I think I over-dosed cupramine

[ezhoops]

Well, either my test kit is bad or something went wrong. I had a yelllow coris wrasse in QT and was being treated with cupramine. I started slow with a level of .25 for 5 days and then ramped it up to what I thought was .50 and actually turned out to be about 1.0. Needless to say the wrasse did not respond well. I tried desparetly to say this fish by water changes and even placed it in completely new untreated SW but it was too late.

I am really upset with myself.

Do you think it really was the high level of cupramine that did it?

 

[lhm nole]

Well, either my test kit is bad or something went wrong. I had a yelllow coris wrasse in QT and was being treated with cupramine. I started slow with a level of .25 for 5 days and then ramped it up to what I thought was .50 and actually turned out to be about 1.0. Needless to say the wrasse did not respond well. I tried desparetly to say this fish by water changes and even placed it in completely new untreated SW but it was too late.

I am really upset with myself.

Do you think it really was the high level of cupramine that did it?

Which test kit did you use? If you are using the seachem one you have to read the test after 45 seconds(per seachem support) anything after that will give you a higher reading. Quick way to test your kit is in 1 gallon of water drop 2 drops cupramine stir well then test and it should test at .25 hope this helps

 

[evsalty]

Are you using any Amquel or prime or any other things like these to counter ammonia ans such in your QT? I ask because these items when mixed with Cupermine become toxic.

 

[phasezero]

I did the same thing when i first used Cupramine. I followed the directions and did the first half dose, which became absorbed. I then did another half dose + a little extra 48 hours later. 8 hours later when i turned the lights back on, my 2 inch tang literally shot up from bed and died within a second. My pair of clowns who are normally pigs, stopped eating. I checked the copper level and it was easily .8 to 1.0.

Next time i ever attempt to use Cupramine, i will make my own .5 reference to use every time i test the water because the Seachem test kit is impossible to use. I would also increase the dose much slower and test more often.

 

[Orcrone]

How do you dose the Cupramine? I've never had dosing problems using either the API or Salifert kits. I always use a syringe, rather than an eye dropper to measure the amount of Cupramine added to the water.

 

[MrTuskfish]

IME; only a SeaChem test kit is accurate with SeaChem Cupramine. Evsalty is correct on the ammonia-neutralizers and Cupramine. there's a sticky at the top of the forum. Most fish can handle Cupramine at about .8, many fish higher. I'd just guess there is something else involved. (But that is not meaning I think you should exceed .5, at least by much.)

 

[ezhoops]

I dose by the eye dropper and have used cupramine many many times before with great success.

I have also mixed Prime (ammonia neutralizer) with it with no loss of fish. So I did think this was the norm. This may have been the problem.

I use the sailfert test, another issue was that I had a tupperware of sand that was absorbing the copper and thus I added too much too fast.

Now, what is the best way to absorb the copper once added besides doing a WC? I added carbon.

 

[evsalty]

I dose by the eye dropper and have used cupramine many many times before with great success.

I have also mixed Prime (ammonia neutralizer) with it with no loss of fish. So I did think this was the norm. This may have been the problem.

I use the sailfert test, another issue was that I had a tupperware of sand that was absorbing the copper and thus I added too much too fast.

Now, what is the best way to absorb the copper once added besides doing a WC? I added carbon.

To asorb the copper put in a poly pad. It should turn blue as it absorbs the copper.


Here is a quote of my post that got Sk8r to make that sticky about prime and cupermine. I got that info directly from SeaChem on theire website. Still not saying that this was your issue but with elevated levels of cupermine perhaps the combo of the two products became toxic enough to do damage this time.

Ok just found this http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Cupramine.html#faq2. In that link you will see this q and a :
Now this is for cupramine but the reaction should be the same for any copper containing additive I would think.

Q: I've been dosing with Cupramine™ and then I added Product X and everything died. What happened?

A: If Product X is a reducing agent such as ParaGuard™ (or other aldehyde based medications), or if you overdose with a dechlorinator, such as Prime® then the Cu+2 will be reduced to Cu+. Cu+ is 10 times more toxic than Cu+2.

If this is truely what happend then it is for sure a huge shame since you had the right intensions and were wanting to save your fish. This is why I keep a qt up 24/7.

 

[ezhoops]

got it thanks, good to know. the other fish that I did this too were clowns and maybe they were a little less sensitive or something.