since I have copper in my main tank and have roughly 3 weeks to go for 30 I have to other fish recently purchased a couple of days ago, you think its a good idea to pace them in main tank now with the copper treatment in progress instead of copper holding tank they are in now? Thanks for your input
Carl
I'm a little confused about your situation.
Reads like you have two tanks, that the tank you call your main tank is in the middle of a copper treatment, and the second tank has fish added in the last several days. So, you've not described either as a Quarantine Tank.
Did the second tank have any fish in it before you added the new fish? Does the second tank have coral or invertebrates in it?
Although you didn't call it a QT, the main tank is essentially serving as one. By placing the new fish in it, the second tank has been potentially contaminated (if its inhabitantants were originally quarantined). Your best approach would have been to place the new fish in the main tank and to restart the 30 day clock for the copper treatment there.
Given where you are now,
You should decide which tank you want to be your QT.
- Are both tanks cycled? If QT is not cycled, you will need to carefully manage ammonia to avoid dangerous levels.
- Do both tanks contain live rock?( Calcareous rock will absorb copper, so should not be in the Q).
Place all fish in that tank.
- If you use the main tank as your QT, continue the QT protocol, reset the 30 day clock for copper. Allow the second tank to remain fallow (no fish) for 45 days minimum.
- If you use the second tank as your QT, remove the copper from the main tank. Transfer any coral or invertebrates from the secondary tank to the main tank. Begin QT protocol for the second tank, including copper. Allow the main tank to remain fallow for 45 days minimum.
Accurate copper dosing and measurement will be critical.
Read the stick describing the current QT protocols for more info.
