In my 10 gallon qt I have a medium flame angel and a mistake clown. Since the flames are extra sensitive to copper I am dosimg slowly and gradually to get up to about .4 of copper. I only added ten drops 24 hours ago and am not going to add the other ten until tomorrow but he is already showing signs of stress. Is this normal? I really don't want to lose my flame. I woke up and he was lethargically swimming and when he went by the hob filter he kind of stuck to the intake until I distracted him. Help!
First small dose of cupramine problems help!
- Thread starter Ryand63
- Start date
LargeAngels
Premium Member
On what basis do you think 10 drops of Cupramine is too much for a 10 gallon qt?
I've used Cupramine on all my flames with no issues.
I've used Cupramine on all my flames with no issues.
Well evidently it is as his flame isnt handling it. And is in bad condition but the other fish isnt.
Ammonia: .25, but has been for the past week befor I started dosing, b/c I had to set up an emergency QT, I do waterchanges every day or every other day but it still stays at .25. Salinity: 1.024. and copper barely showing at about .5ppm. The clown seems perfectly fine but the flame seems to be lethargic and having a difficult time swimming normally. Once I'm home from work should I wait to see how he is tomorrow or do a water change and reduce the copper or what? I'm nervous to lose my favorite fish. Just trying to do the right thing.
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Ammonia should be 0. As a side not ammonia test kits will give a false positive from the Cupramine. What copper test kit are you using?
You should have much less than 0.5 of copper at this point if you only added 10 drops (0.5 ml) to 10 gallons. I suspect that you have more like 7 actual gallons of water. With smaller tanks it is more important to know the ACTUAL water volume instead of going by tank size.
I would use carbon to remove the copper until you can get the ammonia under control. Why did you treat in the first place?
You should have much less than 0.5 of copper at this point if you only added 10 drops (0.5 ml) to 10 gallons. I suspect that you have more like 7 actual gallons of water. With smaller tanks it is more important to know the ACTUAL water volume instead of going by tank size.
I would use carbon to remove the copper until you can get the ammonia under control. Why did you treat in the first place?
I have to say I highly agree with LargeAngels on this
LargeAngels
Premium Member
Use Seachem's copper test kit.
Take care of the ammonia issue ASAP! Ammonia kills more fish in QT than any disease.
Take care of the ammonia issue ASAP! Ammonia kills more fish in QT than any disease.
I am treating Ich that sprung up on the flame angel and infected my clown. I'll do a good sized water change once I get home today and try to get the ammonia down and the copper down. What should I do in the mean time copper wise until I get a new test kit? keep it low? .5ppm of copper on this test kit is minimal at most...it ranges from 0-4ppm. so .5ppm is only 1/8th of the total amount i'd be shooting for.
You have no LFS with better test kits?
And where are you getting your number for levels of copper?
Well you def need a better kit. This is why I generally never use API. Especially on things you need accurate readings with. You most likely could be anywhere from .3-.7
Now if you arent home right now to do anythign to the tank, and the flame was stuck to the HOB, I wouldnt surprised if he doesnt make it.
Now if you arent home right now to do anythign to the tank, and the flame was stuck to the HOB, I wouldnt surprised if he doesnt make it.
Just thinking though, 10 drops to 10 gallons hypothetically shouldn't be a high concentration of copper at all right? I nkwo every fish reacts different but I was reading through alot of threads and reviews saying that on a 10g tank people dose 10 drops on day 1, 3, 5 to get to about .4. Wouldn't 10 drops only be around .175 or so hypothetically
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