If it's been over a month at the correct level why not remove the copper? All Ich should be dead. If something starts to pop up again after removing the copper then you could always just add copper again. I can't imagine running copper at .5 constantly will not harm your fish eventually
Ich Outbreak Update
- Thread starter microlady
- Start date
If it's been over a month at the correct level why not remove the copper? All Ich should be dead. If something starts to pop up again after removing the copper then you could always just add copper again. I can't imagine running copper at .5 constantly will not harm your fish eventually
tassod
New member
I am in the process of stocking fish so even though it has been over a month since i have started copper, some of my fish have only been in there for just over a week. I figure once i am done stocking my tank with all the fish i want, i will wait another month and then gradually start removing the copper since their will be no more fish added.
Deinonych
New member
When I had an outbreak a few years back (acquired through a zoanthid colony on live rock), my McCosker's wrasse and firefish never showed any signs. My clowns had a few spots, but it never bothered them much. My Royal Gramma and Bicolor Blenny were severely affected and succumbed to it.
Deinonych
New member
Interesting approach. I assume you don't plan to have corals?
It will depend on your fish selection. A lot of fishes don't take copper nicely.
Also, for a new fish, do you start the copper dose at .5 since your tank is on .5? It'll be tough for the fishes to start at that level of copper.
tassod
New member
The LFS I get my fish from uses the same Coppersafe as I do and he also runs his tanks at the same level between 1.5-2ppm for chelated Copper. When i get them, they are already acclimated to that level.
tassod
New member
For now, no. Plus most of the fish i am stocking are not reef safe.
That may be a problem in the long run. With the lower dose of copper, it's going to masked the ich. (You can do a search on the forum for the masked ich topic) If you remove the copper, ich is going to come back when you add new fish or under stress.
When I had an outbreak before I lost a royal gramma, flame angel, two tangs, blue damsel (puzzling, I know), and one clownfish. The other clown survived along with my clown gobies and some wrasses. I am sure the parasite came in on corals, snails, or rocks. I am still not sure it was ich. It could have been velvet. That is why I chose to go fallow. How long did your outbreak last? Mine lingered for three weeks, which is why I didn't suspect velvet. The reason I suspect it now is because the fish looked like they were covered in powdered sugar, the skin of the tangs were blotchy, and they hung out in areas of high flow. Ich always looked more like salt grains to me before and it usually went away in a couple of weeks with no mortalities.
Geez. That might be the way to go. I also would worry about copper use long term, especially on angels and tangs. But keeo doing it if it works!
ThRoewer
New member
Running copper all the time will slowly poison the fish - it is not a good solution.
Killing quick sounds like velvet or something other than ich.
Ich normally takes weeks to build up to lethal levels.
My suggestion would be to stay clear of tangs - they are in general the fish that will first come down with it and maintain it in a system.
The other thing is to chose fish wisely and see that their needs are met.
Killing quick sounds like velvet or something other than ich.
Ich normally takes weeks to build up to lethal levels.
My suggestion would be to stay clear of tangs - they are in general the fish that will first come down with it and maintain it in a system.
The other thing is to chose fish wisely and see that their needs are met.
tassod
New member
It's funny you would say this, I thought the same way and before my last batch of "losses" prior to turning to copper I went out of my way not to get any tangs. 3 weeks later I had 6 losses in a week, mostly all angels but I believe it was brought in by a trigger...yeah go figure..
Yes, I agree. But I am hoping my current livestock will pull through. After this bunch I am done with tangs and probably angels, and I have a 6 foot tank!
ThRoewer
New member
The concern is not that the tangs bring it in - any fish can do that.
The issue with tangs is that the most tanks are too small for them. As a result they are constantly stressed out and vulnerable to catch any infection that may make it into the tank - and something will always find its way in, regardless how good your quarantine protocol is and how diligent you execute it.
While you should always do your best to keep diseases and parasites from entering your tank, the best way to prevent disease outbreaks is to keep the fish in a low stress environment and fit to deal with fighting off pathogens on their own. Getting this for tangs requires good sized tank and a lot of dedication and sacrifices on other inhabitants. For those reasons I rather stay away from tangs - not because I don't like them.
Yep, I give up. Either the fallow period did not work, or I made a mistake somehow with TTM, or my observation period was too short. The current residents are alive and eating, but the Potters angel has spots and it is scratching on rocks. The yellow tang is better. I am riding this one out and I will keep you posted.
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