Persistent Cupramine Dosing

[FishNick]

Hey guys, I have a quick question! So I am currently using a spare 5 gal tank to treat a small clownfish I got for my reef tank I am building. This is my second time in the hobby and I have been very, very tedious with how I go about things. I lost all of my fish a few years ago, and I believe it was due to a lack of quarantine practicing. (Never did it)

This time around I am doing things right! While I know a 5 gallon is a small, tempermental tank to be using for a quarantine, its only temporary. However, being that it is small, I am having to do frequent water changes.

My question is, how do you guys maintain proper copper levels when you have to do water changes? I have read that copper levels are to slowly rise over 5-7 days, and then maintain stability for weeks to properly treat, but how does one maintain a balanced copper level with water changes? Any tips or tricks?

Thanks guys!

 

[Dmorty217]

You try to have enough of a bacterial population to avoid having to do water changes. I assume you're doing water changes because of ammonia? DO NOT use a water conditioner with cupramine FYI

 

[FishNick]

Ammonia exactly. I have a sponge filter I set in my DT so it could help seed the tank. And no, I do not use water conditioner. I've read it does not react well with copper. I just use good ol RO/DI water

 

[Dr. Reef]

when you make replacement saltwater say its 20 gal at a time or 50 gal at a time just put cupramine in that water according to Seachem recommendation on dosing. so everytime you change water in your QT it will keep cupramine at stable level and not increase or decrease.
Note: use that medicated water only for QT.

 

[bertoni]

I agree that dosing the replacement saltwater will work. That's what I would do, if I were stuck making water changes. Hopefully, the sponge will get going soon.

 

[tkeracer619]

Dose the copper to the makeup water.

It's certainly best to establish the tank early on before dosing copper. Ammonia test kits don't work particularly well. I use seachems ammonia alert badge.

 

[FishNick]

Thanks guys! I'll get some water set up.