Cupramine and Inverts - unexpected results

[phuzzykins]

My quarantine tank has a few volunteer zoanthid polyps, and I noticed something strange: after about 4 days with Cupramine (dosed to the recommended .5ppm) in the tank, they're still alive. Today I saw a tiny hermit crab I'd forgotten about looking quite healthy too.

Is this a clue that my tank doesn't have a therapeutic level of copper? I dosed a total of 5.8ml of Cupramine into a tank with an actual water volume of about 25 gallons. The tank does have some sand and live rock in it. There is no carbon or other chemical filtration media anywhere in the system.

 

[suta4242]

Any calcium carbonate structure will absorb / plate the copper. Eventually you might reach a stage where less is absorbed and its easier to maintain a therapeutic concentration.

Personally I think the risks of dosing in a tank with sand and rock far outweigh any benefit, but thats JMO.

 

[RegalAngel]

+1

You really need to measure the level of Cu in the tank to verify it is in the range expected. There are test kits available that will provide the answer.

 

[RBU1]

My quarantine tank has a few volunteer zoanthid polyps, and I noticed something strange: after about 4 days with Cupramine (dosed to the recommended .5ppm) in the tank, they're still alive. Today I saw a tiny hermit crab I'd forgotten about looking quite healthy too.

Is this a clue that my tank doesn't have a therapeutic level of copper? I dosed a total of 5.8ml of Cupramine into a tank with an actual water volume of about 25 gallons. The tank does have some sand and live rock in it. There is no carbon or other chemical filtration media anywhere in the system.

I am going from memory but I think the Cuprmaine doage is 1ml per 10.5 gallons. So you would be about 5ml for your total .5 dosage. You sent a little higher than that. I would make sure you test before adding any more copper. Do you have anything in the tank that will suck in the copper?

 

[Makenna]

The sand and rock is absorbing it. Get you a test kit, Salifert or seachem ideally for cupramine, test daily and add small amounts to keep you at .5. You will be amazed how much the rock and sand absorb.

 

[phuzzykins]

I'm not in a position to do daily testing and adjustment at the moment, so I set up a hospital tank without rock or sand, and I'm just keeping a close eye on ammonia.