Help id what's wrong with my Spiney Box Puffer plz!

[melypr1985]

How much copper safe to get to 2ppm In a 29 gallon biochbe?

@Brew12 can probably answer that since he's done the math recently. BUT, you'll need to have an API test kit and test the levels yourself every time you dose the tank to be sure you are on track and don't overshoot the target.

 

[4FordFamily]

@Brew12 can probably answer that since he's done the math recently. BUT, you'll need to have an API test kit and test the levels yourself every time you dose the tank to be sure you are on track and don't overshoot the target.

I would test daily anyway to be sure -- things can absorb it and sometimes copper seems to "vanish". Since they're sensitive to copper you'll need to make the 30 days in full therapeutic levels count. If it ever dips below therapeutic range, you'll have to start all over again because the parasite will complete its life cycle.

Great advice you've received here, good luck. Keep us posted!

 

[Brew12]

@Brew12 can probably answer that since he's done the math recently. BUT, you'll need to have an API test kit and test the levels yourself every time you dose the tank to be sure you are on track and don't overshoot the target.

Coppersafe would be roughly 2.1mL/g so for a 29g, estimating 26g water volume, would be 54mL.

Minimum therapeutic, which you will want to reach quickly is 1.5ppm at 1.6mL/g would be 42mL. For velvet, I would do multiple doses per day to get to the 42mL and then slowly add the additional 12mL.

But, I know next to nothing about Puffers, so you may need to go slower. Tough call weighing the sensitivity of the fish against the urgency of Velvet.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

 

[Maritimer]

Your best - and only certain - method of ensuring the correct dose is to test (use a "total copper" kit like API) the actual copper level in the water.

The dosage on the bottle (Tablespoon/5ml : 4 gallons) gives you a copper saturation that's a little lower than is recommended.

See here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/proper-dosing-of-coppersafe.309726/#post-3811426

~Bruce .... who shouldn't do this before he's fully assimilated his coffee . . .

 

[4FordFamily]

Your best - and only certain - method of ensuring the correct dose is to test (use a "total copper" kit like API) the actual copper level in the water.

The dosage on the bottle (Tablespoon/5ml : 4 gallons) gives you a copper saturation that's a little lower than is recommended.

See here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/proper-dosing-of-coppersafe.309726/#post-3811426

~Bruce .... who shouldn't do this before he's fully assimilated his coffee . . .

Diet dew, here!

 

[Chiefmaster30]

All I have is a seachem multitest copper test kit. It's reading a 1.0mg/l reading. Can anyone help me convert this to how much ppm my water is up to?

 

[Humblefish]

All I have is a seachem multitest copper test kit. It's reading a 1.0mg/l reading. Can anyone help me convert this to how much ppm my water is up to?

mg/L and ppm are one and the same. What brand of copper are you using?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

This is what I'm using! But... I also have Cupramine on hand. Thought the Coppersafe would be easier on my puffer.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

So.. if there the same does that mean that I'm at 1.0ppm which isn't even a therapeutic level high enough to fight off velvet.

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Or I believe that is as high as this test kit goes so my level could be higher

 

[Humblefish]

Or I believe that is as high as this test kit goes so my level could be higher

^^ You nailed it; as Seachem's copper test kit only measures up to 0.80 mg/L. It is meant to be used with Seachem Cupramine, which has a therapeutic range of 0.35 - 0.5 mg/L.

Coppersafe, on the other hand, has a much higher therapeutic range: 1.5 - 2.0 mg/L (or ppm). So, you need a "total copper test kit" such as API which measures up to 4 ppm.

Or Chemetrics makes a very accurate (albeit pricey) copper test kit which is capable of measuring all forms of copper: https://www.chemetrics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=392

 

[Jeff Hall]

Are any of the other fish showing signs/symptoms of velvet?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

No!

 

[jasonrusso]

Update?

 

[Chiefmaster30]

My puffer is alive and doing really well.. the first day after treatment he was looking pretty bad hanging out towards the bottom of qt and not swimming much at all. Now... he's back to looking and acting normal. Thanks for all of you all help and advice!

 

[Chiefmaster30]

Everyone was a lot of help with this matter a while back so figured I'd ask. When I removed my puffer from the 75 to the 29 gallon qt he puffed. Now in the next couple of days it's time for him to come out of qt and I'm wandering if there is a proper way to get him out and transferred back to his dt without making him puff.

 

[Maritimer]

I would see if I could shoo him into a container that'll hold water to do the transfer. Just make sure it's big enough to hold him, should he decide to inflate . . . I brought one to the Key West aquarium years ago that lodged itself into a 5-gallon bucket!

~Bruce

 

[jasonrusso]

Everyone was a lot of help with this matter a while back so figured I'd ask. When I removed my puffer from the 75 to the 29 gallon qt he puffed. Now in the next couple of days it's time for him to come out of qt and I'm wandering if there is a proper way to get him out and transferred back to his dt without making him puff.

I was also paranoid when I was moving my big porcupine, but he didn't puff up. Use a Tupperware container.

Act like you are feeding him so he comes to the top and just scoop him up.

 

[jasonrusso]

I actually just put my porcupine puffer back into the DT today. It's been fallow since Easter (he's been out since 4/15). I missed the initial scoop and had to chase him around which stressed both of us out, lol. He never puffed up. After 15 minutes he was already picking on my hermit crabs in the DT. Hopefully this entire velvet ordeal is over!