Mystery Wrasse intolerance to Cupermine

[J.D.]

Greetings All,

So it would appear that a Mystery Wrasse currently in QT is intolerant to Cupramine. I've been testing daily and maintaining .5 via Salient for about 10 days. Over the last couple of days the Wrasse has stopped eating, knowing that Wrasses are generally more sensitive to copper; I'm thinking its necessary to switch to Hypo.

My question, over how many days is it necessary to reduce the SG, (1.025 currently) and is it necessary to eliminate the copper prior to hypo. Or can I reduce the SG through a serious of water changes without 1st eliminating the copper.

Other QT guests are a pair of clowns, Black Gap Basellet and Helfrichi Firefish. All are eating well, except the Wrasse. No visible signs of infection, or parasites. All active and swimming normally.

QT setup is 20 gal AIO, Skimmer (cup removed) for oxygenation, very mature mature marine pure blocks. All water parameters are spot on.

Thanks in advance-

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Greetings All,

So it would appear that a Mystery Wrasse currently in QT is intolerant to Cupramine. I've been testing daily and maintaining .5 via Salient for about 10 days. Over the last couple of days the Wrasse has stopped eating, knowing that Wrasses are generally more sensitive to copper; I'm thinking its necessary to switch to Hypo.

My question, over how many days is it necessary to reduce the SG, (1.025 currently) and is it necessary to eliminate the copper prior to hypo. Or can I reduce the SG through a serious of water changes without 1st eliminating the copper.

Other QT guests are a pair of clowns, Black Gap Basellet and Helfrichi Firefish. All are eating well, except the Wrasse. No visible signs of infection, or parasites. All active and swimming normally.

QT setup is 20 gal AIO, Skimmer (cup removed) for oxygenation, very mature mature marine pure blocks. All water parameters are spot on.

Thanks in advance-

While Cupramine does have a record of being a bit harsher than coppersafe or copper power, true sensitivity to it in fish is difficult to confirm. What can happen is; a symptom is seen that is assumed to be copper toxicity so the copper is removed and another treatment started. The fish may die, and copper is blamed, but can’t really be confirmed. Switching treatments creates a lag time that can be problematic.
On to your question - coppersafe can be used in FW, so you just lower the SG. Cupramine is used at half dose in FW. Therefore, it is advisable to get to a half dose level before starting to drop the SG. You can do that by either changing 50% of the tank volume with copper free seawater, or using cuprisorb. Then, you can drop the SG to 1.009 over three days.
Jay

 

[J.D.]

Thanks @ Jay Hemdal, much appreciated. The wrasse began eating again this morning, well stay the current course for now.