Copper Power Therapeutic Level Question

[blackshirts2004]

I am trying to rid my tank of potential velvet as I had some sort of outbreak that killed off like 7 fish. I have a 40 gallon and I have applied copper power 5 days ago. I tested and it is at 1.59. How much should I add to bring the level up or am I okay where it is? Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

You added copper to your main display tank or to a quarantine tank?

 

[blackshirts2004]

You added copper to your main display tank or to a quarantine tank?

Main tank. I removed the inverts that were in the tank prior to doing so and put them in the QT

 

[Crabs McJones]

Main tank. I removed the inverts that were in the tank prior to doing so and put them in the QT

Is your rock and sand still in the tank?

 

[flor4faun4]

You added copper to your main display tank or to a quarantine tank?

Main tank. I removed the inverts that were in the tank prior to doing so and put them in the QT

Oh no no no no no. Copper stays forever in rock and sand. You can NEVER put inverts back in that tank.

We treated a FOWLR tank with copper over a year ago, did so many of those metal remover packets, changed all filters, scrubbed rocks, and there's still copper levels in it

 

[W31Olds]

Use a Copperpower Dosage Calculator. Just Google that and put in your tank parameters. There are many on the internet, but I always check at least 2 different ones to be sure as some have bugs. And, remember your 40-gallon Tank doesn't have 40 Gallons of water in it so you will need to estimate based on the water level, rock, sand, filters , etc. Oh, and you can remove copper from your DT after, it has been done.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Main tank. I removed the inverts that were in the tank prior to doing so and put them in the QT

Oh no no no no no. Copper stays forever in rock and sand. You can NEVER put inverts back in that tank.

We treated a FOWLR tank with copper over a year ago, did so many of those metal remover packets, changed all filters, scrubbed rocks, and there's still copper levels in it

This. You should never dose in your main display as the rock and sand will absorb copper, so you'll never be able to keep your level where you want it. And once you're done with treatment the rock and sand are going to leech out copper which will poison your corals and inverts.
You can try running a bag of cuprisorb, but it's going to leech out copper the rest of it's life

 

[blackshirts2004]

Thank you for the responses. For future, how would I ensure my main display no longer has a parasite if I do not dose with copper? I was told by my LFS to move all inverts to the QT and dose into main display.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thank you for the responses. For future, how would I ensure my main display no longer has a parasite if I do not dose with copper? I was told by my LFS to move all inverts to the QT and dose into main display.

Best bet, is remove and treat in another tank, and let the main display run empty for minimum of 80 days. Basically starve out the parasite. The inverts should have been able to stay as velvet doesn't target inverts or coral.

 

[exnisstech]

Its best to treat in a QT tank and the DT run fallow but copper can be removed from the display using cuprisorb.
The rock in the tank below was treated with copper and removed. It was years ago and I don't remember how much was needed or how long it took but it can be done.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am trying to rid my tank of potential velvet as I had some sort of outbreak that killed off like 7 fish. I have a 40 gallon and I have applied copper power 5 days ago. I tested and it is at 1.59. How much should I add to bring the level up or am I okay where it is? Thanks!

Treat in a separate sterile tank making it a treatment tank only and 1.59 is too low as coppersafe and copperpower take effect at 2.0 and above and go with 2.5 ppm monitored with a Hanna brand copper test kit. Treat all fish exposed to disease and leave display tank free of fish (fallow) for 6-8 weeks.
Also monitor ammonia levels during treatment with a reliable test kit and add air stone if truly velvet
Do you have pics of fish with disease? (use white lighting for pics, no blue)

 

[blackshirts2004]

Treat in a separate sterile tank making it a treatment tank only and 1.59 is too low as coppersafe and copperpower take effect at 2.0 and above and go with 2.5 ppm monitored with a Hanna brand copper test kit. Treat all fish exposed to disease and leave display tank free of fish (fallow) for 6-8 weeks.
Also monitor ammonia levels during treatment with a reliable test kit and add air stone if truly velvet
Do you have pics of fish with disease? (use white lighting for pics, no blue)

 

[Saltees]

FWIW, I ran my display tank at 2.5+ ppm copper (power) for 30 days, but removed all sand and rocks beforehand, replacing them with 4” PVC elbows and tees. After that, I dosed PraziPro for another 3 weeks. Throughout the entire process, I did NOT lose a single fish. Once treatment was complete, I added a new aquascape and sand, and successfully transitioned to keeping SPS corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hard to tell with deceased specimens but some appear as bacterial, one has possible tail nipping, yellow tang a little thin and cant confirm disease from pics. Was hoping to see pics when alive and when onset occurred