Copper power levels in QT system

andys · Nov 21, 2018

Good morning.
Treat fish for ICH & VELVET. I normal keep copper power between 1.75-2.0 but I still seen visible signs of ICH on some fish. Mainly my blue Tangs. Some others are scratching. I’m going off the suggested levels I found here. Now I’m questioning should I raise them over 2.50 ?
Please help

solitude127 · Nov 21, 2018

what test kit are you using and which copper are you using?

andys · Nov 21, 2018

Copper power and Hanna checker

solitude127 · Nov 21, 2018

oh, I was going to question your test kit but I guess not. I'll let the experts weigh in.

andys · Nov 21, 2018

solitude127 said:
oh, I was going to question your test kit but I guess not. I'll let the experts weigh in.

Ya I questioned it also and had my wife take a sample to her the Lab at her work and confirmed my reading

HotRocks · Nov 21, 2018

Can you upload pics of fish?

How long have the fish been at 1.75ppm?

andys · Nov 21, 2018

HotRocks said:
Can you upload pics of fish?

How long have the fish been at 1.75ppm?

It’s going to be difficult to get pics but I will try. It’s been between 1.75 and 2 for 3 weeks roughly

HotRocks · Nov 21, 2018

andys said:
It’s going to be difficult to get pics but I will try. It’s been between 1.75 and 2 for 3 weeks roughly

Are you certain it's parasites (the spots) and not a secondary bacterial infection?

You could have encountered a copper resistant strain.

miyags · Nov 21, 2018

Isn't 2.5ppm what Copper power suggests. I've always used Cupamine.

andys · Nov 21, 2018

miyags said:
Isn't 2.5ppm what Copper power suggests. I've always used Cupamine.

I was going off of the suggestion that 1.75 is therapeutic from all the posts I have read here

HotRocks · Nov 21, 2018

1.5ppm is the therapeutic minimum per the manufacturer of copper power (endich).

If copper power is dosed as instructed you will land at 2.5ppm

andys · Nov 21, 2018

HotRocks said:
1.5ppm is the therapeutic minimum per the manufacturer of copper power (endich).

If copper power is dosed as instructed you will land at 2.5ppm

So I went off of the info I have received here about 1.75 being therapeutic. Does it need to go to 2.5 like the bottle says ?

HotRocks · Nov 21, 2018

andys said:
So I went off of the info I have received here about 1.75 being therapeutic. Does it need to go to 2.5 like the bottle says ?

I have cleared several of fish at 1.75ppm. I have never had ich or velvet left on a fish after treatment at 1.75ppm either.

I think you are dealing with something else.

Huskymaniac · Nov 21, 2018

Could be the copper or injury causing the spots. You are almost at the end so I would go the full 30 days and then get all the copper out and watch them for 2 weeks. If it gets worse I would put the fish through hypo. I went through and am still going through something similar. Have flashing fish in QT but no spots. Copper Power is at 2.1. Will be 4 weeks on Sunday.

lagatbezan · Nov 21, 2018

are the spots at the same location or do they fall off after 3-4 days and reappear? if the spots locations are changing then still ich. If not, might be lympho.
I'm personally going through some issues with my qt as well. did 14 days copper power at 1.85-2.0 (checked with hanna checker) and moved to a new tank. 12 days into observation period and 2 days ago I'm seeing spots on my fish. not sure if they are lympho or not yet. will know in a few days. keeping my fingers crossed.

JBKReef · Nov 21, 2018

I would question if it could be injuries sustained from the parasite, infection or discoloration from parasites. Pictures/video would be helpful.

JRAD · Nov 22, 2018

I use copper power at 1.75 for qt . If I had a persistent or resistant strain I would prob raise to 2.00.

4FordFamily · Nov 22, 2018

@HotRocks it could be the copper skin irritation we have seen a couple times. If the spots don’t fall off in several days and it looks like bumps instead of parasites, it could be a copper reaction. It’s not common but it does happen, and it does somewhat look like ich.