix salt water and copper to the level required and perform the water change.
Copper won't get absorbed by the bucket. You don't want copper concentration to drop below therapeutical level, this might cause treatment to fail. Just measure how much water you need for the WC and mix salt water and copper to the level required and perform the water change.
melypr1985
totally addicted
I'll describe how I do water changes while treating with copper if that helps anyone.
Remove water with syphon hose, making sure to suck out any poop or uneaten food.
Dose saltwater with the appropriate amount of copper for the amount of water being replaced in the QT.
Mix lightly and add back to the tank.
That's it.
Top off water (RODI) does not need to be dosed with copper since the copper (like the salt in the water) will not evaporate.
Remove water with syphon hose, making sure to suck out any poop or uneaten food.
Dose saltwater with the appropriate amount of copper for the amount of water being replaced in the QT.
Mix lightly and add back to the tank.
That's it.
Top off water (RODI) does not need to be dosed with copper since the copper (like the salt in the water) will not evaporate.
^^ This.
I thought I could add copper to the tank _as_ I added buckets of replacement water. Dose 10ml CopperSafe, pour in a bucket. Dose 5ml before each following bucket. Did that with any and all water changes for a month, figured I was done, and did a water change _without_ replacing copper.
Powderblue tang demonstrated that I was wrong, by sending his gills into hyperdrive the very next day.
Countdown begins again.
~Bruce, mightily annoyed with himself.
I thought I could add copper to the tank _as_ I added buckets of replacement water. Dose 10ml CopperSafe, pour in a bucket. Dose 5ml before each following bucket. Did that with any and all water changes for a month, figured I was done, and did a water change _without_ replacing copper.
Powderblue tang demonstrated that I was wrong, by sending his gills into hyperdrive the very next day.
Countdown begins again.
~Bruce, mightily annoyed with himself.
