Correct Copper level
- Thread starter hottuna
- Start date
I am using a product that used to be available in the 70's called aquacure ...It consists of copper ,formalin and an unamed component .The inventor of this product mixed me up a small batch according to his original formula...
The guy is a marine biologist ,also has a degree in chemical engineering.Has invented & patented several aquarium products available today..
Dont think he would agree one bit with your statement above...
especially since he now owns a marine wholesaler on the east coast and treats all his incoming clowns that get brooklynella with this formula with excellent results...
hottuna,
Formalin has a strict time versus concentration dosing schedule. I don't have the full chart with me now, but it goes like this:
25ppm = 24 hours
75ppm = 4 hours
166ppm=1 hour
250ppm= 30 minutes
Copper sulfate (not amine chelated product) is typically dosed at 0.20 ppm for 14 days. You may see mortality in some fishes at this level (pygmy angels, etc.) Less than 0.20 ppm will not cure Cryptocaryon fast enough. I go as high as 0.23 ppm to treat Uronema...but you must have a spectrophotometer to read the concentration differences that small, eyeballing it won't work.
The problem with mixing these two chemicals is that there is no evidence that they are synergistic, they are actually antagonistic - meaning that if you dose each at full dose (copper at 0.20ppm and formalin at 25ppm), you will see higher than normal mortality in the fish. This means that the dose of one/both must be reduced.
Formalin and malachite green *do* seem to be synergistic, and this mixture has been used in FW aquariums for many years. I always avoid mixing copper and formalin. You can treat Brook with formalin alone.
Jay
Formalin has a strict time versus concentration dosing schedule. I don't have the full chart with me now, but it goes like this:
25ppm = 24 hours
75ppm = 4 hours
166ppm=1 hour
250ppm= 30 minutes
Copper sulfate (not amine chelated product) is typically dosed at 0.20 ppm for 14 days. You may see mortality in some fishes at this level (pygmy angels, etc.) Less than 0.20 ppm will not cure Cryptocaryon fast enough. I go as high as 0.23 ppm to treat Uronema...but you must have a spectrophotometer to read the concentration differences that small, eyeballing it won't work.
The problem with mixing these two chemicals is that there is no evidence that they are synergistic, they are actually antagonistic - meaning that if you dose each at full dose (copper at 0.20ppm and formalin at 25ppm), you will see higher than normal mortality in the fish. This means that the dose of one/both must be reduced.
Formalin and malachite green *do* seem to be synergistic, and this mixture has been used in FW aquariums for many years. I always avoid mixing copper and formalin. You can treat Brook with formalin alone.
Jay
Jay : I am pretty sure the ratio of the 2 is not 1to 1 ...the formalin has been reduced...
I have seen many a sick fish cured with this mixture...I am not even 100% sure of the formula - but it works extremely well...unfortunately the guy who made it up for me is on vacation for the whole month of july...so I'll have to wing it...
I did notice 1 hr after adding it to the qt tank that all the fish were scratching and twitching like crazy..so it is irritating whatever the fish have on them at the very least..
Once I get the dosage right It , it should (hopefully) effect a cure...
I am using a lamotte test kit (a real pain) and the guy who made the stuff uses a hach test kit...
thanks for the guidelines above ...
I have seen many a sick fish cured with this mixture...I am not even 100% sure of the formula - but it works extremely well...unfortunately the guy who made it up for me is on vacation for the whole month of july...so I'll have to wing it...
I did notice 1 hr after adding it to the qt tank that all the fish were scratching and twitching like crazy..so it is irritating whatever the fish have on them at the very least..
Once I get the dosage right It , it should (hopefully) effect a cure...
I am using a lamotte test kit (a real pain) and the guy who made the stuff uses a hach test kit...
thanks for the guidelines above ...
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