Ich after 3 weeks of Cupramine.

[Mohammed]

Hi guys,

I started with Cupramine on my QT, and am using the max dose, i.e 5mg/L. At 3 weeks the fish looked healthy and spot free, so I did not add any Cupramine to the WC. Now I notice my regal scratching, on close inspection it has spots. I doubt the concentration could have dropped below 2.5mg/L with just one wc.

What's my plan of action now?

 

[Newms118]

New Life Spectrum Ick Shield powder? A lot of people have had some success with this medication.

 

[cougareyes]

Are you testing for the proper copper level, or just dosing the recommended amount. It's very important to keep a consistent therapeutic level throughout the entire 3 weeks, the only way to be sure is to test, use the seachem or salifert test kit.

 

[Mohammed]

Hi,

At first I was testing before and after each WC to ensure there was no absorption of any copper into the filter (an air driven corner filter with just filter floss) and that the level of copper was accurate. Initially I did not have an ammonia alert badge so was doing WC's more often for the first 10 days or so (every 3-4 days). The test showed that it was on the button every time. Thereafter I only medicated my top up water to the appropriate dosage and did not test for about a week now, as the test showed 5mg/L every time using the Salifert Copper Test Kit. I have 2, 3'' PVC downpipe elbows in the system so absorption of copper is unlikely. Copper absorption into silicone seams is also a fallacy, so I've read.

The Seachem website advised that their copper will stay in solution until removed with Cuprisorb hence me assuming the correct dosage was being maintained.

I will obviously now test the QT and check. Assuming the level is below therapeutic levels, can I just mix a new batch of water and dose to max then add fish back? So a 100% WC.


New Life Spectrum Ick Shield powder Thanks will look into that.

 

[Deinonych]

I prefer Tank Transfer Method (TTM) to copper. It's far more effective than copper, doesn't require daily testing and can be completed in 12 days. It also doesn't subject the fish to toxic compounds.

Also, the proper therapeutic concentration of Cupramine is 0.5mg/L, not 5mg/L. I'm assuming that's just a typo above.

 

[cougareyes]

Sounds like you were keeping at level, and yes I agree you would not any absorption from pvc or silicone. A 50% water change would have you to .25, I usually treat for 3 weeks so you should have been done anyway. Some fish just respond differently. I'm no expert in treatment and am not comfortable with the TTM so I would start treatment all over and make sure to monitor closely. If you are comfortable with TTM it would obviously be better not to expose the fish to further medication.

 

[Mohammed]

Hi,

Yes sorry 0.5mg/l. TTM is not an option due to the space constraints I have currently.

So I tested the other day and confirmed the copper level was still at 0.5mg/l. For whatever reason the spots survived, im baffled. Thus far only the regal showed some spots.

I will restart the QT clock and monitor.

 

[Spar]

Hi,

Yes sorry 0.5mg/l. TTM is not an option due to the space constraints I have currently.

So I tested the other day and confirmed the copper level was still at 0.5mg/l. For whatever reason the spots survived, im baffled. Thus far only the regal showed some spots.

I will restart the QT clock and monitor.

I'm not meaning to sound like pressuring you into TTM, but the space constraints doesn't make much sense. You need space for your current QT tank using copper in, you would just use this same space for TTM. You do need a 2nd tank handy, but you can just throw that empty in a closet (or anywhere else out of sight) somewhere until you do the next transfer. Generally you only need a 10g or 20g for QT.

Have you seen Lympho before? Many people confuse that with Ich on their fish. And back when i used copper I noticed lympho much more often. They appear like Ich only many times larger, generally on the fins.