Cupramine or coppersafe - which one?

[hdsoftail1065]

Tons of different threads and I'm a little confused, not sure which way to go. New at this game and the qt stuff is a little intimidating, ok very intimidating. For a not so experienced reefer what would be the easiest to apply and monitor? What will I need for testing once you share your med experience?

 

[Big G]

The type of copper you use on a fish depends on the species of fish. Here's a handy chart that advises which copper or other treatments to use. Currently there have been some problems with the dosage strength varying bottle to bottle with Coppersafe. So most are suggesting if you need a chelated (both Coppersafe & Copper Power) copper to use Copper Power.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-and-treatment-guidelines-with-chart.283450/#post-3449648

 

[hdsoftail1065]

The type of copper you use on a fish depends on the species of fish. Here's a handy chart that advises which copper or other treatments to use. Currently there have been some problems with the dosage strength varying bottle to bottle with Coppersafe. So most are suggesting if you need a chelated (both Coppersafe & Copper Power) copper to use Copper Power.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-and-treatment-guidelines-with-chart.283450/#post-3449648

Thank you. It all sounds so easy peasy. Not, lol.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Thank you. It all sounds so easy peasy. Not, lol.

Thank you for sharing the link. I will hang this on my wall in my at room. R2R Rocks!

 

[Sleepydoc]

What do you have a test for? if you have a Hanna checker, then I would say Coppersafe or Copper Power. If not, then Cupramine with the Seachem test kit.

Copper has a fairly narrow therapeutic window, so I would not dose it without a good test kit. Also, if you are using Cupramine, do NOT follow the instructions on the bottle. Cut the initial dose in half, and then check then add more as needed. I just dosed my 29 gal QT with Cupramine. The dosing guidelines say 10 ml for 10.5 gallons, then repeat in 48º, so I should be using 6 ml total. I dosed 2 ml and got a level of 0.25, then a level of 0.45 after another 1.5 ml.

 

[Big G]

Thank you. It all sounds so easy peasy. Not, lol.

There are a couple of "tricks" to getting pretty good dosing. First, measure your QT tank. Just because it says it is a, let's say 10 gallon or 20 gallon, there very seldom are. So it helps to measure your tank, and mark on the glass either gallons or 5 gallon increments. This really helps to inform you when dosing copper especially. Second, use syringes that are appropriate size. If you are trying to dose 1 ml of copper, a small syringe of that range really helps for accuracy; and the contrary is also true. If you are trying to dose 1 ml and the syringe is a 10 ml syringe, it's just not accurate enough and the error rate is too large.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

I really appreciate everyone's input. Qt tank is setup cycling right now and getting ready to order all the meds. I will be leaning on everyone when its time to start stocking fish. We will be stocking my wife's 32 Biocube and my 144 at the same time where possible. Hers is about 50% into her 72 day hold due ich or velvet and I am prepping my to fill and cycle the 144. I figure by the time we buy our first fish and start the qt process, the 2 Dt's should be ready to receive fish when qt is complete.

My goal is build our fish wish list for both tanks, hopefully we can qt and treat "like" fish at the same time. For example, a clown or two for her tank a clown or two for mine and go down the list. Once the "like" fish on the list are filled then possibly looking at different species of fish that can handle the same treatment in the same qt without killing each other. Trying to maximize the qt process. I know the game will change once I start into tangs or other fish that will be to large for her setup. Does that sound like a doable plan? Suggestions?

 

[HotRocks]

I really appreciate everyone's input. Qt tank is setup cycling right now and getting ready to order all the meds. I will be leaning on everyone when its time to start stocking fish. We will be stocking my wife's 32 Biocube and my 144 at the same time where possible. Hers is about 50% into her 72 day hold due ich or velvet and I am prepping my to fill and cycle the 144. I figure by the time we buy our first fish and start the qt process, the 2 Dt's should be ready to receive fish when qt is complete.

My goal is build our fish wish list for both tanks, hopefully we can qt and treat "like" fish at the same time. For example, a clown or two for her tank a clown or two for mine and go down the list. Once the "like" fish on the list are filled then possibly looking at different species of fish that can handle the same treatment in the same qt without killing each other. Trying to maximize the qt process. I know the game will change once I start into tangs or other fish that will be to large for her setup. Does that sound like a doable plan? Suggestions?

2-4 clowns in the same batch may be troublesome. Clowns can be some of the most aggressive fish. If you plan to put a pair in each tank, I would separate them and not do all 4 at once. Say order pair 1 for wife for first round of QT then pair 2 for second round of QT.

Tangs would be best to be added to DT at same time if possible. Or at least in groups. I don't know what you plan to have but they can be very territorial in the DT. I personally like having an Acanthurus in each round of QT, for my tangometer (very succeptable to parasite affliction, so it's a good way to be sure that the batch of fish is indeed "clean" at the end of treatment). I have a large desjardini Sailfin that is 6". He is my peacekeeper in DT. That's another way you can keep multiple tangs and add them in small groups. I try to keep the others around 4" or a little less and so far so good. They bicker a little here and there. Never for long though. That could change at any time.

Treating "like" fish at same time works for some less agressive species, but not others. Say you wanted two yellow tangs, one for each tank. I would not recommend QTing them in same batch as one will most likely kill the other. Not a guarantee, but it is possible. If you want 3 or 4 firefish, no problem to QT them together. Just ask, if you question it. There are tons of people on here that have experience with all kinds of combinations. You can probably find someone that keeps two yellow tangs together in same DT, but it would be a rarity. They might be fine for a couple years then one day one fish decides he doesn't like the other any longer.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

2-4 clowns in the same batch may be troublesome. Clowns can be some of the most aggressive fish. If you plan to put a pair in each tank, I would separate them and not do all 4 at once. Say order pair 1 for wife for first round of QT then pair 2 for second round of QT.

Tangs would be best to be added to DT at same time if possible. Or at least in groups. I don't know what you plan to have but they can be very territorial in the DT. I personally like having an Acanthurus in each round of QT, for my tangometer (very succeptable to parasite affliction, so it's a good way to be sure that the batch of fish is indeed "clean" at the end of treatment). I have a large desjardini Sailfin that is 6". He is my peacekeeper in DT. That's another way you can keep multiple tangs and add them in small groups. I try to keep the others around 4" or a little less and so far so good. They bicker a little here and there. Never for long though. That could change at any time.

Treating "like" fish at same time works for some less agressive species, but not others. Say you wanted two yellow tangs, one for each tank. I would not recommend QTing them in same batch as one will most likely kill the other. Not a guarantee, but it is possible. If you want 3 or 4 firefish, no problem to QT them together. Just ask, if you question it. There are tons of people on here that have experience with all kinds of combinations. You can probably find someone that keeps two yellow tangs together in same DT, but it would be a rarity. They might be fine for a couple years then one day one fish decides he doesn't like the other any longer.

Great feedback, thank you for replying!