Copper Treatment with sand sifting Goby

kkgaskin90 · Jan 3, 2014

Does the Goby need sand to sift while in hospital tank? I'm worried about sand absorbing copper... Does it matter if sand will NOT be reused?

mike.creech.39 · Jan 3, 2014

kkgaskin90 said:
Does the Goby need sand to sift while in hospital tank? I'm worried about sand absorbing copper... Does it matter if sand will NOT be reused?

The copper will never leave the tank you put it in

kkgaskin90 · Jan 3, 2014

The QT/hospital tank is a bare bottom 20g... I break it down and set it up as needed.

Marshall O · Jan 3, 2014

Yes, put a container with sand in it. Even if it is new sand, it will make it much more "comfortable". You can throw the sand out after.

kkgaskin90 · Jan 3, 2014

Thank you!

NC2WA · Jan 3, 2014

+1 to container trick...also make sure you are using cupramine not chelated copper...I know this sounds obvious but there are some ppl (and LFS) that use/ sell chelated still.

kkgaskin90 · Jan 3, 2014

Yeah I just went to one

glad I passed on the chelated copper. What about Coppersafe? That is the only thing the other LFS carries so I will have to wait til Monday if I need to order Cupramine and I've got a Tang still eating but flashing. Also, I have a snowflake eel... Should I try to separately QT it with a different treatment?

mike.creech.39 · Jan 3, 2014

My eel lasted over 4 treatments everything else died

kkgaskin90 · Jan 3, 2014

Did you use Cupramine?

mike.creech.39 · Jan 3, 2014

I used

mike.creech.39 · Jan 3, 2014

I uses this safe on all fish but my fish was too far gone but the eel is alive

NC2WA · Jan 4, 2014

gaskins.

NO to coppersafe..active ingredient is chelated copper sulfate...

get cupramine as it safe for use for all fish even sensitive fish like mandarins and gobies...just follow the directions on bottle..

kkgaskin90 · Jan 4, 2014

Thanks NC2WA-I just saw that as I went to pick it up. I'll order Cupramine and a better copper test kit. LOTS of other Ich products but I'm looking for Copper. Also, will Cupramine be OK for the eel? If not, I have a 10 gallon I can isolate it in, but I don't want it to carry Ich for the 9 weeks the DT needs to stay empty and get it right back in.

kkgaskin90 · Jan 4, 2014

Found the answer straight from Seachem. They recommend keeping Copper at therapeutic dose and raising the level SLOWLY over several days in order to give the Eel time to acclimate. Wanted to post in case anyone else wondered. I'm in no rush to raise levels since the fish all seem to be fighting their Ich (knock on wood) and they will get to spend 9+ weeks in hospital tank

jedimasterben · Jan 4, 2014

Under no circumstances use aragonite sand when dosing copper of any kind, or you will be treating the sand with copper, not the fish. You MUST use silica sand.

kkgaskin90 · Jan 4, 2014

Also, will this treatment ruin my hospital/QT tank for future inhabitants? Most other things I can QT in a 10 gallon that hasn't had copper in it, but I usually use one if the same HOB filters (just filter sponge in it for copper, right?) and same thermometer...airline....air stone.... PVC fittings for hideouts.... Should I ditch those things after this?

Critters staying in my DT while "fallow": cleaner shrimp, Turbo snails, assorted hermits, urchin, brittle star(s)... Is it OK to leave all these?? As far as I can tell, Ich will die off with no FISH host. So these should be OK.

Everything I've read says leave DT fish less for minimum of 9 weeks-does that sound right? Should I do longer?

Sorry so many questions....I've done it wrong and now I want to make sure I do it right!

kkgaskin90 · Jan 4, 2014

Jedimaster-will silica make Goby feel more comfortable?

jedimasterben · Jan 4, 2014

Yes, once you use copper in a tank in high quantities, it will stick to things. Even cupramine, which is an aminated copper and is much more stable, some will turn into elemental copper and stick. If you want to reuse the tank, do not use copper and use chloroquine phosphate instead.

Most don't care about sand as long as they are eating prepared foods.

miyags · Jan 4, 2014

I have a 20gal. long. When I use cuprimine,I add 7 drops- skip a day add 7 drops and repeat till I reach .35 to .5 on seachem copper test kit. I also use the stick on seachem ammonia alert. I do 5gal a week water change then add 16 drops/ seems to keep copper on point. I leave them in copper treatment for 4 weeks.