Need copper advice

[Talo’s Reef]

I have a batch of fish in QT right now. Copper has been running for 26 days. My orange shoulder tang has stopped eating and is now lethargic. Just swims in the same area will move when other fish come near. Is not hiding at all. Just not active. I have set up a 10gal tank to move him to get him out of copper. Wondering if I should move him or wait it out for three more days.

 

[Humblefish]

What is your copper level reading?

 

[Talo’s Reef]

What is your copper level reading?

1.84ppm

 

[Smo]

Of he has been in therapeutic copper for at least 14 days he can be moved to a new sterile QT with matching temperature and salinity.

 

[Humblefish]

Of he has been in therapeutic copper for at least 14 days he can be moved to a new sterile QT with matching temperature and salinity.

^^ Agree (assuming the copper level has been ~1.84ppm the entire time)

 

[Talo’s Reef]

^^ Agree (assuming the copper level has been ~1.84ppm the entire time)

Understood. After the 30 days is up in the 20gal. Can I move him back with the 20gal with the other fish as I have done nothing with deworming.

 

[Humblefish]

Understood. After the 30 days is up in the 20gal. Can I move him back with the 20gal with the other fish as I have done nothing with deworming.

I'm not understanding your question.

 

[Talo’s Reef]

I'm not understanding your question.

I have other fish going through Qt with the tang. I was hoping to feed metro and dose gc to the tank once copper was done. I can move the tang to a 10gal to get him out of copper to see if he will perk up while the rest of the fish finish the remains 30days. I don’t feel the 10 gal would support moving the other fish out and I would like to finish the 30 days as they are all doing great. Do you see an issue moving the tang back with the other fish following the completion of the 30 days of copper so I only treat one tank.

 

[Humblefish]

I have other fish going through Qt with the tang. I was hoping to feed metro and dose gc to the tank once copper was done. I can move the tang to a 10gal to get him out of copper to see if he will perk up while the rest of the fish finish the remains 30days. I don’t feel the 10 gal would support moving the other fish out and I would like to finish the 30 days as they are all doing great. Do you see an issue moving the tang back with the other fish following the completion of the 30 days of copper so I only treat one tank.

That shouldn't be an issue. Just don't start any other treatments in the 20 until the tang is back in, so he gets dewormed as well. Or you can just duplicate whatever additional treatments the 20 is getting in the 10 gal the tang is in.

 

[Talo’s Reef]

That shouldn't be an issue. Just don't start any other treatments in the 20 until the tang is back in, so he gets dewormed as well. Or you can just duplicate whatever additional treatments the 20 is getting in the 10 gal the tang is in.

Perfect. Thank you everyone.

 

[Talo’s Reef]

Update. I moved the tang to his own 10gal qt. He still has not eaten anything however he has a strong response and is trying food just spitting it out. I he is now scratching his gills. I feel confident that the copper level was therapeutic for the duration he was there. Should I suspect flukes or contamination/user error with the copper treatment. I do have a small reef tank that has not been qt at all. I was very diligent about cross contamination though.