Copper power problem w/ my qt.. Help please!

[vedros74]

Big thank you to @vedros74! I need to get myself more familiar with this product!

Just trying to pay it forward for all the help members like you have given me

 

[drstratton]

I was looking at getting some of this to treat my fish. I like the idea of having something that is gentler. What is the difference between the green and the blue?

Thank you!

 

[vedros74]

I think the green is just a different brand but it's also chelated copper just like in the blue copper power. I have no experience with the green

 

[drstratton]

Thank you! I will get some of the blue then.

 

[merlberg]

Can anyone tell me what bioballs are used for and if I can use them in my medicated qt please?

 

[melypr1985]

They are biological filtration and can become detritus trap. You could put them in your HOB filter to provide more surface area for your bacteria to colonize on. I used a ceramic media in mine called Matrix by Seachem which does the same thing but has even more surface area.

 

[merlberg]

They are biological filtration and can become detritus trap. You could put them in your HOB filter to provide more surface area for your bacteria to colonize on. I used a ceramic media in mine called Matrix by Seachem which does the same thing but has even more surface area.

Oh ok, someone mentioned it in another forum and said it heped somewhat. So it will not affect the copper at all right? And i just looked up what the matrix was and it is a liquid right? It looks like it is similar to prime? Can I put that in with the copper tho... Prob. Not lol

 

[melypr1985]

Oh ok, someone mentioned it in another forum and said it heped somewhat. So it will not affect the copper at all right? And i just looked up what the matrix was and it is a liquid right? It looks like it is similar to prime? Can I put that in with the copper tho... Prob. Not lol

No the Matrix i'm talking about is a ceramic product that looks like really porous pebbles. It's made to mimic live rock and host a very large amount of bacteria in a small rock. You could use the bio balls or the matrix i'm talking about with minimal effect on your copper amounts. neither should absorb copper

 

[Humblefish]

They are biological filtration and can become detritus trap. You could put them in your HOB filter to provide more surface area for your bacteria to colonize on. I used a ceramic media in mine called Matrix by Seachem which does the same thing but has even more surface area.

+1 Whether you go with bio-balls or Maxtrix, you will still need to colonize it with nitrifying bacteria before adding fish. Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria are products that can help with this OR you can put the bio media down in your sump for a month to colonize with bacteria from your DT.

 

[merlberg]

No the Matrix i'm talking about is a ceramic product that looks like really porous pebbles. It's made to mimic live rock and host a very large amount of bacteria in a small rock. You could use the bio balls or the matrix i'm talking about with minimal effect on your copper amounts. neither should absorb copper

Ok i see... Thanks I guess I'll go with the bioballs since I just ordered them lol. Thanks

 

[merlberg]

+1 Whether you go with bio-balls or Maxtrix, you will still need to colonize it with nitrifying bacteria before adding fish. Bio-Spira, Seachem Stability or Dr Tim's Nitrifying Bacteria are products that can help with this OR you can put the bio media down in your sump for a month to colonize with bacteria from your DT.

Oh wow ok I think I'm confused now lol. Sry [emoji85]. So are you saying I can't just put the bioballs in hob filter of my QT? Can I just soak some in Seachem Stability before putting in my qt? Ok and you also said I can put the bioballs in my sump but my DT is going fallow now bcuz of ich can I still put thr bioballs in there even tho there aren't any fish in there?

And i also want to knw something else please I have some polyfiber in my sump which should have good bacteria right? Can i take some out and put in my qt or maybe I shouldnt because of the ich problem. I'm sry for all thr questions lol. But i do feel like the more i ask the more I learn from you all and I actually really enjoy this hobby even tho I'm a total newbie [emoji23][emoji16].

 

[merlberg]

I feel like such a pest with all these questions but bare with me lol. I'll eventually get the hang of qt because from now on I have no choice but to do this will ALL of my fish!

 

[melypr1985]

Oh wow ok I think I'm confused now lol. Sry [emoji85]. So are you saying I can't just put the bioballs in hob filter of my QT? Can I just soak some in Seachem Stability before putting in my qt? Ok and you also said I can put the bioballs in my sump but my DT is going fallow now bcuz of ich can I still put thr bioballs in there even tho there aren't any fish in there?

And i also want to knw something else please I have some polyfiber in my sump which should have good bacteria right? Can i take some out and put in my qt or maybe I shouldnt because of the ich problem. I'm sry for all thr questions lol. But i do feel like the more i ask the more I learn from you all and I actually really enjoy this hobby even tho I'm a total newbie [emoji23][emoji16].

Ok so Your Qt is already set up with fish in it. Your just looking for a way to help manage the ammonia. I would not use anything from your sump right now because you still have ick in there. This would be a good option later on after your fallow period though. You can just put the bio balls in your hob filter, using the stability to seed the bio balls is a fantastic idea and will get them colonized sooner!

Your questions arn't pestering at all! That's how we all learn. Keep asking questions and learn as much as you can stand.

 

[merlberg]

Ok so Your Qt is already set up with fish in it. Your just looking for a way to help manage the ammonia. I would not use anything from your sump right now because you still have ick in there. This would be a good option later on after your fallow period though. You can just put the bio balls in your hob filter, using the stability to seed the bio balls is a fantastic idea and will get them colonized sooner!

Your questions arn't pestering at all! That's how we all learn. Keep asking questions and learn as much as you can stand.

Yup you got it, was just looking for a way to help manage ammonia. Ok i figured that I shouldn't use anything from my DT now Thanks for confirming! Ahhh ok I got it now... Great!!! Thanks alot.

Thanks for you patience as well !!

 

[Humblefish]

Just to add to what @melypr1985 said, whenever you add "new" bio-media (bio-balls, Maxtrix, ceramic rings, sponge, etc.) to a QT it is not immediately useful for breaking down ammonia. It needs to be "seeded" with beneficial bacteria first. You can do this the slow way (put it down in your sump for at least 1 month) or the quick & easy way (Bio-Spira, Stability, Dr Tim's). But if you're going to do the latter, add it before you start dosing the QT with meds. Or seed it in a bucket or something if meds are already being used in your QT. Copper, antibiotics, etc. will zap a lot of the free floating bacteria before it finds the bio-media. However, once it becomes established bacteria inside the bio-media it can sustain its numbers even in the presence of medication.

 

[merlberg]

Just to add to what @melypr1985 said, whenever you add "new" bio-media (bio-balls, Maxtrix, ceramic rings, sponge, etc.) to a QT it is not immediately useful for breaking down ammonia. It needs to be "seeded" with beneficial bacteria first. You can do this the slow way (put it down in your sump for at least 1 month) or the quick & easy way (Bio-Spira, Stability, Dr Tim's). But if you're going to do the latter, add it before you start dosing the QT with meds. Or seed it in a bucket or something if meds are already being used in your QT. Copper, antibiotics, etc. will zap a lot of the free floating bacteria before it finds the bio-media. However, once it becomes established bacteria inside the bio-media it can sustain its numbers even in the presence of medication.

Ok Since there are meds in the tank already I will seed the bioballs in a bucket before adding it. Is there a specific time limit that it should be seeded for before I add it to my qt?

 

[Humblefish]

Ok Since there are meds in the tank already I will seed the bioballs in a bucket before adding it. Is there a specific time limit that it should be seeded for before I add it to my qt?

A few days should get it going because the bacteria concentration in those bottles is heavy. Add an airstone or small PH to the bucket so the bacteria gets flow and the SW doesn't go stagnant.

 

[merlberg]

A few days should get it going because the bacteria concentration in those bottles is heavy. Add an airstone or small PH to the bucket so the bacteria gets flow and the SW doesn't go stagnant.

Ok thanks!! Will do.

 

[merlberg]

So... My DT that has ich has been empty for almost 2 weeks now and all I've been doing is topping off with regular water since its empty. Should i keep my protien skimmer on? How will the tank keep producing good bacteria if there are no fish in there? Is there something else I should do here n there to my DT?

I read somewhere that i can throw some food in the tank like once a week so I just want to confirm with you guys! Thanks

 

[melypr1985]

So... My DT that has ich has been empty for almost 2 weeks now and all I've been doing is topping off with regular water since its empty. Should i keep my protien skimmer on? How will the tank keep producing good bacteria if there are no fish in there? Is there something else I should do here n there to my DT?

I read somewhere that i can throw some food in the tank like once a week so I just want to confirm with you guys! Thanks

It doesn't hurt to keep the skimmer on. I have and it's pulling out some really thick gunk. Yes, you should feed your tank lightly once or twice a week to keep the bacteria and clean up crew fed.