Also, make sure you're testing the copper levels as the media can absorb some of the copper possibly leading to sub-therapeutic levels.
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Nice! I saw the orange thing hanging on the edge and wasnt sure what was going on out first. Thats cool though how you did that.
Do you have any sensitive scaless fish such as mandarins or blennies? They cant handle chaelated copper as well and it is recommended to keep a close eye on them and run as low levels on them as possible while still being within theraputic levels.
Copper only kills the free swimming stage of the ich protozoa. There are 4 stages to the ich lifecycle and the visible dots is just one. You should see the dots come and go over the next few weeks and they should lessen in number each time since it doesn't kill 100% each lifecycle. Thats why you should hold at full levels for 6 weeks. You will see the spots lessen and come back with less. Give it time, copper works better than anything else and is the only surefire medication.
Quick update! I've now added about 3/4 of the directed amount of copper to the QT. All fish are eating and still acting normal except one fish :/ my Sailfin tang seems to be getting worse (more ich present). He is still swimming and eating, I just see more spots then when I started the treatment. Hmmmm? Is that supposed to happen? Or something else wrong ? Everyone else is getting better and doing great as fas as I can see and tell. Shall I just wait and see what happens ? I see another dose of copper this morning. I'm still under the directed amount due to I don't have a copper test kit yet. Haven't had time to get one
I dont think copper itself causes that, but my fish lighten up when stressed. Its likely a reaction to some sort of stressor. It could be stress from the treatment, but I would keep a close eye on things and keep them at theraputic copper levels. Are they fighting over the new territory since they got moved to a new tank? And make sure the copper levels are not too high with lots of testing.
I'd have to find the exact publication, but copper sulfate pentahydrate had a 100% theront kill rate in every study that was listed. Of course, we can only assume the same applies to ionic copper, chelated, etc. So, we treat for 30 days just to be sure and then observe afterwards to see if symptoms return.
So I ran my first copper test today and I am at 1.5 ppm ... not right there, but in between 1.5-2.0. Is that where I should be ?