Copper - Treatment, Use, Problems

[WALLY89]

i heard live rock can suck up copper. and releases it later. is this true? how long later does it release it?

[leebca]

It depends. If it is 'typical' live rock then it has a carbonate base. In which case the live rock can take up copper and if the pH shifts, will release it later. It releases it whenever the pH goes down. It is the cause of many deaths in marine fishes. A quarantine tank for instance, must not contain any carbonate decorations otherwise it will interfere with the copper treatment and sometimes even other medications.

[Terrie]

Lee (Leebca)

My Name is Terrie, I started about 6 months ago with a salt water aquarium. I have learned from reading your artical on Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon Irritans), that you are to QT all new fish, wish I had new that from the beginning. A couple of my fish have come down with Ich and I now have all my fish in a QT tank. I had already purchased Mardel CopperSafe and have not started using it yet as I just picked it up today. Do you know anything about this treatment, how to use it and test for it or should I go out and purchase Cupramine instead? I am very confused about which medication to use, for how long, what temperature as mine changes in the QT tank with the light on, what gravity to have it at (I use a hydrometer) and should I do a fresh water bath before I start the treatment. Any help you could give would be much appreciated.

Thank You
Terrie:

[leebca]

WELCOME TO REEF SANCTUARY!

The details you need for a quarantine tank are found here: A Fish Quarantine Process - Step by Step Don't know if you've gotten to that post yet or not. Most of your concerns should be handled there.

With regards to CopperSafe, it seems to be about the only copper medication that has gotten a less-than-good reputation. I don't know why for sure, but it has been given a thumbs down by many of my peers. Other than this, I know nothing about it.

I would and could only recommend Cupramine and the Salifert Copper Test Kit not only because I'm sure it works, but it is, for the reasons given in the copper post, a safe copper medication.

Just proceed to treat the fish with the copper medication when they are all in quarantine and you've gotten the medication, test kit and information clear about handling a quarantine. After treatment, hold fish in quarantine to verify the treatment was a success. Also leave the display tank system go fishless for no less than 8 weeks.

[jettie1767]

Lee, I'm on week 2 of trying to build a bio filter on the sponge filter I've put in the DT. QT is now setup with heater, thermometer, new SW and some PVC pipes. Just waiting for about 3 weeks for my sponge filter to get populated before I move the fish in QT for the copper treatment. Surprisingly, fish are all eating good and only one is showing white spots. So, I think I've got time to setup the QT up properly.

My question is this....when I treat the QT tank with copper, do I do any water change during the 14-day treatment or do I do the water change after the 14-day treatment is complete?

Also, how do I 'vacuum' the detritus out of the water without siphoning the water out? I think I read in the write-up that I need to clean the QT everyday. So, do I put the treated water back? Or, do I have to replenish it with SW prepared with copper beforehand?

Am I right in assuming that any pails I use to store SW with copper in it cannot be reused again for anything else?

Thanks!

Warren

[leebca]

Warren,

I may not have been clear, but you should not wait for your filter to become a biological filter while your fish are sick. You should move them to the QT now and begin treatment.

You don't need an active biological filter to operate a QT. Instead of relying upon the biological filter, you'll be making large water changes, up to 80% two or three times a day. Eventually the filter will 'kick in' but don't wait for it in order to start treatment.

The quarantine process is still in effect. That is, if the biological filter is running you'll still be making water changes once every other or third day. If you start treatment now, you'll be making more water changes (see above).

You can use the siphoning method as the beginning of a water change, or you use a siphon with a filter on it -- filtering the water you siphon into a clean container, to return to the QT. Another device, like those sand cleaners many freshwater aquarists use, can also be used. They have a filter bag to catch the debris and the water goes back in.

Good assumption. Glass containers can be cleaned to get rid of the residual copper, but most plastics don't readily clean well. It's best not to use those containers again for marine live stock. However such containers can still be used for mopping floors and other uses pails might provide around the house.

[jettie1767]

Thanks, Lee! After I posted, I bought the Eheim Quick-Vac. I think it will do the job of vacuuming the barebottom QT tank. Would that mean that I can't use it for the DT since I will be using it on the QT with copper in it? I'm thinking I can just wash it thoroughly and replace the filter and it can be used for the DT.

[leebca]

If you clean it as suggested, for having come into contact with copper, I don't see a problem with doing as you say -- disposing the bag and cleaning the equipment.