effective method to remove copper from DT?

[kingkapoor]

I have a blue tang in my DT with a mild case of Ich.

I dont plan on ever doing a coral tank. I dont plan on keeping lots of inverts. Right now I have maybe 5-6 hermit crabs and 2 fire shrimp.

Can I just take those guys out for a few days/weeks and treat the whole tank with copper then pull out the copper via a large water change /carbon?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Do you have rock in your tank? If you do, it will be difficult to keep copper at therapeutic levels. And, now you have copper contaminated rock that won't be able to support inverts for a long time. Now I say that, and I think @4FordFamily "contaminated" his tank and recovered. So maybe he can give you better actual history of treating a DT with copper.

 

[kingkapoor]

Do you have rock in your tank? If you do, it will be difficult to keep copper at therapeutic levels. And, now you have copper contaminated rock that won't be able to support inverts for a long time. Now I say that, and I think @4FordFamily "contaminated" his tank and recovered. So maybe he can give you better actual history of treating a DT with copper.

I could remove the rock and the inverts together and throw them all into a 10 gallon but how would I get the copper out effectively from the sand?

 

[HotRocks]

I could remove the rock and the inverts together and throw them all into a 10 gallon but how would I get the copper out effectively from the sand?

If you have a place to move all the rock and inverts, can't you just move the fish instead and treat them there?

Keep in mind if you end up leaving the fish in the tank with the sand copper needs to be maintained at therapeutic levels for 30 days and the rock/inverts that are moved out need to be kept in a fish-less system for 76 days.

Either route you take requires a 76 day fallow period for the inverts as ich tomonts can encyst upon the shells of your crabs, rock, etc.

 

[kingkapoor]

If you have a place to move all the rock and inverts, can't you just move the fish instead and treat them there?

Keep in mind if you end up leaving the fish in the tank with the sand copper needs to be maintained at therapeutic levels for 30 days and the rock/inverts that are moved out need to be kept in a fish-less system for 76 days.

Either route you take requires a 76 day fallow period for the inverts as ich tomonts can encyst upon the shells of your crabs, rock, etc.

I could but 1) its only a 10 and 5 gallon tank I have for the rock and few inverts

Right now only the tang has the Ich, even If I did isolate and treat wouldnt the ich most likely come back when it comes into the DT ?

 

[HotRocks]

I could but 1) its only a 10 and 5 gallon tank I have for the rock and few inverts

Right now only the tang has the Ich, even If I did isolate and treat wouldnt the ich most likely come back when it comes into the DT ?

Yes, all the fish that share the tank need to be treated.

Then anything removed from the tank needs to remain fish less for 76 days.

 

[bluprntguy]

Not sure what copper you are using, but cuprasorb may work, particularly if you use cupramine as the copper. You'll have to run it for a long time. Eventually you may get down to a point where carbon would be adequate. It's relatively inexpensive and can be regenerated.

Seems like more work than just getting a quaratine tank and treating the fish in there to me. As has already been noted, as the rock and sand absorb the copper, the levels fluctuate and you'll need to test regularly to make sure you maintain the correct level.

 

[rkpetersen]

Carbon is really poor at removing copper. So poor that I've even considered running carbon in a copper QT. (I know, sounds crazy, haven't done it yet.)
You can test this easily enough for yourself. You find that the drop in copper level after adding a substantial amount of carbon might be 10% or less.
Cuprisorb as mentioned, PolyFilter, Triton Detox, and other products will all remove copper better than carbon.

 

[kingkapoor]

Carbon is really poor at removing copper. So poor that I've even considered running carbon in a copper QT. (I know, sounds crazy, haven't done it yet.)
You can test this easily enough for yourself. You find that the drop in copper level after adding a substantial amount of carbon might be 10% or less.
Cuprisorb as mentioned, PolyFilter, Triton Detox, and other products will all remove copper better than carbon.

If I place the tang in a 20 gallon long for copper treatment, any estimate on how long it would take for them to be cured of visible ich?

I do have a 55 acrylic lying around, it would have a high bioload but could I use that for all my fish? Wouldnt they freak out with no rocks to hide in?

 

[bluprntguy]

If I place the tang in a 20 gallon long for copper treatment, any estimate on how long it would take for them to be cured of visible ich?

I do have a 55 acrylic lying around, it would have a high bioload but could I use that for all my fish? Wouldnt they freak out with no rocks to hide in?

You have to assume all your fish have ich or will at this point, unfortunately. They all need to be treated, not just the one showing symptoms. The display needs to be fallow for 76 days. How many fish do you have?

Purchase PVC pipe fittings in various sizes for fish to hide in/behind while in quarantine.

 

[kingkapoor]

You have to assume all your fish have ich or will at this point, unfortunately. They all need to be treated, not just the one showing symptoms. The display needs to be fallow for 76 days. How many fish do you have?

Purchase PVC pipe fittings in various sizes for fish to hide in/behind while in quarantine.

Around 10,
Blue tang, flame angel, clown fish, 3 damsels, scooter blenny, valentini puffer, baby fox face

 

[kingkapoor]

You have to assume all your fish have ich or will at this point, unfortunately. They all need to be treated, not just the one showing symptoms. The display needs to be fallow for 76 days. How many fish do you have?

Purchase PVC pipe fittings in various sizes for fish to hide in/behind while in quarantine.

Also, unfortunately 76 days is a bit too much for me since I am moving August 1st (maybe earlier).

Would it be wise to just toss my fish into my acrylic and 10 gallon with the PVC and copper treat them? After how long of copper treatment are they safe to be sold/donated to someone else?

 

[bluprntguy]

Also, unfortunately 76 days is a bit too much for me since I am moving August 1st (maybe earlier).

Would it be wise to just toss my fish into my acrylic and 10 gallon with the PVC and copper treat them? After how long of copper treatment are they safe to be sold/donated to someone else?

That's a bummer you are moving.

14 days of copper and then transfer to a new, clean aquarium should clear ich from the fish.

 

[kingkapoor]

That's a bummer you are moving.

14 days of copper and then transfer to a new, clean aquarium should clear ich from the fish.

Im really sorry to keep the chain going. On third thought how important is clean up crew?

I could just make a little home for my shrimps in a 10 gallon and hermit crabs. Treat the entire 75 with copper and let the fish hang out there for the rest of my time here until I move.

 

[bluprntguy]

Im really sorry to keep the chain going. On third thought how important is clean up crew?

I could just make a little home for my shrimps in a 10 gallon and hermit crabs. Treat the entire 75 with copper and let the fish hang out there for the rest of my time here until I move.

I've never done this. As I think was already mentioned, the rock and sand will absorb copper and may make it difficult to keep your levels where they need to be to cure the problem. If you are going to remove your inverts and treat in the display, I think hyposalinity might be a better option.

If you are moving and already resigned to sell your fish, you might want to consider selling them now and let whoever takes them know that they need to be treated. The buyer may be better set up to handle treating them, especially if you sell one or two at a time.

 

[4FordFamily]

Do you have rock in your tank? If you do, it will be difficult to keep copper at therapeutic levels. And, now you have copper contaminated rock that won't be able to support inverts for a long time. Now I say that, and I think @4FordFamily "contaminated" his tank and recovered. So maybe he can give you better actual history of treating a DT with copper.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-remove-copper-from-dt.326316/

I still recommend against, even though it can be done.