Velvet

[Matt F]

So in the last 4-5 days found out that I had velvet and got a QT setup. Put all the fish I had in the DT and put in the QT dosed with Seachem cupramine copper and had one died. Have been in for 3 days now. Was just wondering how long I should do the copper for 2 weeks or more with velvet and also how long does it last in the DT?

 

[HotRocks]

You need to run the copper at therapeutic level for 30 days.

Or transfer the fish after 14 days of therapeutic copper to a clean sterile QT.

Velvet fallow period in your DT is six weeks.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Copper treatment is 30 days at therapudic levels, and the tank needs to sit without fish for 76 days just to be safe.

 

[Matt F]

You need to run the copper at therapeutic level for 30 days.

Or transfer the fish after 14 days of therapeutic copper to a clean sterile QT.

Velvet fallow period in your DT is six weeks.

Thanks both of you also what are the safe levels .2-.4 right? And after the 30 days of copper do I have to change to a different tank to run different liquids for pests such as prazipro?

I’m getting a filter sponge on Wednesday to put in for some more bacteria to get on to keep the ammonia down. And is the tank with this equipment good here’s a picture I’m going to add a light to it tomorrow so it’s easier to look at them for pests.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks both of you also what are the safe levels .2-.4 right? And after the 30 days of copper do I have to change to a different tank to run different liquids for pests such as prazipro?

I’m getting a filter sponge on Wednesday to put in for some more bacteria to get on to keep the ammonia down. And is the tank with this equipment good here’s a picture I’m going to add a light to it tomorrow so it’s easier to look at them for pests.

Cupramine is .5ppm for 30 days. After 30 days do water changes to bring copper down then I do two weeks of prazi (per hotrocks) dose once, a week later do a 25% water change and dose again. After that second week you're golden to let them chill while your tank finishes its fallow period

 

[Matt F]

Cupramine is .5ppm for 30 days. After 30 days do water changes to bring copper down then I do two weeks of prazi (per hotrocks) dose once, a week later do a 25% water change and dose again. After that second week you're golden to let them chill while your tank finishes its fallow period

Thanks. Sorry for asking so many question I’m new to QT tanks. I have been doing 20-25 % to keep the ammonia down I have had to do it about every other day or so is there a way too keep them down without doing so many water changes

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks. Sorry for asking so many question I’m new to QT tanks. I have been doing 20-25 % to keep the ammonia down I have had to do it about every other day or so is there a way too keep them down without doing so many water changes

No worries, we love questions
Instant Ocean Bio Spira and a hang on back filter with filter floss or sponge media is the best way to keep ammonia levels down. The bio spira is live bacteria that converts the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate, and the hang on back filter with sponge media or filter floss gives the bacteria a media to colonize I've had a qt running for over 2 weeks now a 40 breeder with 7 fish, haven't done a water change yet (lazy and i was visiting @HotRocks ) and have no detectable ammonia

 

[4FordFamily]

You need to run the copper at therapeutic level for 30 days.

Or transfer the fish after 14 days of therapeutic copper to a clean sterile QT.

Velvet fallow period in your DT is six weeks.

Copper treatment is 30 days at therapudic levels, and the tank needs to sit without fish for 76 days just to be safe.

No worries, we love questions
Instant Ocean Bio Spira and a hang on back filter with filter floss or sponge media is the best way to keep ammonia levels down. The bio spira is live bacteria that converts the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate, and the hang on back filter with sponge media or filter floss gives the bacteria a media to colonize I've had a qt running for over 2 weeks now a 40 breeder with 7 fish, haven't done a water change yet (lazy and i was visiting @HotRocks ) and have no detectable ammonia

I concur with everything these two have said so far. You’re in good hands. Unfortunately, treating velvet after it’s had a hold for a few days of symptoms is tough — the gills of the fish are often in far worse shape than the outside of the fish that we can see. This is one reason why many don’t make it through treatment— the gill damage is so bad they struggle to breathe.

Keeping ammonia down with biospira is definitely a good idea. Good luck, friend!

 

[Matt F]

No worries, we love questions
Instant Ocean Bio Spira and a hang on back filter with filter floss or sponge media is the best way to keep ammonia levels down. The bio spira is live bacteria that converts the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate, and the hang on back filter with sponge media or filter floss gives the bacteria a media to colonize I've had a qt running for over 2 weeks now a 40 breeder with 7 fish, haven't done a water change yet (lazy and i was visiting @HotRocks ) and have no detectable ammonia

Thanks I will try that hang on the back with filter floss. Does filter pads do the same or is the floss better? And when the 30 days are up could I use these carbon filters to get the copper out with water changes or is water changes better?

 

[4FordFamily]

Methelyn blue baths can help with gill damage as well.

Thanks I will try that hang on the back with filter floss. Does filter pads do the same or is the floss better? And when the 30 days are up could I use these carbon filters to get the copper out with water changes or is water changes better?

Be careful which pads you use, some can/will remove meds from the water. Old fashioned “sponge” is good because it doesn’t remove anything and gives the bacteria a place to colonize. When I remove copper in a quarantine I simply change 100% of the water.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks I will try that hang on the back with filter floss. Does filter pads do the same or is the floss better? And when the 30 days are up could I use these carbon filters to get the copper out with water changes or is water changes better?

Methelyn blue baths can help with gill damage as well.



Be careful which pads you use, some can/will remove meds from the water. Old fashioned “sponge” is good because it doesn’t remove anything and gives the bacteria a place to colonize. When I remove copper in a quarantine I simply change 100% of the water.

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What I like to do is take filter floss, and use the filter bracket that comes with the hang on back filter and cut out a new filter. The ones that come with the hang on back usually have carbon in them which you don't want running. Also some filters come with filters that are intended to remove stuff from water (including copper ) and can bring your cupramine out of therapudic levels giving the velvet a chance to come back

 

[Matt F]

Thanks for all the help these are the pads

Here’s some different one too

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thanks for all the help these are the pads

Here’s some different one too

Not the blue one if I remember correctly, the top picture should be perfect

 

[Matt F]

Ok good I have a ton of that have a cattle feeder full of it

 

[4FordFamily]

If copper levels begin to decrease, it’s time to change it up!

 

[Matt F]

Should I add some dr Tim’s bacteria in when I get the sponge

 

[Crabs McJones]

Should I add some dr Tim’s bacteria in when I get the sponge

That's what the bio spira is for

 

[Matt F]

With this copper do I only dose once or dose multiple times to keep it at .5?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Once you get the level up to .5ppm, it should hold there unless you have something pulling it out of the water

 

[Matt F]

Ok I’m at around .4 will dose just a little bit more like 2-3 drops and see where that gets me tomorrow