Questions about Copper Treatment

[JLynn]

I have a 10g QT where 4 small fish are being treated with Coppersafe. I have two questions:

1) My fish are still scratching themselves every so often against the PVC pipes in the tank. Is that supposed to happen even while they are being treated with copper, or is it an indication that something is wrong with their treatment?

2) I have a nano skimmer, and I was thinking of switching from my aquaclear (which just has some filter floss) to that, because it would do a much better job of the filtration part, and would probably aeriate the water better as well. I'm just concerned about whether or not it would remove copper from the water. Does anyone know if it's okay to use skimmers while treating with Coppersafe?

 

[Big G]

How long have the fish been at the therapeutic level of Coppersafe?
Takes 3-7 days for it to drop off of the fish. And they may still feel irritated for awhile too.

 

[Robink]

I believe your not supposed to use a skimmer with copper. It will take it out of the water.
I'd turn off the skimmer and check the copper level and retreat. If the copper is below the desired level you'll have to restart the count once you get it to therapeutic level.
No charcoal either.

 

[aykwm]

1. Yes they will keep scratching until the parasites drop off. Copper will kill parasites in free swimming stage, so parasites on fish will still be there until they drop off to reproduce, then the copper basically eradicate them.

2. Im not sure, but if you are testing frequently the copper concentration, which you are supposed to do, then you can replace the lost copper. Make sure you start on the high side of the therapeutical range and don't drop below it.

Best of luck

 

[Idoc]

What is your copper level? It needs to be over 1.5ppm, up to 2.0ppm constantly for 30 days straight. Also, you must use the API Copper test with CopperSafe.

 

[aykwm]

What is your copper level? It needs to be over 1.5ppm, up to 2.0ppm constantly for 30 days straight. Also, you must use the API Copper test with CopperSafe.

Actually copper level will depend on the type of copper, follow the manufacturer recommendation. For test kits, API for chelated copper in general, and salifert or seachem for ionic copper.

 

[Idoc]

Actually copper level will depend on the type of copper, follow the manufacturer recommendation. For test kits, API for chelated copper in general, and salifert or seachem for ionic copper.

Original post mentioned he's using CopperSafe, which is chelated copper... which needs a therapeutic range of 1.5-2.0ppm for 30 days straight. I'm using the exact same stuff right now in my QT.

 

[JLynn]

How long have the fish been at the therapeutic level of Coppersafe?
Takes 3-7 days for it to drop off of the fish. And they may still feel irritated for awhile too.

4 days exactly. So I shouldn't be concerned about that, then. Good to know!

I believe your not supposed to use a skimmer with copper. It will take it out of the water.
I'd turn off the skimmer and check the copper level and retreat. If the copper is below the desired level you'll have to restart the count once you get it to therapeutic level.
No charcoal either.

I've read conflicting information about that. Anyways, I haven't put the skimmer in; I wanted to be sure it would be okay before I changed anything.

1. Yes they will keep scratching until the parasites drop off. Copper will kill parasites in free swimming stage, so parasites on fish will still be there until they drop off to reproduce, then the copper basically eradicate them.

2. Im not sure, but if you are testing frequently the copper concentration, which you are supposed to do, then you can replace the lost copper. Make sure you start on the high side of the therapeutical range and don't drop below it.

Best of luck

How frequently should I be testing?

What is your copper level? It needs to be over 1.5ppm, up to 2.0ppm constantly for 30 days straight. Also, you must use the API Copper test with CopperSafe.

By the API test, it's somewhere between 1.0 and 2.0. Maybe a bit closer to 2.0? But I'm not sure. It's hard to tell. I really wish I had a Hannah Checker or something for it, because I found it really hard to figure out which shade of orange it is on the API test kit.

 

[Big G]

4 days exactly. So I shouldn't be concerned about that, then. Good to know!


I've read conflicting information about that. Anyways, I haven't put the skimmer in; I wanted to be sure it would be okay before I changed anything.


How frequently should I be testing?


By the API test, it's somewhere between 1.0 and 2.0. Maybe a bit closer to 2.0? But I'm not sure. It's hard to tell. I really wish I had a Hannah Checker or something for it, because I found it really hard to figure out which shade of orange it is on the API test kit.

My wife is an artist. I always have her take a look at those "color test charts." She tells me to squint your eyes a bit and it really helps to see the color difference. And she is right. It really helps. But I still ask "the Boss" to double check the colors. LOL

 

[Humblefish]

How frequently should I be testing?

Daily

By the API test, it's somewhere between 1.0 and 2.0. Maybe a bit closer to 2.0? But I'm not sure. It's hard to tell. I really wish I had a Hannah Checker or something for it, because I found it really hard to figure out which shade of orange it is on the API test kit.

This is an easier to read and more accurate Cu test kit: https://www.chemetrics.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=392

But it is expensive.

 

[melypr1985]

I've read conflicting information about that. Anyways, I haven't put the skimmer in; I wanted to be sure it would be okay before I changed anything.

The skimmer won't pull out the copper. I run an enormous one on the system at work that I run copper in. However, you don't really need one on a home QT. Just keep up with your water changes and run a large HOB filter with a large sponge.

 

[Idoc]

The skimmer won't pull out the copper. I run an enormous one on the system at work that I run copper in. However, you don't really need one on a home QT. Just keep up with your water changes and run a large HOB filter with a large sponge.

How often should you do a water change during quarantine? I've done a couple, especially after ending metroplex treatment while starting copper.

I have an ammonia alert badge in the tank, but are nitrite and nitrate testing kits (salifert) accurate with 2ppm copper in the tank? I'm also running an air stone to keep the oxygen high in the water.

 

[4FordFamily]

How often should you do a water change during quarantine? I've done a couple, especially after ending metroplex treatment while starting copper.

I have an ammonia alert badge in the tank, but are nitrite and nitrate testing kits (salifert) accurate with 2ppm copper in the tank? I'm also running an air stone to keep the oxygen high in the water.

Use the ammonia alert badge by seachem -- do WC as needed (anytime it's anything other than yellow). Once cycled, test water and do when nitrates get high