QT setup for Centropyge

[Dejavu]

I'm receiving a 3 Centropyge potteri these week and want to put them in QT. I have heard that Centropyge potteri are senstive to hypo-salinity. Is this ture? I normaly acculamate in coming fish into hypo-salinity. If this is ture, what would be the best QT setup for them?

 

[SaltyMember]

I am tagging along since I plan to begin QT for a flame angel in the next few weeks. From what I understand the centropyge angels are very sensitive to copper, but I have never heard about them being sensitive to hypo. I am planning on a hypo quarantine for the angel and plan to use formalin as a treatment for any problems.

 

[byrdman81]

I am currently QT an emp angelfish with cupramine with no problems so far he seems fine.

 

[Jerry W]

I have never heard that potters (or any other dwarf angels) are sensitive to hyposalinity, and I've used hypo on several centropyges over the years with good results. Most teleost reef fish tolerate the procedure fine. Drop it over two days, maintain levels via an accurate measuring device (refractometer), and you should have no problems.

 

[LargeAngels]

Here is my QT for potters. Established QT tank with algae on glass, rocks and PVC. Potters can be very picky in the beginning and providing algae to graze on helps until they start eating other foods. Add Prazipro and Cupramine first day (yes, together) 50% water change after 5 days and redose Prazipro and Cupramine. After the second 5 days 50% water change and redose Cupramine only. Pretty much the standard I use on all fish. Check copper levels daily. Don't use any other meds or water conditioners with Cupramine. I currently have a nickel sized potters and nickel sized flame angel finishing up in QT with this exact setup.

What size are the potters? Unless you have one large and two small there may be some fighting.

 

[Dejavu]

Thanks LargeAngels. I'm hoping to get one 3" and the other two 1-1.5. I have not had good luck with the source I'm working with though, as far as getting me the size I want.

So no hypo-salinity?

 

[LargeAngels]

Hypo is only good for ich. Not velvet or flukes and I've seen so many flukes and velvet that I just go ahead and treat for them as I don't want to introduce that to any of my other fish.

Are you getting them straight from the diver?

 

[Dejavu]

I have a source for a diver but I have not checked with them. I'm open to options, if you have any?

 

[LargeAngels]

Call Les at WetPetsHawaii. http://www.wetpetshawaii.com/

 

[biger]

Hey L. Angels, just a quick question. So how long does your whole QT process take? I think I want to do the same as a I like your QT practice the best from what I have found.

 

[LargeAngels]

I go a minimum of 4-6 weeks. I go longer if the fish are not eating aggressively and haven't put on weight. Many forget that QT is not just for disease, but to get the fish back to good health and eating well before subjecting them to others.

 

[biger]

Good point, thanks.

Big

 

[Felixc]

I too like your QT method, could you please elaborate on your QT tank setup? Tank size, filter, circulation, lighting, rocks, etc. Thanks.

 

[LargeAngels]

Depends on the fish. For dwarfs, and some wrasses, I have a 20 gallon that runs all the time, fish or no fish, with some sand, rock and PVC fittings, hang on the back filter with sponges, small power head and just a small flourescent lamp, enough to keep algae growing on rocks and glass. The rock and sand does absorb some copper, but not much and I have found it seems to calm the fish by having it. I also always have an ammonia alert badge (Seachem) in the tank.

For larger fish I usually go with a 60 gallon, but sometimes 100 gallon.

What ever tank I always make sure that there is an established biological filter. Either in the tank or I take some from other established tanks.

 

[madmike]

LargeAngels, how long after you stop dosing prazi do you continue with cupramine? the whole 4-6 weeks? What is your water change schedule after the prazi?
Thanks

 

[madmike]

Also, what kind of copper test kit do you use. Do the regular copper kits test cupramine ok?

 

[LargeAngels]

At the end of the 2nd Prazipro treatment I change 50% of the water and add only Cupramine. After that I do about a 25% water change every week until the fish have been in QT for a total of at least 4 weeks. Then they stay until they are eating prepared food really well and putting weight back on. If they stay longer than 5 or 6 weeks I put carbon in to remove the copper.

 

[madmike]

Thanks! What kind of copper test kit are you using? And do you know if UV is safe to run with the cupramine after the prazi is finished?

 

[LargeAngels]

I use Seachem's. I did use the Red Sea, but when they changed it I got some funny readings. It gave me the same color blue no matter what the copper level was. It was more like a copper or no copper test kit instead of copper level test kit. I got nowhere with Red Sea's help service. I don't know about other test kits, but I think Seachem say's it will work. Do a search on their forum here.

 

[LargeAngels]

NO!! UV will make the copper 10x more toxic.