What do I need to do

[Troy-Head1]

I’m using copper safe and I have made the mistake and my ppm is at 2.87 what do I need to do is it okay to stay that high for now or do I need to do something

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I try to keep coppersafe below 2.6

The level at which fish begin to have problems is different for different species, and even different for individuals of the same species (smaller fish may be more affected).

You should work to lower the level through water changes. Check my math, but a 12% water change should get you to 2.5 ppm

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m using copper safe and I have made the mistake and my ppm is at 2.87 what do I need to do is it okay to stay that high for now or do I need to do something

Monitoring with a reliable copper kit, do a couple of water changes until the level comes to the range of 2.5. Not sure if I would attempt use of carbon but rather water changes

 

[Troy-Head1]

I try to keep coppersafe below 2.6

The level at which fish begin to have problems is different for different species, and even different for individuals of the same species (smaller fish may be more affected).

You should work to lower the level through water changes. Check my math, but a 12% water change should get you to 2.5 ppm

Jay

Thank you so much for all your help I’m doing that right now also I have another question my tank has been cloudy and I don’t know what to do to make it Crystal clear do you have any suggestions

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you so much for all your help I’m doing that right now also I have another question my tank has been cloudy and I don’t know what to do to make it Crystal clear do you have any suggestions

If it is white-cloudy that is usually due to too much free floating bacteria. A good mechanical filter helps with that, and also remove any unbeaten food promptly. You also need to test your ammonia to make sure that isn't too high and make sure the tank has good aeration (as the bacteria can use up oxygen).

Jay

 

[Troy-Head1]

If it is white-cloudy that is usually due to too much free floating bacteria. A good mechanical filter helps with that, and also remove any unbeaten food promptly. You also need to test your ammonia to make sure that isn't too high and make sure the tank has good aeration (as the bacteria can use up oxygen).

Jay

That’s what we are working with everyone is doing amazing I have got my copper to the correct ppm my filter socks are clean my uv is working I just don’t understand

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That’s what we are working with everyone is doing amazing I have got my copper to the correct ppm my filter socks are clean my uv is working I just don’t understand

Wow - that's really cloudy. This wasn't new gravel/sand that wasn't washed properly was it? A public aquarium once opened behind schedule so they didn't rinse their gravel and their tanks looked like this for months!

Jay

 

[Troy-Head1]

Wow - that's really cloudy. This wasn't new gravel/sand that wasn't washed properly was it? A public aquarium once opened behind schedule so they didn't rinse their gravel and their tanks looked like this for months!

Jay

No not at all I have had this sand and rock for a long time I have had this tank for a while I have recently got 4 new fish and all these issues have started

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No not at all I have had this sand and rock for a long time I have had this tank for a while I have recently got 4 new fish and all these issues have started

I can only think then that this is free floating bacteria....so what I said before about good aeration, filtration and avoid uneaten food is the only way to control it. Monitor your ammonia to make sure that isn't an issue.

Jay

 

[Troy-Head1]

I can only think then that this is free floating bacteria....so what I said before about good aeration, filtration and avoid uneaten food is the only way to control it. Monitor your ammonia to make sure that isn't an issue.

Jay

Its a 180 Gallon I plan to run copper until I see no more ich. The tank I got from a family friend that has had it for 10 plus years I didn't get any fish that he had but I got the tank, sand, rock, water, filters everything but fish. I change filter socks every 3 days Ph 8.2 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 20. My skimmer is off right now because I'm treating with copper and don't want it to take it out. UV is up and running its a Aqua top Eliminator 36 watt with a Newa Maxi 230 gph pump. I have 2 wave pumps pointed a little bit more to the surface to create more oxygen. The only thing I can think of is that is from me treating with copper I have been for about a week now I'm about to do a water change and then get the copper back to 2.0 ppm

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Its a 180 Gallon I plan to run copper until I see no more ich. The tank I got from a family friend that has had it for 10 plus years I didn't get any fish that he had but I got the tank, sand, rock, water, filters everything but fish. I change filter socks every 3 days Ph 8.2 Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 20. My skimmer is off right now because I'm treating with copper and don't want it to take it out. UV is up and running its a Aqua top Eliminator 36 watt with a Newa Maxi 230 gph pump. I have 2 wave pumps pointed a little bit more to the surface to create more oxygen. The only thing I can think of is that is from me treating with copper I have been for about a week now I'm about to do a water change and then get the copper back to 2.0 ppm

Copper just doesn't cause cloudy water - I've dosed copper (ionic and amine based) thousands of times in a variety of systems and never got cloudy water as a result. Copper can kill beneficial bacteria (usually around 25%) but that results in an ammonia rise, not a bacterial bloom.

There are some rarer causes of cloudy water that probably don't apply here: I had a few cases where the tanks looked cloudy like this and we couldn't figure it out. I then had the person remark "but it looks better when I look down on the tank". Turns out, the cloudiness was just a white film of bacteria on the glass. I've also had issues with chemical reactions where a precipitate formed in the water, causing an inorganic, white cloudiness. You haven't added any other odd chemicals, right?

Jay

 

[Troy-Head1]

Copper just doesn't cause cloudy water - I've dosed copper (ionic and amine based) thousands of times in a variety of systems and never got cloudy water as a result. Copper can kill beneficial bacteria (usually around 25%) but that results in an ammonia rise, not a bacterial bloom.

There are some rarer causes of cloudy water that probably don't apply here: I had a few cases where the tanks looked cloudy like this and we couldn't figure it out. I then had the person remark "but it looks better when I look down on the tank". Turns out, the cloudiness was just a white film of bacteria on the glass. I've also had issues with chemical reactions where a precipitate formed in the water, causing an inorganic, white cloudiness. You haven't added any other odd chemicals, right?

Jay

No just the copper that's why I'm confused my ammonia is 0.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No just the copper that's why I'm confused my ammonia is 0.

What is the micron pore size on your filter sock?
Jay