Paraguard with Copper?

[Vapour1ze]

I'm not sure if clown has brook or velvet. I am currently running copper in qt. I have paraguard being delivered today. Can I run paraguard as well? Clown has been in qt for 3 days with copper. I am also receiving formalin today. It looks like brook. Can I keep the copper running and then just dip in formalin? Of course putting him back in the copper then. Thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[slief]

No you should not use both together. Paraguard has formalin in it and formalin can change the make up of copper and can be toxic when used in combination from what I have read. I'd stick with copper treatment and see how that goes.

Make sure you are using a copper test kit to verify that you are at therapeutic levels of copper. This is very important. If your levels are not high enough, the treatment may not be effective and if you are too high, it can cause additional stress on the fish or worse. Things like the substrate and or rock in your QT tank can reduce the levels of copper and as such, recommended doses aren't always enough. This is another reason why the use of copper test kits are so important. Also, make sure you are not running carbon in the QT system.

 

[Vapour1ze]

Thanks I thought copper doesn't do anything for brook?

 

[slief]

Thanks I thought copper doesn't do anything for brook?

It doesn't but copper is more effective for velvet as I understand it.

Also, from what I've read, the best use of Formalin for Brooklynella is the dip method where the fish is exposed for 30-45 minutes. While you may be able to use the dip method in conjunction with copper in your QT system by removing the fish from the QT and dipping it in the formalin treated water, I would probably shy away from that due to added stress of the fish. You also wouldn't know which one worked and what you really had. As such, I would stick with one (copper) and if that doesn't work, follow it up with the other after removing all the copper from your QT system or replacing all the water all together. Additionally, when you are using formalin dip for treatment, your main QT holding ystem should be treated with Maracyn to reduce chances of bacterial infections.


Having said that, you really should have posted this in the Disease treatment section. I will ask a mods to move the tread as you will get more advice there.
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