Copper QT process question

Tabasco1 · Oct 30, 2018

Thanks. I think I'm going to go for the hanna checker. The ATI test is pretty much worthless. The first 3 levels of copper all look.. exactly the same in color.

Just wanted to confirm if moving to sterile tank (pretty sure I'm doing this). Move between days 11-14. Day 10 is too early and day 15 is too late in the cycle?

Have family coming in to visit and trying to plan for the move to sterile tank around that.

THANKS SO MUCH!!

RMS18 · Oct 30, 2018

You have received great information from the previous members. There is not much i can add other than emphasize that the Hanna HR Copper checker is an amazing tool that will become one of your favorite tools in this hobby.

lagatbezan · Oct 30, 2018

you can transfer to a new sterile tank any day after 14 days of being in full therapeutic copper level. (14 day is the minimum). just make sure the copper level is constant and doesn't dip below the minimum the entire time.

HotRocks · Oct 30, 2018

lagatbezan said:
you can transfer to a new sterile tank any day after 14 days of being in full therapeutic copper level. (14 day is the minimum). just make sure the copper level is constant and doesn't dip below the minimum the entire time.

Agree ^^^^. Minimum 14 days to be safe.

Any day after 14 is fine. Usually the sooner you can get them out of copper the better as it is hard on immune system. So day 14 exactly is my preference.

SeaJay · Oct 30, 2018

I second the recommendation of the Hanna checker. The only thing my lfs had when I had an ich outbreak was the api test kit. I’m afraid I’m going to lose two of my fish waiting for the arrival of the Hanna checker. The API test kit is useles I could probably taste the water and more accurately gauge the copper concentration.

It will be here tomorrow. Then I can find out if I’m under or overdosing my fish.

jluspo · Nov 21, 2018

My QT salinity is at 1.018 right now. should I slowly raise it to 1.025 before the copper treatment? Also, I have a UV sterilizer, is it okay to use with copper? Thanks!

HotRocks · Nov 21, 2018

jluspo said:
My QT salinity is at 1.018 right now. should I slowly raise it to 1.025 before the copper treatment? Also, I have a UV sterilizer, is it okay to use with copper? Thanks!

Salinity doesn't matter one way or the other as far as copper is concerned.

DO NOT use UV during copper treatment. The copper will become toxic.

jluspo · Nov 21, 2018

HotRocks said:
Salinity doesn't matter one way or the other as far as copper is concerned.

DO NOT use UV during copper treatment. The copper will become toxic.

Great! Thanks for this and thank you for your contributions to this hobby!