Hello Reef2reef community! I wanted to start a thread pertaining to a research paper that I found online about C.irritans and a potential treatment option.
In their abstract, they discussed placing a "sheet of copper metal" that effectively eliminated a majority of ich. In their own words..
"To test whether a copper alloy surface prevents the outbreak of parasitosis in the aquaculture of Larimichthys crocea, we covered the bottom of the aquaculture tank with sheets of copper alloy containing 74% to 78% copper, and we cultured L. crocea juveniles that had been artificially infected with the protozoan parasite Cryptocaryon irritans. Our results showed that these copper alloy sheets effectively blocked the infectious cycle of C. irritans within a 1-week period and significantly reduced the number of C. irritans trophonts and tomonts, thereby decreasing the mortality rate of L. crocea. In in vitro assays, the cytoplasmic membranes of protomonts disintegrated and the cytoplasm overflowed after just 5 minutes of contact with copper alloy surfaces."
Has anyone perhaps tried this method out in the past and have any anecdotal advice on whether this method works? The research document came out last year and seems promising for safe treatment of ich without having the stress of adding chelated copper such as cupramine. Thanks guys for reading this thread and hope you have a wonderful day! Stay safe everybody and happy reefing <3
Here is a link to the document -> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6344632/pdf/AEM.01982-18.pdf
In their abstract, they discussed placing a "sheet of copper metal" that effectively eliminated a majority of ich. In their own words..
"To test whether a copper alloy surface prevents the outbreak of parasitosis in the aquaculture of Larimichthys crocea, we covered the bottom of the aquaculture tank with sheets of copper alloy containing 74% to 78% copper, and we cultured L. crocea juveniles that had been artificially infected with the protozoan parasite Cryptocaryon irritans. Our results showed that these copper alloy sheets effectively blocked the infectious cycle of C. irritans within a 1-week period and significantly reduced the number of C. irritans trophonts and tomonts, thereby decreasing the mortality rate of L. crocea. In in vitro assays, the cytoplasmic membranes of protomonts disintegrated and the cytoplasm overflowed after just 5 minutes of contact with copper alloy surfaces."
Has anyone perhaps tried this method out in the past and have any anecdotal advice on whether this method works? The research document came out last year and seems promising for safe treatment of ich without having the stress of adding chelated copper such as cupramine. Thanks guys for reading this thread and hope you have a wonderful day! Stay safe everybody and happy reefing <3