Does this copper look at the therapeutic level?

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

I have 7 fish i QT. One developed ICH a few weeks ago, while at the therapeutic level. It went away and hasn't shown up again, but I noticed a Quoyi parrot scratching at the bottom. Im a little baffled because it shows about 2PPM, right? I am using coppersafe.

sc50964 · Mar 30, 2017

It's hard to tell but it seems closer to 4 than 2 to me.

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

Yeah I know, it looks that way, but I can't see how it could be. I didn't even put the full dose in

sc50964 · Mar 30, 2017

I think fluke will also make ur fish scratching and copper can't cure that.

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 30, 2017

What kind of copper are you using? The Seachem copper test is for chelated and non-chelated copper, but not all tests are for both types. I'm not familiar with the API test.

sc50964 · Mar 30, 2017

What kind of test kit are you using? I found the one made by seachem to be more reliable.

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

AllSignsPointToFish said:
What kind of copper are you using? The Seachem copper test is for chelated and non-chelated copper, but not all tests are for both types. I'm not familiar with the API test.

Its API test and coppersafe. It's chelated copper.

sc50964 · Mar 30, 2017

I suggest to take it to a store and have them test it for you. That's how I found API to be crappy and switched to seachem.

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 30, 2017

Looks like, judging from the instructions, that the API test is for both free and chelated copper, so you should be okay. I would retest if you haven't already done so.

sc50964 · Mar 30, 2017

Copper also gets absorb by any bio media that you may have in your system. Live rocks, sand, and sponge can all leech copper back to the system unknowingly.

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

sc50964 said:
Copper also gets absorb by any bio media that you may have in your system. Live rocks, sand, and sponge can all leech copper back to the system unknowingly.

True, I have some sand, small pieces of live rock for the leopard wrasses that were in there. If it was high, wouldn't the fish be dead and what about the ICH? Shouldn't that be gone as well?

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 30, 2017

Breakthecycle2 said:
True, I have some sand, small pieces of live rock for the leopard wrasses that were in there. If it was high, wouldn't the fish be dead and what about the ICH? Shouldn't that be gone as well?

The copper only targets ich during certain phases which occur days apart. If the copper levels fall below therapeutic recommendations, the ich can survive. Some fish are highly sensitive to copper while other are less sensitive.

sc50964 · Mar 30, 2017

Breakthecycle2 said:
True, I have some sand, small pieces of live rock for the leopard wrasses that were in there. If it was high, wouldn't the fish be dead and what about the ICH? Shouldn't that be gone as well?

Some fish can tolerate higher levels than others. The suggested dosage on the bottle is the safe amount for most general species.

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

AllSignsPointToFish said:
The copper only targets ich during certain phases which occur days apart. If the copper levels fall below therapeutic recommendations, the ich can survive. Some fish are highly sensitive to copper while other are less sensitive.

I understand that, but it's been at this level for around three weeks.

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 30, 2017

Breakthecycle2 said:
I understand that, but it's been at this level for around three weeks.

Some strains can take 30 or more days to eradicate, especially if the copper is not maintained at therapeutic levels. From what I see, you have some reason to suspect that the copper is not at the required levels. Even though the test says the copper level is okay, you did not add the amount of Coppersafe you expected to reach the indicated level. Without confirmation of proper copper levels, the ich can be difficult to eradicate.

cmcoker · Mar 30, 2017

You sure it developed ich a few weeks ago? Not sand stuck to it? Was the spots there at least a few day? Also how long after therapeutic level was reached did it develop it? A day or 2 or like a week? Cause it may have already attached to the fish before you reached a therapeutic level if it was just a couple days. The spots don't show up immediately when the ich attaches

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

cmcoker said:
You sure it developed ich a few weeks ago? Not sand stuck to it? Was the spots there at least a few day? Also how long after therapeutic level was reached did it develop it? A day or 2 or like a week? Cause it may have already attached to the fish before you reached a therapeutic level if it was just a couple days. The spots don't show up immediately when the ich attaches

It's ICH. I've had it enough times to know. lol

Breakthecycle2 · Mar 30, 2017

I had it retested any my LFS, They used Lemont and salifert. It tested .50 or slightly more. Not sure what that translates to.

jeff williams · Mar 30, 2017

Breakthecycle2 said:
I had it retested any my LFS, They used Lemont and salifert. It tested .50 or slightly more. Not sure what that translates to.

Just a suggestion try dosing a gallon of salt water in a jug to the recommended dose measure it exactly and then test that as a reference sample and see what you get for a reading I have to do this on occasion because seachems copper test is hard to read also check the experation date on your kit if it has one I'm not familiar with APIs kit