Copper treatment in DT or fallow?

[kingkai512]

Hello,

So i have ichin my 75 gal DT... i have put all remaining fish in a QT and started the copper treatment, which should last about 14 days and then remove the copper and let it sit while the display tank is left alone, right?

Here is my question:
What do i do with my DT while the copper treatment is going on? I have been reading that i am supposed to let it sit for 76+ days to let the parasite die off. Since its a FOWLR tank, now just a LR tank, would it be quicker to just nuke the tank and start over? Or can i do hypo and copper treatment for 14 days? Can i set the live rock aside for 76 days in a bucket or something and copper treat the rest? 76 days is a long time....and I feel that i can just do a 100% water change and seed from another tank that is parasite free.

Tl,dr i dont want to wait 76 days...what do?

 

[Maritimer]

Hi, Kingkai512 - Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Copper can be absorbed by the liverock (actually, it will absolutely be absorbed...), which means that levels in the display can drop below therapeutic. At that point, the "clock" would start over, at 30 days of copper treatment. (30 days because you're leaving the rock in the tank, to which you want to reintroduce your fish.) When you're done, you'll have rock with copper in it, which should never be used with corals or any other invertebrates, nor sold or given to anyone who might use it with corals or inverts. You can only do copper for 14 days if you're removing the fish to a separate tank, with no shared equipment.

If you want it over-and-done ASAP, consider thoroughly cleaning / sterilizing the entire tank and all equipment. Ditch the sand, get new. Bleach the rock for at least several hours - or even a couple of days, then thoroughly clear it with RO/DI and dechlorinator, like Prime. Same thing with all the associated equipment; filters, sumps, pumps, powerheads, heaters, filter media, mesh bags, nets, all of it. Allow it all to dry thoroughly - and then re-set your tank from scratch. You'll have an un-cycled tank, with dry rock.

Begin.

Again.

Begin again.

Or ... just wait out the 76 days.

~Bruce