Qt tank ideas with mandarian

[attalieup]

Hi I have a 32 gallon bio cube with softies, 2 clown fish, mandarin, and a royal gramma who seems to have ich, I am most worried for my mandarin because of copper based treatment may suffocate him. This is my infected fish:

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi I have a 32 gallon bio cube with softies, 2 clown fish, mandarin, and a royal gramma who seems to have ich, I am most worried for my mandarin because of copper based treatment may suffocate him. This is my infected fish:

This fish indeed has ich and will need to be treated along with any other fish(except the mandarin) in the tank with coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored with a Hanna Brand copper test kit- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off. Inverts and coral can remain in the display (not treatment) tank during fallow period. For Mandarin goby, treat with General Cure by Api
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store, a Rubbermaid type tub or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[attalieup]

For treating the goby should I add in anything specific because he needs copepods to survive? Also the QT tanks I can run a sponge filter in right?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

For treating the goby should I add in anything specific because he needs copepods to survive? Also the QT tanks I can run a sponge filter in right?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

The mandarin will be o.k. in coppersafe/copper power, only the ionic copper is toxic to them. However, as you've surmised, the big issue is how to feed them in the QT. You can try hatching out live baby brine shrimp, and then supplement that with purchased copepods, but it is difficult to get them enough food.

Yes, you can use a sponge filter in the QT, but if it is new, it won't have any beneficial bacteria on it. You'll need to supplement with bacteria in a bottle (like Dr. Tim's) as well as monitor the ammonia level closely and keep it under 0.50 ppm