Prime used in with cupramine QT?

[MrCaveman]

I just read a few posts that say do not use prime with copper. Why is this? I put prime in my QT and cupramine is around .40ppm. My lieutenant tang is beginning to show some signs of stress and is acting very skittish for the first time after about a week with cupramine, which was raised to therapeutic levels over 3-4 days and about 5 days at the current .40ppm concentration via Salifert. Ammonia is testing around 1.0ppm via API. QT is 20g, do I need a water change to lower ammonia and not use prime this time?

 

[Deinonych]

Prime breaks the copper-amine complex in Cupramine, raising the free Cu+ ions to toxic levels. You should never use Prime with Cupramine for this reason. You should do a water change and run carbon for a few days to remove the copper, then start over.

What are you doing for biofiltration?

 

[DasCamel]

I believe it can magnify the effect of the copper treatment. I would highly recommend doing a large water change fast.

 

[hobbzz]

I would do a 100% water change.

 

[MrCaveman]

Alright thanks! Ill get some new water ready right now

 

[snorvich]

I would do a 100% water change.

This. At the enhanced level, copper becomes toxic.

 

[MrCaveman]

I did about an 80% WC on the QT and within an hour the tang is acting back to normal. Swimming around and charging the spectrum pellets. He's still a little skittish at times probably from the powerhead pushing PVC pipe, but he's worlds better than he was earlier today

 

[MrTuskfish]

Here's a lot of info on Cupramine, The FAQ are vital.http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Cupramine.html

 

[MrCaveman]

If anyone wanted to know the outcome... all of the fish survived. The lieutenant is in a 180 gallon reef to himself thus far and looking the best I've ever seen. And the clowns and gramma that were in there as well are in a 25g rimless cube. I feel like I dodged a bullet with this one... I know have a 5" Tusk that Is in the qt right now and will be going through the tank transfer; no more cupramine for me.

 

[Nina51]

i made this very same mistake recently. thank God somebody was paying attention (sorry, don't remember which rc'er to give credit to) or i would have probably lost the kole tang i have in qt. i switched to the ttm, just did my 3rd transfer this morning.

seachem needs to revise their label/instructions to make this more clear!!