copper treatment issue? please help

[stiffler1]

I need to set up a copper QT for ich.
I purchased supplies yesterday at LFS and was going to set up later today.

Here is my problem and I am open for suggestions

Sold me CopperSafe (only kind they had) and Marine Aquariums Cu Test kit. I checked three stores but noticed when I got home
Kit is for nonchelated copper and copperSafe is chelated copper.
CopperSafe states 5ml for 4 gallons which helps but I can't test levels w kit. Coppersafe tells 1.5ppm to 2.0 ppm, and nonchelated kit measures to .4 ppm.

I was thinking I could set up tank and dose per coppersafe instructions. 1 tsp. (5ml) per 4 gallons. I am setting up 75 gallon with tank water due to fish load with 2 filter sytems that have been running on smaller QT and tank w some extra sponges from main tank. I plan on keeping fish out of tank for 8 to 10 weeks to clear show tank of ich. Treating fish for about 4 to 6 weeks. Any suggestions on test kit or conversion method I can use?



I was not doing hypo because I didn't have electric refractor and haven't had luck in the past, ammonia spikes w water changes/replacement. I only have a hydometer. I may just go buy one. Any suggestions on how to avoid spikes?

I am leaning more towards the copper treatment but have another question, do I bring it up to the full dose amount from the beginning?

Thanks for your help and Merry Christmas.

 

[Percula9]

Just dose according to the instructions. Don't use carbon. Copper kills the parasite in the free swimming stage only. It doesn't kill while its on the fish.

 

[stiffler1]

What type of treatment do you recommend? Hypo?

 

[sundancer]

I don't have much luck with hypo either. I used coppersafe because it has a higher margin for error. I can't seem to be able to locate a chelated copper test kit either. I use the regular test kit. What I do is fill a pail with 4 gallons of QT water. Dose it with 5ml of coppersafe. Do a test and compare the color to the regular test color card. That will be the color I try to maintain. I do 1/2 dose the first day and full dose the 2nd day. Watch your fish for any signs of distress. I never had to top off with copper. It stays in solution well. sometimes if ich is persistent I give it a little extra ml or two.