CCB qt. tank

JMM744 · Feb 28, 2017

Much thanks guys. I have it just over .4 tonight . Will continue for 30 days and once complete do prozipro.

JMM744 · Mar 5, 2017

Hate to bring this back up but.....got the copper up to about .475 as of today. I have a airstone running in the 40 as well two hang on backs with both sponges and ceramic bio media. Also have an additional sponge floating in tank. Dose nitrifying bacteria a couple time. The filters have been well seasoned so am confident the bio filter is working. I also clean up uneaten food at the end of the evening. All fish were eating brine shrimp and clam and black worms save for the butterfly who will not touch them. As of yesterday the wrasse and small clown began rubbing against the pipes in the tank that are for hiding. Tonight the butterfly is huddled in the lower corner and came to my fingers to eat but quickly lost interest. I am not sure the other fish ate very much either. All fish are breaking faster then what seems normal. The CBB ate clam and brine this afternoon but not tonight. Question is , is this kind of normal? I know the CBB has some disease as it has been rubbing against the pipes since the first full day. It has taken to shuddering often now as well. I believe the copper has been over .35 for at least 5 days and gradually increased every day by a bit. I am open to any suggestions or your thoughts. I am really trying to make it work with the CBB and bought the black worms just for it but as of the last several days of having them it pays them no attention. Thank you in advance for any help etc...
My best, Jim

Humblefish · Mar 5, 2017

Two possibilities:

Your fish are having a negative reaction to the elevated copper. You could try lowering it to see if appetite returns & breathing returns to normal.
Your fish have another disease (such as flukes) not treatable by copper. You could perform a FW dip on one of the fish breathing heavy to check for flukes: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.214/

If your fish have been in .35 copper for at least 5 days then I doubt they still would have velvet in their gills; although ich could be a possibility as those trophonts can take up to 7 days before dropping out.

JMM744 · Mar 5, 2017

I can make a water change tomorrow and see what that does. I will leave the lights off as well and observe. The only fish that hasn't been in the qt. till last week is the butterfly. The others have been in the tank for 3 months and I did prozipro on them some time ago. They all came from an established tank and the CBB came from a store. If I can find a dark container I might fresh water dip the CBB tomorrow or Tues. Question though...if I take it out and fresh water dip does that interfer with the schedule for copper?
Thank you so much for your time , and on a Sunday night too.