Humblefish
Active Member
WARNING: The below recommendations are only applicable to chelated copper (e.g. Copper Power, Coppersafe). They DO NOT APPLY to Cupramine or any other forms of copper.
Forward: After consulting with a public aquarium and Jeff@FisHotel.com, below are new recommendations for using chelated copper (e.g. Copper Power, Coppersafe) in two different scenarios. MANY THANKS to Jeff@FisHotel.com for doing extensive experimentation in order to confirm the following:
Scenario 1 - Fish being quarantined in a newly setup QT
In this situation, the quarantine tank should be free of pathogens. So, no leftover Ich or Velvet tomonts to worry about from a previous batch of fish.
Recommendation: Take 48 hours to slowly/gradually raise the copper level to 2.0 ppm. After that:
Recommendation: If applicable, run carbon for 24 hours to remove any residuals from non-copper medications you have previously dosed. Then remove carbon and preset the QT to 2.0 ppm chelated copper. The treatment period (30 or 14 days) is the same as outlined above, including the need to raise Copper Power to 2.5 ppm before the clock begins.
The previous recommendation was to begin treatment at 1.0 ppm. (n) However, starting out at 2.0 ppm has been deemed relatively safe via experimentation with multiple different species of fish. Or let's put it another way... The risk of being infected (or reinfected) with Ich or Velvet outweighs any risk from releasing a fish straight into 2.0 copper. (y)
Note: It is highly recommended to use the Hanna High Range Copper Colorimeter (HI702) to test your copper level: High Range Copper Colorimeter – Checker® HC HI702
Here is a dosing calculator for Copper Power only: Quarantine Help - The FisHotel
Forward: After consulting with a public aquarium and Jeff@FisHotel.com, below are new recommendations for using chelated copper (e.g. Copper Power, Coppersafe) in two different scenarios. MANY THANKS to Jeff@FisHotel.com for doing extensive experimentation in order to confirm the following:
Scenario 1 - Fish being quarantined in a newly setup QT
In this situation, the quarantine tank should be free of pathogens. So, no leftover Ich or Velvet tomonts to worry about from a previous batch of fish.
Recommendation: Take 48 hours to slowly/gradually raise the copper level to 2.0 ppm. After that:
- With Coppersafe, maintain 2.0 ppm for 30 days OR 14 days and then transfer to a new/sterile tank for observation.
- With Copper Power, take a few days to further raise the Cu level to 2.5 ppm. Treat at this concentration for 30 days OR 14 days and then transfer to a new/sterile tank for observation.
- Fish being placed in a QT that has been used repeatedly, without being sterilized in-between batches of fish
- Fish with Ich or Velvet
- Asymptomatic fish coming from a known diseased environment
Recommendation: If applicable, run carbon for 24 hours to remove any residuals from non-copper medications you have previously dosed. Then remove carbon and preset the QT to 2.0 ppm chelated copper. The treatment period (30 or 14 days) is the same as outlined above, including the need to raise Copper Power to 2.5 ppm before the clock begins.
The previous recommendation was to begin treatment at 1.0 ppm. (n) However, starting out at 2.0 ppm has been deemed relatively safe via experimentation with multiple different species of fish. Or let's put it another way... The risk of being infected (or reinfected) with Ich or Velvet outweighs any risk from releasing a fish straight into 2.0 copper. (y)
Note: It is highly recommended to use the Hanna High Range Copper Colorimeter (HI702) to test your copper level: High Range Copper Colorimeter – Checker® HC HI702
Here is a dosing calculator for Copper Power only: Quarantine Help - The FisHotel