Running cupermine.. how long can fish live without eating?

[125mph]

Just started cupermine to kill the ich.. Already the cysts have all droppped out.. its only .25 mg/L right now.. but noticed they arent eating.. my fish go after the food but then spit it right back out. how long can fish go without eating? I was planning on running this cupermine at .4 mg/L for 4 weeks but maybe I will go shorter.. dont want anyone to die from not eating.

 

[ca1ore]

Four weeks would be tough. What kind of fish are they and what were they eating prior to treatment?

 

[125mph]

Four weeks would be tough. What kind of fish are they and what were they eating prior to treatment?

Potters Angel, Regal Angel, 2 Sabae Clowns, Sixline wrasse and a fathead anthias.

They were all eating very well before the treatment.. So far, they've been on copper only 8 hours and its only .25 mg/L. The potter angel had ich all over his body but all of the cysts have fallen off pretty much within a few hours of copper treatment.

I will try to soak the food with garlic tomorrow.

 

[ca1ore]

I find it beneficial to ramp up the Cu concentration slowly over 3-4 days. Gives the fish a chance to get used to it.

 

[Mrscribbled]

I find it beneficial to ramp up the Cu concentration slowly over 3-4 days. Gives the fish a chance to get used to it.

Agree, also are you keeping amonia under control?

 

[125mph]

Agree, also are you keeping amonia under control?

Do you think I should drop the .25mg/L to something like .1mg/L and see how they react?

They just entered the hospital tank yesterday night and I started the cupertine this morning so I don't think ammonia is a problem yet. I was planning to doing 50% water change every other day. Do you think it could be a problem?

 

[Mrscribbled]

Give them a couple days to adjust to the copper and new environment. Water changes alone won't keep ammonia in check. I prefer using a HOB, sponge filter and a bottle of Instant Ocean bio spira. This will establish bio filtration and therefore daily water changes are not needed.

 

[Mrscribbled]

Also, most test kits give a false ammonia reading with copper. An ammonia alert badge is a good investment.

 

[125mph]

Give them a couple days to adjust to the copper and new environment. Water changes alone won't keep ammonia in check. I prefer using a HOB, sponge filter and a bottle of Instant Ocean bio spira. This will establish bio filtration and therefore daily water changes are not needed.

What is a hob sponge filter? I am running a fluval c2 filter with just the filter floss installed. I didn't put the carbon on and didn't put the ceramic stuff for the bio because I read the ich can attach to those things and take longer to get rid of. Is that similar to what you're talking about? I just went ahead and put the cermanic things in just now.

I'll grab a bottle of bio spira tomorrow. I thought those things only worked when you have live rock or other items that will build a bacteria colony.

 

[jungleboy]

Bacteria live on any surface in the tank. Live rock has much more surface area for the bacteria to colonize, that's why it's used.

 

[triggreef]

What is a hob sponge filter? I am running a fluval c2 filter with just the filter floss installed. I didn't put the carbon on and didn't put the ceramic stuff for the bio because I read the ich can attach to those things and take longer to get rid of. Is that similar to what you're talking about? I just went ahead and put the cermanic things in just now.

I'll grab a bottle of bio spira tomorrow. I thought those things only worked when you have live rock or other items that will build a bacteria colony.

Hob is hang on back. As far as ich attaching to media, it can cyst on anything including the glass. The bacteria will help, as others said invest in a 5 dollar ammonia alert badge as tests are useless.

The fish are probably just getting used to the new surroundings. I dropped some into straight .5 copper before with no issue, though I would not suggest that.

 

[125mph]

Hob is hang on back. As far as ich attaching to media, it can cyst on anything including the glass. The bacteria will help, as others said invest in a 5 dollar ammonia alert badge as tests are useless.

The fish are probably just getting used to the new surroundings. I dropped some into straight .5 copper before with no issue, though I would not suggest that.

Great, I'm going to get the biospira or another bacteria product if my lfs doesn't carry it. I prepped the water change for tomorrow morning as it's heating up as we speak. I didn't think ammonia could build up so fast but I think that could be why. I'll get the ammonia badge tomorrow too.

Do you think it would be helpful if I pull a small live rock from the main tank to help seed the hospital tank with the bacteria? Is that a bad idea with ich copper treatment?

 

[triggreef]

Honestly i have done that in an emergency but it took a surprisingly large amount of rock from my sump to get a handle on a small amount of ammonia in about 60g of water with only 4 small fish. Also that rock shouldn't really be used for your reef again.

 

[triggreef]

Also if they aren't eating, don't leave the un eaten food in the tank.