copper treatment?

[ozorowsky]

Hi all,

I fought a bout of ich, my fish are in my 40 gallon QT and doing well. My main tank is fishless and corals are thriving.

how long should I treat my fish with the copper? They have been in QT about 2 weeks now; I'm leaving them in there for 7 weeks; should I keep the copper levels up for full 7 weeks?

My fish are loving the QT; even the tangs are swimming around with pretty much zero hiding room; can't wait to put them in DT; they're gonna love it.

Thanks!

 

[MrTuskfish]

Lots of opinions in this area. I like to keep fish in copper for 4 weeks; then in the QT for at least 4 weeks after the last spot is seen. What brand of copper are you using? how are the fish eating? Monitoring ammonia?

 

[ozorowsky]

Lots of opinions in this area. I like to keep fish in copper for 4 weeks; then in the QT for at least 4 weeks after the last spot is seen. What brand of copper are you using? how are the fish eating? Monitoring ammonia?

I'm using coppersafe brand maracyn I think; I do a 5 gallon water change every 2 days, so my ammonia is fine; Fish are eating fine, though ONE of my blue chromis seems healthy as can be but its TINY looks almost like it shrunk/is starved but it definitely eats.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Are you testing copper and making up for lost copper during WCs? An obvious question, but it is often overlooked.

 

[ozorowsky]

Are you testing copper and making up for lost copper during WCs? An obvious question, but it is often overlooked.

yep

 

[MrTuskfish]

yep

Good plan! I'm glad to hear you mention the fish are thriving in the QT. For some reason (IMO, just another excuse not to use a QT) , lots of folks think life in a QT is the fish equivalent of the Soviet Gulags, it isn't.

 

[ozorowsky]

Good plan! I'm glad to hear you mention the fish are thriving in the QT. For some reason (IMO, just another excuse not to use a QT) , lots of folks think life in a QT is the fish equivalent of the Soviet Gulags, it isn't.

Well I'm new to the hobby, and didn't want to use a QT. I just wanted my main tank up and running, did a drip acclimate for all fish and all *seemed* fine; well 3 or so months in I lost like $300 worth of fish and they were dropping fast.

So I went ahead and got a 40 gallon QT took everything out of main tank and unfortunately I know the 40 gal is over stocked with about 12 fish in there, but I had no other choice.

The fish were freaked out for a while, hiding in corners burying their noses against each other, but now they are a happy thriving community in there just 2 weeks later. I walk by and they all swim up to the glass expecting to be fed; I can nearly feed them right out of my hand.

When I was doing a recent water change I got scared cuz the fox face brushed up against me; I've heard they have a nasty sting, and was worried he was going to sting me. He didn't, he just brushed by me.

The *only* fish worrying me right now is 1) that blue chromis is SUPER tiny; like the size of a penny, and 2) one of my diamond gobies is thinner than usual, but he's eating and looks fine.

I can't wait to start putting these fish into my new tank, (I switched my rocks/corals/inverts from 125 to 230 gallon tank while they were in QT) but I'm forcing myself to be patient. Dec 24th I can put them in, so that will be my christmas present to myself

 

[sandwi54]

Looks like you're on the right path to success

I would keep the fish in copper for a minimum of 3 weeks, and 4 weeks if the fish all seem fine at the end of the 3rd week.

regarding the goby, it doesn't usually take copper well. i've losted a couple of them during copper treatments. this is one of the few fishes (along with puffers, flame angels, etc) that I actually recommend hyposalinity. I guess just keep a close eye on him and if he seems to go on a downward spiral, get him out and put him in a 10g QT and use hyposalinity on that.