End Copper QT Early If...

[Kyle Bruin]

I had my display tank running fallow for 80+ days and was QT my first fish. Unfortunately my QT tank ran into an issue where it would process the ammonia to nitrite, but I couldn't get it past that spike. I did massive water changes, added bacteria, and just couldn't get it under control (using a Seachem Tidal 75 completely full of Matrix on a 40g QT). I was worried the high nitrites were doing more harm and decided to move them to the display without treating with copper (I had done two doses of Prazipro). Well despite them being healthy and happy during transfer, about 30 days later I got some white spots on the Blue Spot Puffer (other fish was a Sailfin Blenny).

So now I'm dosing copper in the MT. I should say this is a FOWLR tank. But in the meantime I've been QT the next set of fish (3x Ignatius Anthias, 2 Clowns, 1 Yellow Tang). They are through Prazipro and are almost a week into copper treatment.

My question is, if its is a bad idea to just transfer the fish in QT to the display early. Both are being dosed with copper anyways. The QT fish all are eating and not showing any signs of disease. No real reason to believe there is any more or less ich (whatever life stage) in the QT vs MT.

 

[EmdeReef]

Sorry for your problems.

Nitrites aren’t that toxic unless in very high concentration in saltwater so I wouldn’t worry or even test for nitrites tbh.

By MT I presume you mean your display? Any rocks or sand in the tank? It’s not a good idea to dose copper in a tank with rocks or sand due to absorption. You will end up with rocks that may later leach copper and also it will be very difficult to maintain a therapeutic dose. If there are no rocks or sand then it’s fine to use it as QT, make large water changes the. run mpolyfilter or cuprisorob etc to remove residual copper.

 

[Kyle Bruin]

The nitrites were pretty high yah, max/past the scale of API and Hanna Checkers. I was actually under the impression they were more harmful than nitrates so that's good to know. This time I'm being much smarter about my QT and just not even letting it cycle and just controlling the ammonia.

Yah MT (main tank) or display is being dosed with copper. There is rock/sand. I had read about the absorption/leach issue, but figured A) its FOWLR so not the biggest deal and B) I run seagel in a NYOS Torq reactor so I'm probably okay in managing taking it back out over time. And have media cups available to keep cuprisorb running for a while too. Kinda felt like I didn't have an option other than dosing the display. Catching the two fish would have been basically impossible to send them back to QT and I just don't have the heart in me to run the display fallow for another 76 days... I guess I could have done Paraguard or something more friendly than copper, but since it was FOWLR I figured big guns was the better option.

So yah I mean die has been cast in the display, its a week into copper treatment. Any major reason to keep the other fish in the QT tanks (2x 10g). I feel it will be easier to monitor copper in just one, its a bigger and more established tank, be easier to check them for signs of disease under real lighting and monitor feeding. Plus I can break down the QT until the next set of victims... I mean fish.

 

[EmdeReef]

The nitrites were pretty high yah, max/past the scale of API and Hanna Checkers. I was actually under the impression they were more harmful than nitrates so that's good to know. This time I'm being much smarter about my QT and just not even letting it cycle and just controlling the ammonia.

Yah MT (main tank) or display is being dosed with copper. There is rock/sand. I had read about the absorption/leach issue, but figured A) its FOWLR so not the biggest deal and B) I run seagel in a NYOS Torq reactor so I'm probably okay in managing taking it back out over time. And have media cups available to keep cuprisorb running for a while too. Kinda felt like I didn't have an option other than dosing the display. Catching the two fish would have been basically impossible to send them back to QT and I just don't have the heart in me to run the display fallow for another 76 days... I guess I could have done Paraguard or something more friendly than copper, but since it was FOWLR I figured big guns was the better option.

So yah I mean die has been cast in the display, its a week into copper treatment. Any major reason to keep the other fish in the QT tanks (2x 10g). I feel it will be easier to monitor copper in just one, its a bigger and more established tank, be easier to check them for signs of disease under real lighting and monitor feeding. Plus I can break down the QT until the next set of victims... I mean fish.

Yeah the toxicity of nitrites in sw is negligible at most doses we encounter.

Prolonged copper exposure isn’t good for fish thus leaching May cause long term problems for you. Assuming nothing precipitates a more sudden release of accumulated copper.

If you are set on going down that path then you can combine the QTs. I would also advise getting the Hanna copper checker and testing at least 3x a day initially to ensure you are maintaining a proper therapeutic dose and to avoid overdosing.

 

[Kyle Bruin]

Makes sense about the prolonged copper exposure. I'm thinking that with good chemical filtration (reactor with carbon / media cups with Cuprisob) I should be able to keep copper down to negligible levels? Just would need to test regularly to confirm?

Certainly not set on combining the QT into the display, but dosing the main is already down the road. Certainly is my preference to move them, just not sure if that's a bad idea or not. I'm also considering adding a UV sterilizer to the main tank.

I've got both the Seachem copper test and the Hanna Copper checker (more regents are coming tomorrow for it).