Cupramine dose?

[starionesir]

I have all my fish in my QT tank as my hippo tang had ich pretty badly. I've been treating with cupramine now for 3 days and all is looking good. I did the recommended does the first day and so far only added half the second does 48 hours later.

All fish are eating well and very active. No signs of white spots on anyone. I'm planing on keeping the treatment going for at least 3 weeks but have heard different concentrations levels to keep. Some people say keep it at the recommended .50 and others have said lower then that was less stressful for the fish and worked just as well. Any opinions or info will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Deinonych]

When I use Cupramine, I treat at 0.40mg/L for 4 weeks. IME 0.50mg/L causes appetite supression.

 

[snorvich]

When I use Cupramine, I treat at 0.40mg/L for 4 weeks. IME 0.50mg/L causes appetite supression.

I agree.

 

[starionesir]

So I'm probably pretty close to that right now. I did the half dose up front which was to the .25mg/L and did half that 48 hours later so should be right around .37-.38mg/L.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I agree.

Me too.

Remember that seeing spots on the fish is not a good indicator of ich's presence. It sounds like you are just measuring by the "drops" method. This may work sometimes; but I wouldn't trust it. Cu does dissipate and just a few minutes of Cu below the effective range can ruin the treatment procedure. You really need a test kit; SeaChem or Salifert work. Many Cu test kits (like API) don't work with Cupramine. Their web site has lots of great info, including effective dosage range. The FAQ are vital. http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Cupramine.html

 

[Deinonych]

Me too.

Remember that seeing spots on the fish is not a good indicator of ich's presence. It sounds like you are just measuring by the "drops" method. This may work sometimes; but I wouldn't trust it. Cu does dissipate and just a few minutes of Cu below the effective range can ruin the treatment procedure. You really need a test kit; SeaChem or Salifert work. Many Cu test kits (like API) don't work with Cupramine. Their web site has lots of great info, including effective dosage range. The FAQ are vital. http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Cupramine.html

+1

Make sure you are testing daily, preferably before lights out (when tomites are released).

 

[starionesir]

I didn't measure with the drops I added it with a old childrens medicine syringe. I've got tons of those things. I also have the seachem testing kit as well and have used it but its not the easiest thing to read.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I also have the seachem testing kit as well and have used it but its not the easiest thing to read.

That is an understatement. :lolspin: Perform the test a couple of times to see if you at least can achieve a consistent reading. Cupramine is pretty stable in solution (assuming you have no live rock or sand or carbon in the QT, just plastic), so when I do the test I am most concerned with whether it validates what I expect with the dose from the bottle. The passage of time greatly affects the reading. I ultimately picked up a Salifert test because it can be so difficult to produce a reading you feel is valid using the SeaChem test.

To add a slightly different perspective, I tend to run Cupramine at .35 ppm when using it prophylactically and at .5 ppm, the full dose, when I have seen disease. I prefer to risk the additional stress of the higher dose when I know the fish have ich. You can always back the dose down if the fish stop eating (dilute with water changes). In either case, I ramp the dose up slowly.

 

[starionesir]

I tested again last night and had my wife look at it too and it looks like its very close to the .5 so I think I'm pretty good. The QT tank is bare with only a couple of pvc pipes for the fish to hide in. All the fish are still eating as well which is a good thing. The hippo tang looks much better already and I've only been treating since saturday so I'm hoping for the best. Before going in was completely covered with white spots everywhere and was scratching on everything and was starting to lay on the sand bed sideways but now doesn't show any spots and is swimming fine now with no scratching. All the other fish never showed signs of ich but wasn't going to chance anything so treated them as well.

 

[Reefahholic]

Me too.

Remember that seeing spots on the fish is not a good indicator of ich's presence. It sounds like you are just measuring by the "drops" method. This may work sometimes; but I wouldn't trust it. Cu does dissipate and just a few minutes of Cu below the effective range can ruin the treatment procedure. You really need a test kit; SeaChem or Salifert work. Many Cu test kits (like API) don't work with Cupramine. Their web site has lots of great info, including effective dosage range. The FAQ are vital. http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Cupramine.html

X3...When I get the copper up too high, they tend to not want to eat. Running copper right now.

Gonna do TT later.

 

[starionesir]

Tested again today and looks like it's somewhere between .4 and .5 and so far so good. Everyone is still eating good and no sings of white spots for almost a week now. Gonna treat for 3 more weeks and should be good. Then just have to wait another 5 to 6 weeks for the dt to fallow and can put them back in. QTing everything next time to avoid this mess. Wh see t does everyone do about inverts before putting them in the dt?

 

[Deinonych]

Tested again today and looks like it's somewhere between .4 and .5 and so far so good. Everyone is still eating good and no sings of white spots for almost a week now. Gonna treat for 3 more weeks and should be good. Then just have to wait another 5 to 6 weeks for the dt to fallow and can put them back in. QTing everything next time to avoid this mess. Wh see t does everyone do about inverts before putting them in the dt?

Hope all your fish continue to do well under treatement. As far as inverts, you'll get varying opinions about whether to QT. I personally QT inverts in a dedicated QT for 8-10 weeks. But, I'm super-paranoid.

 

[starionesir]

So do you just leave them in the qt tank and hope whatever they have will fall off in the qt tank? I know you can treat with copper or hypo as that will kill them.

 

[Deinonych]

Yes, without a fish host, any cysts that might ride in will die off during that period. It's the same theory behind leaving a DT fallow.

 

[starionesir]

Good point didn't think about it that way. Thanks