Starting Cupramine For Valentini Puffer

[Pigpen17]

Alight. So I bought a Valentini Puffer. It was a risk. They can be OK in reefs or not. My daughter fell in love with it. It is so friggin small! I brought home a leather coral as well. Both went in the QT. There is no way this coral nipping SOB is going in my tank, so the plan is to get a small tank and he will go in her room. He's in QT now for the long haul, the leather is back at the store.

He is starting to show signs of Ich, so I want to start copper treatment. I was going to do something for Ich regardless. I am picking up a copper test kit tomorrow. My question is that I have read on here to wait a few weeks before starting any treatments when QTing fish. He has only been in my QT for a few days, but the little guy has been eating chopped clam twice a day, no problems. Can I start treatment?

And I know TT is the preferred method of Ich eradication, but the bottom line right now is I do not have the equipment to do so, and I am spending my available money on a tank for the kids room and getting it started up.

I guess I am taking a little break from building up my DT. *slaps head* Stupid cute fish!

 

[Nina51]

oh bummer!! my kole tang has been in qt for several weeks and started showing signs of ich recently. had to order the cupramine online as well as the test kit and just gave my first dose today.

good luck with it!

 

[Pigpen17]

Thanks. Yeah, I have been snooping on your guys Kole thread. Good luck to you too. I am pulling for you guys.

 

[HumbleFish]

I would avoid using copper on a puffer - they are typically even more sensitive to it than angels.

I would suggest TT (don't use a net - use something like below). I would think CP would also be a good option, but I've never done that on a puffer before. Hypo would be ideal, if you thought you could execute it properly (this isn't a knock on you - many people have difficulty with hypo).

 

[Pigpen17]

Huh. As usual, I am glad I came here first before doing anything.

Good to see you again HumbleFish. I am kind of dead set on keeping this cheap and in tank. Maybe I'll try Hypo. I have no ATO though, and my evap is.....probably too much to leave all day. Why did I think puffers are a tough fish? This guy came in like gangbusters.

Crap. Well, he's been in the QT for 2 days. Tomorrow is the third. I could get a TT set up going and use my QT as one of the tanks. What a waste of an established QT.

 

[Pigpen17]

So I am going to try Hypo. I am very new to a lot of ideas and concepts on here, but I have had my hands in aquarium water all my life and have 10 years of mixing salt here. If there is one thing I know well, it's water. I can finger test water temp. Not that that means I will have success, but I feel like I could give it a shot.

I have tape on my tank right now so I can see how much evap I get in a workday. Keeping the room cool and the lights off will help.

One question though. From what I read, you should change the filter media every day. Even bio rings?

I have an Aquaclear with sponge and bio rings. Could I keep the rings in and change the sponge? I was thinking of buying 2 more sponges and just alternating daily. With one in filter and two drying out at all times.

Or could I just pull everything? This probably means more water changes, which means more chances to screw up, but if I keep the tank in order and have premixed at the proper salinity, it should be OK?

 

[HumbleFish]

I would read this sticky, and maybe search for some threads about Hyposalinity. To me, it's not a good option... but to be fair, I've also never tried. I would seek out those who have positive experiences using hypo for further advice.

 

[Pigpen17]

I would read this sticky, and maybe search for some threads about Hyposalinity. To me, it's not a good option... but to be fair, I've also never tried. I would seek out those who have positive experiences using hypo for further advice.

Thanks. Yeah, I read that. Awesome info. I am just not sure about the filter media thing. Thanks for your input.