How to use copper

dromo2189 · May 10, 2017

Hello I was wondering what's the proper way to treat a fish with cooper for ich and also just as a preventive? I had ich-x and cooper power. I didn't know if you raise the levels over time or what exactly

Shep · May 10, 2017

They will see it see soon but I will tag @melypr1985 @Humblefish and the #reefsquad to get you your answer

dromo2189 · May 10, 2017

Okay thanks. I just want to make sure I'm ready cause I want to get a blue tang and I know they're prone to it

melypr1985 · May 10, 2017

Hi there! The proper way to use copper is in a QT with no sand or live rock in it. Here is a link with much more detailed info Copper

We are happy to answer any questions that leaves you with.

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 11, 2017

@melypr1985 to the rescue you go girl.

dromo2189 · May 11, 2017

I have a qt tank I just didn't know when dosing if I put in the full amount or slowly raise jr

Humblefish · May 11, 2017

dromo2189 said:
I have a qt tank I just didn't know when dosing if I put in the full amount or slowly raise jr

Slowly raise it (4-5 days) if treating prophylactically; but when faced with a fast killing disease (such as velvet) you'll want to reach therapeutic within 48 hours.

Brew12 · May 11, 2017

dromo2189 said:
Okay thanks. I just want to make sure I'm ready cause I want to get a blue tang and I know they're prone to it

Do you already have other fish in your DT that you haven't treated with copper?

dromo2189 · May 11, 2017

Yes all my fish were treated for as a preventive. Okay so when a fish does have ich slowly raise it to what the bottle says over 4-5 days. If it has it bad try to over 1-2 days?

Brew12 · May 11, 2017

dromo2189 said:
Yes all my fish were treated for as a preventive. Okay so when a fish does have ich slowly raise it to what the bottle says over 4-5 days. If it has it bad try to over 1-2 days?

If it is a non copper sensitive fish I will raise it in 4 doses over 2 days. For a copper sensitive fish I would do 8 doses over 4 days as long as their are no or minor symptoms.

dromo2189 · May 17, 2017

So I was just at my local petco and was looking at this guy. Any idea what can be wrong?

melypr1985 · May 17, 2017

dromo2189 said:
So I was just at my local petco and was looking at this guy. Any idea what can be wrong?

Are you talking about that lighter area on his body? That could be a number of things, but it's likely bacterial in nature. The biggest problem with that is that there is usually a root cause to these infections like ich, velvet or flukes. Without more information like behavioral symptoms or better pictures, it will be difficult to tell you what is truly happening with this guy with any accuracy.

dromo2189 · May 17, 2017

I watched him for about 5 minutes and he was swimming pretty fast and seemed like he was rubbing against the rocks

Humblefish · May 17, 2017

dromo2189 said:
I watched him for about 5 minutes and he was swimming pretty fast and seemed like he was rubbing against the rocks

This suggests parasites (ich, velvet, brook); flukes would be another possibility.

dromo2189 · May 18, 2017

Okay thanks I'm going to stay away then

dromo2189 · May 21, 2017

Okay so I got a blue hippo from the local fish store. He's the size of a half dollar he's swimming around and eating vet good. I notice a spot on him that might be ich. I was just wondering with a fish this small is cooper safe?

Brew12 · May 21, 2017

dromo2189 said:
Okay so I got a blue hippo from the local fish store. He's the size of a half dollar he's swimming around and eating vet good. I notice a spot on him that might be ich. I was just wondering with a fish this small is cooper safe?

Yup. Just slowly raise the level of copper over a few days.

dromo2189 · May 21, 2017

Okay wasn't sure the lady at the store said try to feed it good with garlic first before doing cooper on a fish that small

melypr1985 · May 21, 2017

Having him eating first is always ideal, though I wouldn't panic over just one spot. You may take a day or two and get him eating well and watch him carefully. If more spots show up then you know you have ich. If this one spot goes away overnight or gets larger over a few days, then it's something different.