Questions on quarantine

[tgrick]

When you say stay with medicine for 30 days. I assume you mean the copper in the tank at proper levels for 30 days, correct? If I was transferring to another 10 g tank I would add no medicine and just observe for 2 weeks, right?

Yes. 30 days with copper. You do not have sick fish, that's another mess. Yes, you transfer fish when 30 days is done and observe. I have cut corners here without an issue and added fish directly to display tank. HOWEVER, I MAKE 100% SURE THAT MY COPPER LEVELS NEVER DROPPED AND CHECK DAILY FOR CORRECT COPPER LEVELS. I would tell most people to treat with copper and observe another 30 days just in case. 2 weeks however should be fine but officially it's 30 days.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Is the copper a 4 week treatment?

Yes it is

 

[tgrick]

Yes it is

@Humblefish will tell you that exceptions can be made. It does no good to keep a fish in copper 30 days that will only survive 20 days in it. So you can move the fish into a NEW STERILE TANK at about day 12 IF YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. I've had to do this. At that point you need to observe the fish carefully for parasites! Think of parasites like the monster from alien. A quote in the ALIENS 2 says something like "...we can't let a single one of these guys in or we are all dead..." Not true of ick be very true of velvet.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

@Humblefish will tell you that exceptions can be made. It does no good to keep a fish in copper 30 days that will only survive 20 days in it. So you can move the fish into a NEW STERILE TANK at about day 12 IF YOU HAVE NO CHOICE. I've had to do this. At that point you need to observe the fish carefully for parasites! Think of parasites like the monster from alien. A quote in the ALIENS 2 says something like "...we can't let a single one of these guys in or we are all dead..." Not true of ick be very true of velvet.

I’ve never had any problems. I did however when I did only 2 weeks at therapeutic levels

 

[GR00VY]

This is very important! I would read this advise closely. If you’re running something like copper safe, you need to make sure your copper is between 1.5-2. If it’s not over 1.5, the copper won’t kill all of the parasites. If it’s over 2, you’re doing harm to the fish.

I don’t have hannas copper tests but I really wish I did because getting copper smack dab in the middle is a bit of a challenge.

I am using cupramine so 0.5 is the dosage I am looking to get.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I am using cupramine so 0.5 is the dosage I am looking to get.

Yes exactly. I prefer cupramine as I’ve had great success with this product. Just increase the levels of 3-5 days. Split doses twice daily am/pm. Also get yourself a solid copper test. Hanna checker is the best, but saltifer or Seachem make tests for cupramine specifically.

 

[GR00VY]

This thread has been really helpful. Thanks everyone. During copper treatment I will not be running carbon or ammonia reducer, correct? What about after that when I am running Prazipro or general cure?

 

[tgrick]

I’ve never had any problems. I did however when I did only 2 weeks at therapeutic levels

I did say that you need to observe the fish carefully for parasites. What I did not say is that you need to do it for 30 days. The 'short' version can fail. It's for use in an emergency. I have a $200 purple tank that does not do well in CP AND does not do well in copper. He stops eating. So, my only option is to treat for 2 weeks and remove. Then observe.

I purchased a frag at reefapalooza that brought velvet with it. The frag was a Walt Disney and was expensive. I thought a little frag would be fine...nope. I will say never again. I have a waterbox 10 with an AI Prime and auto top off. NOTHING ENTERS MY DT UNTIL I'M SURE IS PARASITE AND DISEASE FREE.

BTW...all my fish survived...not so much my wife. I had to setup a hospital tank for the wrasses (copper) and one for the other fish (CP). Then, I had to setup a clean tank to remove the purple tang! 76 days later...whew, I was tired!

 

[tgrick]

This thread has been really helpful. Thanks everyone. During copper treatment I will not be running carbon or ammonia reducer, correct? What about after that when I am running Prazipro or general cure?

RUN NOTHING! Floss or a sponge is okay. I love sponge filters...never run a QT without them.

 

[GR00VY]

I have the Seachem copper checker.

 

[tgrick]

I have the Seachem copper checker.

I had one also. I found it useless for me so I went with the Hanna where I get an exact number and I don't need to guess. If you can work with the Seachem great! I suspect you will become very frustrated like several others here have and move straight into the Hanna.

 

[GR00VY]

Here are the fish. Just going to get them used to tank before I start any meds.

 

[GR00VY]

I noticed some of the females fins are ragged in some spots. Think this is from previous tank mates? They lived with a six line wrasse and coral beauty. I don’t see any signs of obvious illness. The fish are colorful and no spots, no stringy poop, etc.

 

[tgrick]

I noticed some of the females fins are ragged in some spots. Think this is from previous tank mates? They lived with a six line wrasse and coral beauty. I don’t see any signs of obvious illness. The fish are colorful and no spots, no stringy poop, etc.

They look like wonderful healthy fish. Treat with prazi and then copper and I suspect you will be fine. Clowns are just great fish. If I could only have a single species of fish it would be clowns. Let us know how you are doing...the family is here to help.

 

[tgrick]

Don't worry about fins or wounds. The only worry you have no is parasites...!

 

[GR00VY]

Thanks everyone.

I have just been watching them all night. They are so fun. Already coming out to the glass for food when they see me. Lfs did a good job feeding and getting them used to people.

 

[GR00VY]

Any fish that enters my aquarium goes through the same 4 step quarantine process. The link to my article below.

Best Practices: 4 Step Process to Help Prevent Fish Disease Outbreaks

This article highlights on establishing a 4-step streamlined process that in my experience has proven to be beneficial in preventing fish disease outbreaks.

www.reef2reef.com

However, I don't have clowns but in your case I'd treat two rounds of General Cure as it contains metro on step 4 instead of Prazipro.

I am ordering the Hanna checker for the copper for easier reading so in the meant time I am starting with your step 4. I am going to use the general cure. After those doses I will move on to copper. I feel ok doing this because they show no signs of ich or velvet as of now.

After doing the treatment of step 4, if the fish show no signs of other disease (ich or velvet) would it be best to observe them for the next 2-4 weeks and if no signs of anything Put in DT or just treat with copper for 4 weeks in qt?

I don’t know how long a fish can go without showing symptoms. If the some of the disease can remain hidden for over a month I’d rather just treat them since they have to sit in qt anyway.

Thanks