Proper dosing of Coppersafe

[Big G]

Excellent information. Sorry about your losses.

 

[HotRocks]

Very good to know! Please do keep us posted. Is this copper tester something that is readily available for a reasonable price?

Yes readily available (my shipping was delayed only because of large storm out east). Cheap ($50) IMO for it's capability with the little testing I've done thus far. Link in my previous very short post ;-) lol

 

[Brew12]

Yes readily available (my shipping was delayed only because of large storm out east). Cheap ($50) IMO for it's capability with the little testing I've done thus far. Link in my previous very short post ;-) lol

Thank you so much for putting in this work!

Did you look to see if the "bad" bottle of coppersafe had new dosing instructions?

Every time these copper issues come up I can't help but wonder why this is so hard. It is chemistry. These companies should have absolutely no problems at creating a consistent product and listing the actual copper content the dosing provides. Even the most basic lab testing during production to verify potency should catch something like this. I can't help but feel that Fritz just doesn't care.

If I wanted to try to put a more positive spin on it I would say that maybe Fritz is trying to increase the potency so that their recommended dose actually reached therapeutic level by increasing the concentration. But... it is obvious that if it was their intent, they missed the mark.

 

[drstardust]

Yes readily available (my shipping was delayed only because of large storm out east). Cheap ($50) IMO for it's capability with the little testing I've done thus far. Link in my previous very short post ;-) lol

Very good to know! I'll probably invest in one. It's kind of a dream come true to see a number pop up rather than strain the eyes and wonder if it's really a shade darker today or if I'm just crazy (even with the Chemetrics kit). I think I may be making the switch to Copper Power regardless at this point. Too many inconsistencies with the Fritz product to seem worth it. As a curiosity, do you happen to know if the Hanna checker can be used to test ionic copper?

 

[HotRocks]

Excellent information. Sorry about your losses.

Thanks @Big G its just part of....unfortunately

 

[ngoodermuth]

I’m old school, I still use Cupramine. I never really felt the need to switch to Coppersafe as everything I’ve treated has for the most part handled it just fine. Including wrasses.

 

[HotRocks]

Thank you so much for putting in this work!

Did you look to see if the "bad" bottle of coppersafe had new dosing instructions?

Every time these copper issues come up I can't help but wonder why this is so hard. It is chemistry. These companies should have absolutely no problems at creating a consistent product and listing the actual copper content the dosing provides. Even the most basic lab testing during production to verify potency should catch something like this. I can't help but feel that Fritz just doesn't care.

If I wanted to try to put a more positive spin on it I would say that maybe Fritz is trying to increase the potency so that their recommended dose actually reached therapeutic level by increasing the concentration. But... it is obvious that if it was their intent, they missed the mark.

No problem, glad to do it for my own sanity, and the help of others as that is what this place is all about!

Dosing instructions are the same. That is what makes this so mind boggling.

I agree that they are probably just trying to adjust potency for the good, it appears they are just sloppy with little means of quality control. Which being in the chemical business, I wouldn't think it would be hard to have solid QC and proper means of testing.

 

[HotRocks]

Very good to know! I'll probably invest in one. It's kind of a dream come true to see a number pop up rather than strain the eyes and wonder if it's really a shade darker today or if I'm just crazy (even with the Chemetrics kit). I think I may be making the switch to Copper Power regardless at this point. Too many inconsistencies with the Fritz product to seem worth it. As a curiosity, do you happen to know if the Hanna checker can be used to test ionic copper?

It is supposed to work with ionic copper, and is definitely within the range of the tester. I have a bottle of cupramine, and will gladly do a test on it.

I agree it is a dream come true, just the surety of an actual number at a very reasonable price. It may be quite a game changer for many hobbyists, I see so many people out on the forums struggling with the other forms of color matching tests that are available.

 

[drstardust]

It is supposed to work with ionic copper, and is definitely within the range of the tester. I have a bottle of cupramine, and will gladly do a test on it.

That would be great if you wouldn't mind!

I’m old school, I still use Cupramine. I never really felt the need to switch to Coppersafe as everything I’ve treated has for the most part handled it just fine. Including wrasses.

I made the switch to Coppersafe about a year ago after using Cupramine for years. It was mostly as a curiosity/experiment. I had overall good results with Cupramine, although I dare say Coppersafe has been somewhat better tolerated by the fish I've used it on. The exceptions to my Cupramine success were indeed wrasses, and they did poorly (either died or lost appetite with barely surviving QT). I'm about to start my first wrasse in Coppersafe (a melanurus). We'll see how it goes. I will ramp up the dose veryyy slowly.

 

[ngoodermuth]

All these wrasses underwent multiple stints of cupramine, for 30 days or longer.

I did lose one wrasse from this batch, my first jordani, but that was to a lingering bacterial infection that wouldn’t go away and flared up horribly after removing the antibiotics (he had been constantly in various antibiotics for a long time)

Although that death might partially be blamed on copper, as he was being treated with both...and the copper, as an immunosuppressant, was probably what was keeping him from fully recovering. When I tried to move him to his own, med-free tank, it didn’t end well.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I definitely think raising the CU levels slowly, and testing frequently- especially before and after water changes, are key with wrasses. You want it right there, not over and not under.

 

[Big G]

I’m old school, I still use Cupramine. I never really felt the need to switch to Coppersafe as everything I’ve treated has for the most part handled it just fine. Including wrasses.

I use both. No complaints with either. But I have to have my wife read those blue shades .

 

[ngoodermuth]

I use both. No complaints with either. But I have to have my wife read those blue shades .

See...I can read the blue chart much easier than the API test chart. The API results don’t even look like the same color to me. I’m stuck there wondering if there is an option for “none of the above” [emoji848]

 

[Humblefish]

I’m old school, I still use Cupramine.

Coppersafe actually existed long before Cupramine. But it was made by a different mfg.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Coppersafe actually existed long before Cupramine. But it was made by a different mfg.

Ok, then I’m “middle school” [emoji23]

 

[HotRocks]

That would be great if you wouldn't mind!

I will let you know what I find!

 

[Big G]

That would be great if you wouldn't mind!



I made the switch to Coppersafe about a year ago after using Cupramine for years. It was mostly as a curiosity/experiment. I had overall good results with Cupramine, although I dare say Coppersafe has been somewhat better tolerated by the fish I've used it on. The exceptions to my Cupramine success were indeed wrasses, and they did poorly (either died or lost appetite with barely surviving QT). I'm about to start my first wrasse in Coppersafe (a melanurus). We'll see how it goes. I will ramp up the dose veryyy slowly.

Brew12 enlightened me with dosing small doses throughout the day: AM, lunch, PM, and a longer ramp up and it has really made a difference. The fish don’t even act like they are in copper. I know. Weird huh?

 

[drstardust]

Brew12 enlightened me with dosing small doses throughout the day: AM, lunch, PM, and a longer ramp up and it has really made a difference. The fish don’t even act like they are in copper. I know. Weird huh?

Haha nice, I’ll have to try that, but am not home enough to do it more than twice a day.

 

[Big G]

Well, here's confirmation of @HotRocks problem with Coppersafe. Had an R2R member dosing his tank for Ich with Coppersafe. According to calculations, he needed 47ml to reach min. level of 1.5ppm. At 30ml he reached 2.0ppm. Yikes.

 

[HotRocks]

Well, here's confirmation of @HotRocks problem with Coppersafe. Had an R2R member dosing his tank for Ich with Coppersafe. According to calculations, he needed 47ml to reach min. level of 1.5ppm. At 30ml he reached 2.0ppm. Yikes.

It's just crazy. I think we are going to continue to see more of this!