Prophylactic Copper or not?

[KJoFan]

I've got a six pack of Ignitus Anthias in my QT currently that will be coming up on 4 weeks in QT. They've been through 2 rounds of prazi but no copper as yet. I'm torn on whether to copper treat them or not if they've not shown any signs of ich or velvet up to this point.

Display has got a clown pair that was never treated for anything but I've had for 5 years and never been ill a day in their lives with me. The other fish is a Hippo that I put through QT myself using prazi and copper.

Half of me thinks I should treat with copper anyway, the other half says if it ain't broke... What to do?

 

[AquaLifeStudio]

My view is that all fish have come in contact with saltwater ich somewhere along their path to the aquarist's tank. I've lost multiple hundreds of dollars in fish due to ich and its side effects so I treat everything with gills whether it shows symptoms or not. The money is one thing but the loss of life is the main concern for me.

 

[KJoFan]

My view is that all fish have come in contact with saltwater ich somewhere along their path to the aquarist's tank. I've lost multiple hundreds of dollars in fish due to ich and its side effects so I treat everything with gills whether it shows symptoms or not. The money is one thing but the loss of life is the main concern for me.

I never used to be a QT'er but I loss my entire tank of fish about 6 months ago to velvet so this time I said I'd do it right and QT, be more cautious. I also know that copper is not necessarily the best thing for fish, so there's the idea of...if it's not needed why put their bodies through it? I hear you though, for sure. We've been through similar situations it sounds like.

 

[Humblefish]

I've QTd a ton of Ignitus Anthias using chelated copper (Copper Power). Go slow (take 5-7 days to ramp up to full therapeutic) and you should be fine. They are very hardy fish.

 

[KJoFan]

I've QTd a ton of Ignitus Anthias using chelated copper (Copper Power). Go slow (take 5-7 days to ramp up to full therapeutic) and you should be fine. They are very hardy fish.

I just performed a 60% or so water change and started my first dose of copper power with the plan to be at full therapeutic in 5 days. It’s the right thing to do.

 

[Big G]

I just performed a 60% or so water change and started my first dose of copper power with the plan to be at full therapeutic in 5 days. It’s the right thing to do.

Very cool if you can spread the daily dose out into 2-3 smaller doses, rather than just one big daily dose as you are ramping up to therapeutic level.

 

[KJoFan]

Very cool if you can spread the daily dose out into 2-3 smaller doses, rather than just one big daily dose as you are ramping up to therapeutic level.

Yep, I calculated total amount needed to get to therapeutic and divided it by 5, so by day 5 I should be there. Plus, I ordered a Hanna copper checker so it should arrive before day 5 and I'll know where I'm at for sure instead of struggling with that API test kit.

 

[joejvj]

I don't know about the Hanna tester, but many copper test kits have trouble reading with chelated copper.

 

[KJoFan]

I was at full therapeutic levels of copper starting on 7/26 and just tonight got around to doing a 90% water change, now to observe and hope all is well. If so, into the DT they go. They're all doing well and haven't shown one sign of illness in the 2+ months they've been in QT.

However, don't be me and leave them in copper for more than the 30 days due to time constraints and laziness.