QT Question

[fernalfer]

Ok i have been diligent in my QT process. I have QT'ed my Lemon Peel Mimic Tang and Starry Blenny so far. All my Inverts have also been QT'ed. For the fish i do 2 rounds of prazipro and 3-4 weeks of cupramine. Inverts go in another QT tank for 75 days.

Now i currently have 5 fish in QT. They have had 2 rounds of prazipro and have been in cupramine for 3 weeks now. When i tested the copper levels just now it read only 2.5. I have been busy and have not tested often. I look at all the fish and they are healthy and see no signs of Ick on any of the fish, they have been in QT a total of 44 days. The area i have my QT tanks need to be moved because our furnace is being moved to that area. Instead of draining water, stressing out the fish is it safe to put them in the Display tank? or should i up the cupramine back to theraputic levels and keep them there another 2 weeks?

Fish in QT are: 2 Ocellaris clowns, 2 Pajama Cardinalfish and 1 firefish

 

[Mike_J]

Without maintaining a therapeutic level of Cupramine for the 30 day period, there is still a risk of introducing Ich. General recommendation is to bring back to therapeutic level and start the 30 day period over. With that said, if you never saw signs of Ich to begin with, you are probably safe to just add to your main tank. Just realize there is still that risk present. It really comes down to your level of comfort with that small percentage of doubt. Just my .02 cents! Good luck!

 

[Josett Waid]

Ok i have been diligent in my QT process. I have QT'ed my Lemon Peel Mimic Tang and Starry Blenny so far. All my Inverts have also been QT'ed. For the fish i do 2 rounds of prazipro and 3-4 weeks of cupramine. Inverts go in another QT tank for 75 days.

Now i currently have 5 fish in QT. They have had 2 rounds of prazipro and have been in cupramine for 3 weeks now. When i tested the copper levels just now it read only 2.5. I have been busy and have not tested often. I look at all the fish and they are healthy and see no signs of Ick on any of the fish, they have been in QT a total of 44 days. The area i have my QT tanks need to be moved because our furnace is being moved to that area. Instead of draining water, stressing out the fish is it safe to put them in the Display tank? or should i up the cupramine back to theraputic levels and keep them there another 2 weeks?

Fish in QT are: 2 Ocellaris clowns, 2 Pajama Cardinalfish and 1 firefish

I don't think it's a good idea to move them to the DT just yet, at 44 days ich could still be in your DT. Also sometimes ich can just show up out of no were from my experience. Also did you have copper at therapeutic levels for a total of 30 days straight? If not you'll have to start copper over again for the 30 days. But if it was at therapeutic levels for 30 days Ich might not be a problem now in QT but they still need to stay in QT for 72days. If you have to move the QT take the fish out and put them in a bucket for a few while you get the QT set up again but I wouldn't advise you to put them in the DT.

 

[fernalfer]

The only problem i have is the length of time in Cupramine. They have been in Cupramine for 3 weeks and 2 days. Not sure if it is really good for the fish to be in Cupramine for another 30 days equaling almost 2 months in Cupramine. They have been in QT for 44 days now what seems to be Ick free and healthy. Struggling with the fact it may be unhealthy for the fish to be in Copper for that length of time

 

[Josett Waid]

The only problem i have is the length of time in Cupramine. They have been in Cupramine for 3 weeks and 2 days. Not sure if it is really good for the fish to be in Cupramine for another 30 days equaling almost 2 months in Cupramine. They have been in QT for 44 days now what seems to be Ick free and healthy. Struggling with the fact it may be unhealthy for the fish to be in Copper for that length of time

Yeah it's never good on the fish to be in copper for long periods of time but it's important that if it's been at therapeutic levels for that full time.

 

[Humblefish]

When i tested the copper levels just now it read only 2.5.

I'm assuming you mean 0.25 mg/L; IME this is not a high enough concentration to eradicate ich.

0.35 is the minimum, with 0.5 mg/L being optimal.

 

[fernalfer]

I'm assuming you mean 0.25 mg/L; IME this is not a high enough concentration to eradicate ich.

0.35 is the minimum, with 0.5 mg/L being optimal.

I understand this but moving forward should I get the copper levels back up to proper levels and have the fish in copper for close to 2 months even after 44 days of showing no signs of ich?


Just not sure fish in copper for this long is ok

 

[Humblefish]

I understand this but moving forward should I get the copper levels back up to proper levels and have the fish in copper for close to 2 months even after 44 days of showing no signs of ich?


Just not sure fish in copper for this long is ok

You're in a quagmire because subtherapeutic copper can mask symptoms of ich & velvet for up to 30 days. :eek:

What I would do in your shoes right now is perform Tank Transfer Method on these fish (to treat for ich) and then observe for 2 weeks afterwards to ensure velvet doesn't rear its ugly head.

 

[fernalfer]

You're in a quagmire because subtherapeutic copper can mask symptoms of ich & velvet for up to 30 days. :eek:

What I would do in your shoes right now is perform Tank Transfer Method on these fish (to treat for ich) and then observe for 2 weeks afterwards to ensure velvet doesn't rear its ugly head.

Yesterday I added 5 drops cupramine and did a copper test with the seachem kit today and it reads 0.40. I'm so in a pickle because if that reads true I may have been right at the minimum of 0.35. Hating reefing right now lol