Water change when using Cupramine.

[dun2run]

I have my fish in QT and just started dosing Cupramine. My tank did cycle and showed no ammonia or nitrite when the fish were added. IF i start to see any ammonia, how would you do a water change without negatively affecting the copper level? Seems like you would have to start over with the dosing to get it to the proper level after removing some of the water.

40 gal QT w/ 5 small fish.

 

[wooden_reefer]

I have my fish in QT and just started dosing Cupramine. My tank did cycle and showed no ammonia or nitrite when the fish were added. IF i start to see any ammonia, how would you do a water change without negatively affecting the copper level? Seems like you would have to start over with the dosing to get it to the proper level after removing some of the water.

40 gal QT w/ 5 small fish.

How did you confirm that your "tank did cycle"? If it did, you will not be getting ammonia if all you used is a copper formulation, which affects nitrification only slightly. If you had cycled the medium intended for the QT very well, you will not get ammonia if you use only copper.

You always remove some copper with WC; you have to replenish some of the copper. Copper dissolves completely in water, just calculated the proportion of copper removed from WC and replenish the correct amount.

 

[dun2run]

I never said I have ammonia in the QT. Yes it cycled. I guess what I was getting at is do you do any water changes while treating with copper or do you go the duration without?

 

[Chris27]

I never said I have ammonia in the QT. Yes it cycled. I guess what I was getting at is do you do any water changes while treating with copper or do you go the duration without?

If a water change is necessary, ensure that the concentration of copper in the make-up water is the same as in the tank, and then perform your change...no different then matching salinity or temp.

 

[dun2run]

Thanks for the info guys. Thats what I needed.

 

[LargeAngels]

IF i start to see any ammonia

Many ammonia test kits give FALSE positive readings when there is Cupramine in the water. They can't distinguish between the two. You can check by testin freshly made water before and after adding Cupramine to check the test kit.

For every 5 gallons of new water you change add 1ml of Cupramine. Also test your tank water regularly to check that level stays at 0.5 ppm.

 

[wooden_reefer]

I have my fish in QT and just started dosing Cupramine. My tank did cycle and showed no ammonia or nitrite when the fish were added. IF i start to see any ammonia, how would you do a water change without negatively affecting the copper level? Seems like you would have to start over with the dosing to get it to the proper level after removing some of the water.

40 gal QT w/ 5 small fish.

Do you worry about ammonia in DT? You shouldn't for QT if...

If you had cycled the medium in QT very well, you need not worry about ammonia in QT if you have done nothing that affects nitrification, and your physical setup is proper (this you can tell by inspection)

If you do not have to use a drug that affects nitrification significantly. Copper for the most part is not one. This is problematic if you also have concurrent bacterial infection. Try your utmost to prevent concurrent bacterial infection while eradicating ich.