QT regimen sanity check/advice

[WiscoFishNut]

Hey folks, I could use an assist on the QT process. I've got a general idea of what I plan on doing, but want to get some additional advice if possible. All 3 QT's were cycled initially and their inhabitants have been in there since 9/28/19. The fish have all been eating well. No clearly visible signs that I can see, but I'm very much a novice. My intent is to go the prophylactic treatment route. Setup listed below. Sorry for the long read, I just want to make sure I'm prepared as much as possible.

QT 1 - 29g for fish
- present occupants : 2 x Ocellaris clowns (1 storm & 1 snowflake), 6-line wrasse

QT 2 - 29g for fish
- left empty for fish transfer after copper treatment

QT3 - 20g long for corals/CUC
- present occupants : 1 fire shrimp, 1 peppermint shrimp, 2 x zebra snails, 2 x trochus snails, 1 hammer, 1 torch, 1 lobo, 1 dying fungia, 3 misc frag plugs with zoas and a duncan(I believe)
- plan on transferring all to DT after a full 76 days

Meds on hand - (have a Hanna high range copper tester)
Coppersafe
Cupramine
Prazipro
Metroplex
Kanaplex
Bifuran+
Furan-2
API General Cure
Focus
Garlic Guard

My plan (please shoot holes and make suggestions!!)

Step 1 (QT1 tank) - Copper
Day 1(tomorrow) - 50% WC to get nitrates as low as possible(currently at 5-10). Add 50% recommended dosage of Coppersafe. Test copper levels
Days 2-5 - Test copper levels and increase dose slowly to hit 2ppm by day 4 or 5. TBD by how fish respond.
Run 28 days @ 2ppm Copper (is this enough time?)
Transfer fish to clean/cycled QT2 and give fish 2-3 days to recover

Step 2 (QT2 tank) - Which method 1,2 or x?
Method 1 - 14 days of treated frozen food : Metroplex, Bifuran+, Focus, and Garlic Guard. Then run carbon for a day for any residuals?. Then 50% WC, or just normal 25% each weekend?. Dose Prazipro. Wait 5 days. 50% WC. Dose Prazipro again wait 5 days.

Method 2 - 14 days of treated frozen food : API GC & Focus.

Step 3 - Transfer to DT
Drip acclimate in a 5g bucket with heater+airstone due to variance in SG 1.021(QT) > 1.025(DT)
Transfer to second 5g bucket as a rinse just in case(or is that way too paranoid?)
Transfer to DT & celebrate :D

 

[Spar]

Hey folks, I could use an assist on the QT process. I've got a general idea of what I plan on doing, but want to get some additional advice if possible. All 3 QT's were cycled initially and their inhabitants have been in there since 9/28/19. The fish have all been eating well. No clearly visible signs that I can see, but I'm very much a novice. My intent is to go the prophylactic treatment route. Setup listed below. Sorry for the long read, I just want to make sure I'm prepared as much as possible.

QT 1 - 29g for fish
- present occupants : 2 x Ocellaris clowns (1 storm & 1 snowflake), 6-line wrasse

QT 2 - 29g for fish
- left empty for fish transfer after copper treatment

QT3 - 20g long for corals/CUC
- present occupants : 1 fire shrimp, 1 peppermint shrimp, 2 x zebra snails, 2 x trochus snails, 1 hammer, 1 torch, 1 lobo, 1 dying fungia, 3 misc frag plugs with zoas and a duncan(I believe)
- plan on transferring all to DT after a full 76 days

Meds on hand - (have a Hanna high range copper tester)
Coppersafe
Cupramine
Prazipro
Metroplex
Kanaplex
Bifuran+
Furan-2
API General Cure
Focus
Garlic Guard

The general consensus on the forum for copper it to use Copper Power as the chelated copper choice. I know Coppersafe is chelated as well, but not sure otherwise why people lean toward Copper Power. But I am sure Coppersafe works just as fine (curious other peoples input since I haven't actually tried Coppersafe before).

Also get some Chloroquine Phosphate for QT'ing fish sensitive to copper.
https://store.nationalfishpharm.com/items/view/616/chloroquine-phosphate

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-and-treatment-guidelines-with-chart.283450/^good list of what fish can handle which chemical option.


Good list!

My plan (please shoot holes and make suggestions!!)

Step 1 (QT1 tank) - Copper
Day 1(tomorrow) - 50% WC to get nitrates as low as possible(currently at 5-10). Add 50% recommended dosage of Coppersafe. Test copper levels
Days 2-5 - Test copper levels and increase dose slowly to hit 2ppm by day 4 or 5. TBD by how fish respond.
Run 28 days @ 2ppm Copper (is this enough time?)
Transfer fish to clean/cycled QT2 and give fish 2-3 days to recover

You only need to keep the fish at 2ppm copper for 10-14 days if you are then moving them to a clean observation tank. This reduces their exposure greatly to the copper (poison), but is plenty of time to have all the trophonts jump off.

Also just in case since you mentioned Cupramine in your list above, if you ever use Cupramine (Ionic copper) you only bring that to 0.5ppm, but fish do better with chelated.

Step 2 (QT2 tank) - Which method 1,2 or x?
Method 1 - 14 days of treated frozen food : Metroplex, Bifuran+, Focus, and Garlic Guard. Then run carbon for a day for any residuals?. Then 50% WC, or just normal 25% each weekend?. Dose Prazipro. Wait 5 days. 50% WC. Dose Prazipro again wait 5 days.

Method 2 - 14 days of treated frozen food : API GC & Focus.

Unless you notice internal parasite signs (white stringy poop, etc.), you really just need to dose GC twice 5-7 days apart, packets directly to the water (not soaked in food). Rest is relatively excessive for proactive treatment. You can do this step concurrently with the copper if you want, but I prefer to do it after like you plan to.

Step 3 - Transfer to DT
Drip acclimate in a 5g bucket with heater+airstone due to variance in SG 1.021(QT) > 1.025(DT)
Transfer to second 5g bucket as a rinse just in case(or is that way too paranoid?)
Transfer to DT & celebrate :D

You don't need to drip acclimate for that small of a SG variance. Do a 50/50 mix of water in a container (no need for heater) for 10-15 minutes and then send them on over. No need to rinse the fish since they are coming from a clean observation tank, no cross contamination risk.


Good luck and let us know how it all goes!

 

[HairyGary]

You are definitely on the right track but here are my thoughts and comments.


My plan (please shoot holes and make suggestions!!)

Step 1 (QT1 tank) - Copper - I would use Copper Power as its chelated copper and easier on the fish plus great to test levels with Hanna
Day 1(tomorrow) - 50% WC to get nitrates as low as possible(currently at 5-10). Add 50% recommended dosage of Coppersafe. Test copper levels - If you have cycled the tank with the fish then I would slowly ramp up copper of 3-4 days if no visable signs of ICH or velvet. You should be more concerned about ammonia. Those three smaller fish wont have a huge impact on ammonia if you have cycled the tank already. Nitrate levels should not be an issue. shouldnt be a need to change the water if the ammonia levels are in check. Always try to use ammonia badge as they are more accurate than test kits due to the presence of copper.


Days 2-5 - Test copper levels and increase dose slowly to hit 2ppm by day 4 or 5. TBD by how fish respond.
Run 28 days @ 2ppm Copper (is this enough time?) - You only need to keep your fish at therapeutic levels of copper for 14 days if you are transferring to clean tank.
Transfer fish to clean/cycled QT2 and give fish 2-3 days to recover

Step 2 (QT2 tank) - Which method 1,2 or x? - Given you have clowns, I would dose tank with GC and follow directions. I would also browse the Fist Treatment stickies for combining meds just in case you se bacterial issue when dosing GC.
Method 1 - 14 days of treated frozen food : Metroplex, Bifuran+, Focus, and Garlic Guard. Then run carbon for a day for any residuals?. Then 50% WC, or just normal 25% each weekend?. Dose Prazipro. Wait 5 days. 50% WC. Dose Prazipro again wait 5 days.

Method 2 - 14 days of treated frozen food : API GC & Focus. -

Step 3 - Transfer to DT - no need to drip. match the DT salinity and temp in the QT and then just plop them in the DT.
Drip acclimate in a 5g bucket with heater+airstone due to variance in SG 1.021(QT) > 1.025(DT)
Transfer to second 5g bucket as a rinse just in case(or is that way too paranoid?)
Transfer to DT & celebrate

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Looks solid my friend

 

[WiscoFishNut]

@HairyGary @Spar @pathot984 Thanks for the feedback! I went ahead and ordered the Copper Power, will be here Monday. I cycled the tanks beforehand using the ammonia dose + bacteria in a bottle method. They fish have been in there right at 2 weeks and the water parms have stayed on point. Also have ammonia badges in there for once meds get added.

 

[HairyGary]

@HairyGary @Spar @pathot984 Thanks for the feedback! I went ahead and ordered the Copper Power, will be here Monday. I cycled the tanks beforehand using the ammonia dose + bacteria in a bottle method. They fish have been in there right at 2 weeks and the water parms have stayed on point. Also have ammonia badges in there for once meds get added.

Good luck!

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Alright, copper ramp up is progressing! I started yesterday with 2 small doses am/pm, and the plan is to ramp up over 5 days to 2.0. Tested using the Hanna checker and the level was .38 PPM so pretty close to what my calculations were for post day 1. I dosed closer 3.2ml according the dosing syringes I'm using, so I'll keep that consistent and see if the results match after day 2. If so I'll adjust up slightly to get back on track for a 5 day ramp up. The fish haven't shown any negative signs so far. On a side note, I'm glad it's only 2 weeks cause dang this coral beauty angel poops like a yeti lol! The dang nitrates are gonna be high by the end lol.

My estimates -
27gallons x 1.18ml = 31.86ml of Copper Power to reach 2.0 PPM
6.372ml per day for 5 days
::3.186ml am & pm for 5 days

 

[HairyGary]

Alright, copper ramp up is progressing! I started yesterday with 2 small doses am/pm, and the plan is to ramp up over 5 days to 2.0. Tested using the Hanna checker and the level was .38 PPM so pretty close to what my calculations were for post day 1. I dosed closer 3.2ml according the dosing syringes I'm using, so I'll keep that consistent and see if the results match after day 2. If so I'll adjust up slightly to get back on track for a 5 day ramp up. The fish haven't shown any negative signs so far. On a side note, I'm glad it's only 2 weeks cause dang this coral beauty angel poops like a yeti lol! The dang nitrates are gonna be high by the end lol.

My estimates -
27gallons x 1.18ml = 31.86ml of Copper Power to reach 2.0 PPM
6.372ml per day for 5 days
::3.186ml am & pm for 5 days

Sounds like you are on the correct path. No need to worry about nitrates. Just keep an eye on the ammonia. Also no need to feed tons of food either. Good luck!

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Update - Saturday was day 5 of the copper power ramp up. Tested Sunday morning, was at 1.97 PPM so I added one more small dose (1.25ml) to push it over the edge. Plan now is cross my fingers and then do a tank transfer on the 17th right at at the 14 day mark. What are some warning signs to watch for during this period for fish that might not make it?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Update - Saturday was day 5 of the copper power ramp up. Tested Sunday morning, was at 1.97 PPM so I added one more small dose (1.25ml) to push it over the edge. Plan now is cross my fingers and then do a tank transfer on the 17th right at at the 14 day mark. What are some warning signs to watch for during this period for fish that might not make it?

Suppressed appetite and heavy breathing.

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Suppressed appetite and heavy breathing.

Thanks @pathot984 I'll keep an eye out for that!

 

[WiscoFishNut]

On the right side of the halfway point for the copper power treatment and so far so good! Everyone is eating like normal. The clowns and six line wrasse seem to be breathing more rapidly than normal, but otherwise look fine. The coral beauty looks completely unfazed by it all.

 

[WiscoFishNut]

Well all 4 fish survived 15 days of copper power treatment! I moved them to the cycled QT2 yesterday afternoon. The clowns and 6 line all seem pretty good to go, but the coral beauty has been hiding out quite a bit. Everyone seems to be eating, but I haven't seen the CB eat. The plan is to start the first GC dose tomorrow afternoon and then a second dose 5 days later. 5 days after that they'll go to their new home :D

 

[Spar]

Glad to hear! I am sure the CB will start eating soon, likely just initial new-environment nerves.

 

[WiscoFishNut]

I posted this on another thread, but figured I'd include it here for continuity sake and additional feedback.

*****
Lookin for some guidance please :) On monday I transferred some fish from a QT where they had just wrapped up 15 days of Copper Power at 2ppm to another clean, cycled QT. I gave them 2 days to recuperate and then broadcast dosed General Cure. Yesterday evening I noticed one of the clowns had some white stringy poop coming off him and a small white blob(?) on his lower lip. The blob kind of looked fuzzy. This morning the blob is gone and no sign of white stringy poop, but I've not seen him poop since then so..

Should I -
Stay the course with the current GC dose? (They've been in it for 48 hours now)
Look at medicating some food? (or is overdose a risk if they're swimming in GC dosed water and eating GC dosed food at the same time?)
Wait for a re-occurrence of white stringy poop then make a decision?

In the medicine cabinet
Focus
Selcon
General Cure
Metroplex
Prazipro
KanaPlex
Bifuran+
Furan-2

The QT has been cycled for quite a while using ammonia then ghost feeding & WC's.
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10ish
pH - 8.1
Temp - 78