Questions about copper and water changes

[Miami Reef]

Im using cupramine and the instructions aren’t specific enough for a noob like myself.

It says dose 20 drops per 10.5 gallons. I started the first dose today and I have a 40 gallon tub but I’m only filling about 30 gallons.

I’m dosing half, so I dosed 30 drops today.
1) do I dose 30 drops again for the next three days to get to full dose?

2) what about water changes? If I’m changing 10 gallons, do I dose 20 drops? Please double check with me.

I will update this thread with anymore questions that may pop in my head.

 

[Pbh-reef]

I think @Big G has experience with cupramine - #reefsquad can this be moved to disease forum for more eyes?

Do you have a copper test kit? The easiest to read is the Hanna copper checker but I think seachem or salifert both make test kits that will read cupramine

 

[Pbh-reef]

Btw to my eyes your math looks right but two things concern me -
1. It would be good for you to know exactly how many gallons of water are in the tub so you don’t under or over dose
2. A test kit is usually recommended as a reliable way to know where your copper is at

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

if there is no need to change water i wouldnt and let the cupramine play out.
Yes you are correct on dosing same amount for 3 days so you are ramping up the concentration slowly.
If you do have to do water change then put cupramine in the new saltwater. If you have a 5 gal bucket or 10 gal etc you medicate it and change water with it so in theory if you pull 10 gal of old cupramine water out you are adding 10 gal of new saltwater with cupramine in..
Using a reliable test kit at every step will be beneficial as you will know what strength copper is at.

 

[AcroNem]

You do need to know exact gallons in your tank for dosing, formula is LxWxH/231. As for water changes, if you don't need to do one then it's best not to. But sometimes (if it's me, it usually is) one is needed and you'll have to dose your new water up to the same level of copper before changing it out so it remains the same. A good test kit (Hanna checker) is a must.

 

[Miami Reef]

Yes you are correct on dosing same amount for 3 days so you are ramping up the concentration slowly.

I’m confused on why you say 3 days. It says 20 for 10 gallons in 2 days. If I do 10 drops for every 10 gallons in a 30 gallon tank, won’t it take 4 days to reach full dose? If it’s in 3 days, I’d only have 90 drops in the system. Dosing for 2 days with full strength will get me to 120 drops in total.

2) Do I need to use the full strength for 10 gallon water change? The bottle says 20 drops for 10 gallons in TWO days. Does that mean I need 40 drops for 10 gallon water changes?

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

In you first post you said the tank is 40 gal but you are only filling it to 30 gal.
So you have to dose for 30 gal.

Bottle says 20 drops per 10.5 gal on the 1st day and repeat after 48 hrs.

So how ever many days you wanna divide it on (longer the better)
Your final drops in 30 gal should be 120 drops.
You can go 10 drops daily for 12 days
You can go 20 drops daily for 6 days.
If I was using copper I would do 20 per day for 6 days. Then let your treatment clock start.

2. Yes correct dose is 40 drops for 11 gal so when doing water change you will have to treat the new water with the full dose.
Hopefully you dont have to do water change till all drops are in the tank so you are not shocking the livestock with new water at higher dose.

 

[Miami Reef]

Thanks.

How much copper do I have?

It looks too dark for .25 but a little too light for .50

 

[Punchanello]

That looks ok (.5) to me. I would be cautious. My experience has been that what looks like .5 to my eyes is significantly higher in reality. My hanna checker was telling me what I though was .5 was actually .8 which is death level toxic. It's safer to undershoot than overshoot.

 

[AcroNem]

Except to undershoot means you're below therepeutic levels. A low range Hanna checker is a great investment, reading colors in those kits is pretty difficult.