Cupramine and Liverock

[Cstar_BC]

So apparently I did not quarantine my tang long enough

Cupramine says it does not affect bio filter . Can I use live rock in my now emergency qt tank ? My actual qt tank still has my carpet in it

 

[Cstar_BC]

Seems live rock will absorb copper and make maintaining levels difficult - never mind

 

[Cstar_BC]

Building on this - dwarf lions do not react well to copper , plus their cuticle should be resistant to Ick ?

Also - Cupramine says do not treat with anything else - but many articles recommend using metroplex as well in the food some advice appreciated

 

[bevo5]

Looks like you're sorting through the information....and finding some answers. But yeah - generally speaking, you don't want to have rock or sand in the QT since it will absorb copper and make keeping a safe/effective level very difficult.

If you have access to some established bio media filter that would be ideal - but you could also get a new sponge and squeeze some bio spira (from LFS) to kickstart your bio media.

As far as treatment - most on here will suggest copper power and the hanna copper checker (which you should get regardless of which copper treatment you pick). You want to ramp up the copper slowly.

From what I understand - you can use things like metro and prazi with copper, but it's not recommended to do unless you have too. If you do, make sure you increase surface agitation and keep a close eye on everyone.

Also - don't use things like Prime with copper. And don't drop salinity too low. And remember that when you do water changes you need to add copper to the new water. you can use your new hanna checker to figure out the amount you need.

 

[Cstar_BC]

I do have some established media as I am running a canister filter on my actual qt .

Ooh finding a Hanna copper checker will be near impossible. I haven’t seen them at the local saltwater LFS (which is 2 hrs away) I have your regular pet land/ PetSmart nearby.

I was planning on adding an air stone - however yes I am sifting through tons of info

This is the first saltwater fish I’ve received that’s actually had Ick - my saltwater store is normally very good about their qt procedure

 

[EmdeReef]

You can definitely run copper with rocks but I recommend using the Hanna copper checker and testing twice daily minimum while you’re ramping up the dose to therapeutic. Much better to use copper power, less likely to reach toxicity.

Rocks will adsorb some copper but IME not a significant amount. You can run antibiotics with copper but keep aeration/flow strong and be ready to do large water changes every 2-3 days.

 

[Cstar_BC]

Just confirming details .

Tank Paramaters:
Salinity . 35ppt
Temp 76

Now the Cupramine says to dose at 16 drops per 10.5gallons for first 48
Hours then repeat

So 30 gallons should be 45.7 drops or 2.25 mls

 

[Big G]

Cupramine can be a bit harsh on some "copper sensitive" fish. And you sometimes don't know until it is too late. So the best approach is to forget the two big doses they recommend. Instead calculate the total drops needed (keep in mind that tanks are seldom the gallon size actually and you won't know unless you measure the tank). Spread the dosing of the drops out over 4-5 days if conditions allow (velvet needs 24-48 hours to therapeutic for example). And if you can, dose some in the morning and some in the evening. This gentle ramping up works pretty good.

 

[Cstar_BC]

Okay so total drops should be 4.5ml .

4.5ml over 5 days I guess could be
.5 ml now
And 1 ml for every subsequent day / divided into two .5ml doses twice a day

 

[Big G]

Okay so total drops should be 4.5ml .

4.5ml over 5 days I guess could be
.5 ml now
And 1 ml for every subsequent day / divided into two .5ml doses twice a day

I usually just count drops and mark them on the tank glass or sticky note just to keep track. Works best if you count the drops out into a small mixing cup with some tank water. Swirl a bit and then into the tank.

 

[Cstar_BC]

I usually just count drops and mark them on the tank glass or sticky note just to keep track. Works best if you count the drops out into a small mixing cup with some tank water. Swirl a bit and then into the tank.

Thank you that’s good advice

 

[Cstar_BC]

So the DT still has my anemones , CUC , lion fish and mandarin .

I don’t see any signs of Ick on either .

I am moving everyone to the upgraded tank when it’s ready - probably 76days.

Do I need to worry about the mandarin and lion fish carrying Ick ?

 

[Nick Steele]

Yeah if you had a fish with ich in the tank that houses the lion or mandarin then they might not show it now but some ich probably fell off and will soon infect them. I would qt everything to get rid of the ich cause if not there’s always a chance it’s there.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

If you use copper in a tank that has rock in essence the rock becomes useless except in a qt tank. Copper will also kill inverts and coral as well as your biological filter

 

[Cstar_BC]

Yeah if you had a fish with ich in the tank that houses the lion or mandarin then they might not show it now but some ich probably fell off and will soon infect them. I would qt everything to get rid of the ich cause if not there’s always a chance it’s there.

Thanks I understand that - but lion fish are sensitive to copper and it’s not recommended to use it .

My mandarin is not a reliable frozen food eater so I was weighing up it dying from Ick or starving to death .

 

[Cstar_BC]

So purchased a Salifert copper test .

I dosed about 10 drops per day just to get it started (I am aware I should be testing but this is nowhere near the recommended amount)

Also coincidentally was scheduled to visit family / and sell some guppies

Hopefully everyone is doing okay when I get home .

 

[Hugh Mann]

You can order a Hanna from j&l aquatics, decent shipping times even now. https://www.jlaquatics.com/hanna-copper-high-range-checker.html
A bit pricey, but it works fast and accurate, I'm using one to monitor my copper levels.

From what I was told/read about lions when I was having issues is fed a good diet and kept separate from copper and infected fish/water and it should be able to recover on its own. Perhaps a freshwater dip between transferring to a different tank from the DT and QT to minimize possible reinfection? My eel, also sensitive to copper and parasite resistant is living in a 30 gallon tote with some rock and couldn't be happier.

Rock definitely absorbs copper, I left a few handfuls of sand in my tank I couldn't get out and my levels dropped 0.2ppm over a few days. What I did was get a big plastic bin, chuck the rock in with a powerhead and heater. Keep it in there for the full fallow period, 76 days for ick I believe and it should be fine to reuse.

 

[Cstar_BC]

You can order a Hanna from j&l aquatics, decent shipping times even now. https://www.jlaquatics.com/hanna-copper-high-range-checker.html
A bit pricey, but it works fast and accurate, I'm using one to monitor my copper levels.

From what I was told/read about lions when I was having issues is fed a good diet and kept separate from copper and infected fish/water and it should be able to recover on its own. Perhaps a freshwater dip between transferring to a different tank from the DT and QT to minimize possible reinfection? My eel, also sensitive to copper and parasite resistant is living in a 30 gallon tote with some rock and couldn't be happier.

Rock definitely absorbs copper, I left a few handfuls of sand in my tank I couldn't get out and my levels dropped 0.2ppm over a few days. What I did was get a big plastic bin, chuck the rock in with a powerhead and heater. Keep it in there for the full fallow period, 76 days for ick I believe and it should be fine to reuse.

I’m not too worried about the rock - was more worried about keeping my mandarin fed and conditions stable .

However the whole point of the QT is to keep the copper levels stable and in the effective range . So I have pulled up a separate tank and quickly got it up and running It’s 30gallons (1/2) full. I saw the Hanna checker but decided to go with salifert

My DT is a mess though - has to pull all the rock out to catch the fire fish and tang - with the anemones still on the rock I just put it all back in as fast as I could

 

[Thespammailaccount]

The goby will eat baby brine shrimp in qt. There are several videos online on how to hatch them or you can buy them already hatched at a premium price

 

[Cstar_BC]

Can someone please confirm that this is the correct colour

thanks