Ich in tank

[Matt Bravo]

I recently had an ich outbreak in my tank, so far the six line wrasse and one of the clowns look the most I impacted. The spots have come out most on my six line and starting on my tang. I’m planning on setting up a 20g and putting dividers in the tank. I would have to do an in tank cycle so can I use prime while medicating with copper at the same time? Or would I have to stick to constant water changes? 4 fish would be treated total, any help or advise is appreciated

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

You’ll need a copper test kit, and ammonia test kit. I like to use the Hanna Copper checker and the Seachem ammonia alert badge. Yes to prime and yes to water changes as you are monitoring. Copper needs to stay at therapeutic levels for 30 days

 

[Matt Bravo]

You’ll need a copper test kit, and ammonia test kit. I like to use the Hanna Copper checker and the Seachem ammonia alert badge. Yes to prime and yes to water changes as you are monitoring. Copper needs to stay at therapeutic levels for 30 days

I have a copper and ammonia kit, I would be using cupramine and prime together. I’ve read qt is 2 weeks. Would there be a negative effect on keeping copper high for longer? and tank remains empty for 76 days if I’m not mistaken. Anything else I missed?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a copper and ammonia kit, I would be using cupramine and prime together. I’ve read qt is 2 weeks. Would there be a negative effect on keeping copper high for longer? and tank remains empty for 76 days if I’m not mistaken. Anything else I missed?

You cannot dose Cupramine and Prime at the same time! The Prime can break the bond in the Cupramine between the copper and the amine, causing an overdose of copper to enter the water. I'm leery of using any reducing agent with Cupramine. This includes dechlorinators, formalin and possibly other ammonia removers.

For ammonia control, can you move any bio media from the existing tank to the treatment tank?

A safer option would be Coppersafe for 30 days.

Jay

 

[Matt Bravo]

Is coopper safe more effective than cupramine? I’m going to petco to pick up a 20g for all the fish to go in today as the wrasse has a lot of spots already. I can move some rock and ceramic rings into the tank as well as some filter media. I’m already going to be at petco so would copper safe be better than cupramine?

 

[piranhaman00]

Copper power or copper safe is far superior to cupramine and can be used with prime

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is coopper safe more effective than cupramine? I’m going to petco to pick up a 20g for all the fish to go in today as the wrasse has a lot of spots already. I can move some rock and ceramic rings into the tank as well as some filter media. I’m already going to be at petco so would copper safe be better than cupramine?

Coppersafe is safer, so is copper power, but they may be a bit slower to work, thus the 30 day treatment recommendation that we give.

jay

 

[Matt Bravo]

Coppersafe is safer, so is copper power, but they may be a bit slower to work, thus the 30 day treatment recommendation that we give.

jay

Oh okay so coppersafe for 30 days Thank you all for your help

 

[Matt Bravo]

I forgot about this method, if I do hyposalinity will this eradicate ich? If I take my corals out of the tank and place in a different aquarium does the original tank with ich still need to stay vacant for 76 days? If possible could I do hyposalinity in the tank with ich without re-infecting the fish after the treatment is done?

 

[Matt Bravo]

I think it sounds confusing please ask me to clarify if you don’t really understand

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I forgot about this method, if I do hyposalinity will this eradicate ich? If I take my corals out of the tank and place in a different aquarium does the original tank with ich still need to stay vacant for 76 days? If possible could I do hyposalinity in the tank with ich without re-infecting the fish after the treatment is done?

The corals would need to be held in a fishless system for 45 to 60 days depending on the water temperature. If you hypo your DT, after it is done, you don’t fallow that since the fish are still in it.
Jay

 

[Matt Bravo]

The corals would need to be held in a fishless system for 45 to 60 days depending on the water temperature. If you hypo your DT, after it is done, you don’t fallow that since the fish are still in it.
Jay

I’m almost done setting up the tank, I think I’ll go with copper since it’s already here. Should I dose to therapeutic levels immediately or slowly raise? The bottle (coppersafe) says to add 1 teaspoon for 4g but I can’t find anything that mentions how quick I should add it

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m almost done setting up the tank, I think I’ll go with copper since it’s already here. Should I dose to therapeutic levels immediately or slowly raise? The bottle (coppersafe) says to add 1 teaspoon for 4g but I can’t find anything that mentions how quick I should add it

You can add it all at once, but you need the be accurate, and most people don’t know the exact volume of their tanks - so adding a half dose, letting it circulate a few hours, then testing and adding a final adjusted dose is the best way to go.
Jay

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Copper power or copper safe is far superior to cupramine and can be used with prime

Prime won't help with ammonia so why bother using it at all???

 

[piranhaman00]

Prime won't help with ammonia so why bother using it at all???

Yes it does that’s it’s main function.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes it does that’s it’s main function.

There is this thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/does-prime-actually-detoxify-free-ammonia-nh3.849985/

I've read through the first part of it - I'm not super thrilled with the use of hobbyist test kits for even quantitative testing, much less trying to apply more qualitative values to the tests, but it does make one think......

Personally, I just use Amquel in emergencies.....


Jay

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Yes it does that’s it’s main function.

NOT!

 

[Matt Bravo]

Hey guys, I dosed half of the copper to get it up and see how it is. I dosed 10 mL of copper which is about under half, and get a reading of about .8mg/l. I’m not undertanding how it so high if I only dosed 2/5 of what I was supposed to. It’s a seachem test kit, could it be a crappy test kit or is coppersafe extremely strong? Should I wc to lower it?

 

[piranhaman00]

Coppersafe should be dosed to 2.5ppm

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey guys, I dosed half of the copper to get it up and see how it is. I dosed 10 mL of copper which is about under half, and get a reading of about .8mg/l. I’m not undertanding how it so high if I only dosed 2/5 of what I was supposed to. It’s a seachem test kit, could it be a crappy test kit or is coppersafe extremely strong? Should I wc to lower it?

If you used coppersafe, then 0.8 mg/l is correct for a slightly less than half a dose. If you add the remaining 3/5 dose you will be right around 2 mg/l

Jay