Mixing Ionic and Chelated Copper - What Happens?

[mjreefs]

Hi all,

I have a QT that I've recently switched from Cupramine to Copper Power. Prior to dosing Copper Power, I noticed that there is still some residue Cupramine at around 0.05ppm (checked with Hanna Test Kit). Will this affect my fish in any way? I plan to dose 2.0ppm of Copper Power in treatment, and am currently maintaining it at 1.0ppm (by calculation). I'll retest water tomorrow as I should expect the Copper Power to be around 1.03ppm. Thank you!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I would consider 0.05 Cupramine to be inconsequential. Although you can get low readings like this on a Hanna, the reagents themselves have a lower resolution limit of 0.05, so *any* copper at all is going to read that. My poryphrin test on a spectrophotometer can't resolve any lower than that in practical use....

Jay

 

[HotRocks]

I would consider 0.05 Cupramine to be inconsequential. Although you can get low readings like this on a Hanna, the reagents themselves have a lower resolution limit of 0.05, so *any* copper at all is going to read that. My poryphrin test on a spectrophotometer can't resolve any lower than that in practical use....

Jay

I agree with this 100%

No Worries you should be good to proceed as you plan without any issue. Chelated forms of copper are much easier to use due to the larger treatment window leaving more "wiggle room".

 

[mjreefs]

I would consider 0.05 Cupramine to be inconsequential. Although you can get low readings like this on a Hanna, the reagents themselves have a lower resolution limit of 0.05, so *any* copper at all is going to read that. My poryphrin test on a spectrophotometer can't resolve any lower than that in practical use....

Jay

I agree with this 100%

No Worries you should be good to proceed as you plan without any issue. Chelated forms of copper are much easier to use due to the larger treatment window leaving more "wiggle room".

Thanks for the reply everyone! The large treatment window is the main reason I switched to chelated copper. Also, is 2.0ppm already a good target to be considered therapeutic? Or should I go a little higher? I'm worried that a <0.1ppm drop in copper levels would result in a reset of the treatment timer.

 

[mjreefs]

Also, as a follow up question, what level of Copper would you consider insignificant? (e.g. less than or equal to 0.1ppm, etc.)

 

[HotRocks]

Thanks for the reply everyone! The large treatment window is the main reason I switched to chelated copper. Also, is 2.0ppm already a good target to be considered therapeutic? Or should I go a little higher? I'm worried that a <0.1ppm drop in copper levels would result in a reset of the treatment timer.

Manufacturer Recommends 2.5ppm
I usually treat in the 2.25ppm-2.5ppm Range.

Years back I had several successful batches in the 1.75ppm range but as of late, it seems much safer to stay above 2.25ppm and not exceeding 2.5ppm.