Quarantine Tank Question!

[Tessa B.]

Currently I have 2 clowns in quarantine, started on the 10th after finding Ich. I have been using Copper Power. Usually keep the amount at about 2.2 but always over the 2 mark. I have been doing water changes galore due to the quarantine tank not being established and no biomedia that can be put in the tank. (I have only had my display tank about 2 months and it was only established a few weeks when I got it). My question is, is there any brand or way to add biomedia to help with the ammonia spike? I have read you cant use any ammonia neutralizing product, but does that mean nitrifying bacteria too? I keep finding mixed information. I want my fish healthy, but the ammonia spikes are making me go a little crazy with frequent water changes. Currently I am doing a 50% water change on a 10 gal tank every other day. The amount still goes up really high

 

[BryanM]

Most test kits for ammonia create false high readings when using copper power.

You can use a Seachem Ammonia Alert badge instead.

 

[Tessa B.]

I have API, that always reads higher, but I used an ammonia checker by Hanna and it read .3 this morning. I did a water change of 50%. My seachem ammonia alert has never changed color at all. Thank you so much for responding. Please advise if I should try something else.

 

[Fish Fan]

The one product that does seem to work to establish a bio filter quite quickly (as little as 24-48 hours) is Fritz TurboStart 900.

 

[Tessa B.]

This is safe to add with CopperPower? They currently have 16 days left of that stage of quarantine.

 

[BryanM]

Fritz TurboStart 900 should be fine to use in the QT tank with copper power.

 

[LeftyReefer]

Most QT tanks are bare bottom and no rock/substrate so there isn't a ton of surface are for the biofilter to actually colonize on. Try adding some additional surface area. bioblocks, ceramic rings, Seachem Matrix, etc.. and then add an entire bottle of turbo start 900. add as much bottle bacteria as you can.

A seachem ammonia badge should be used for monitoring ammonia while using copper power.
I'd also recommend a air driven sponge filter too to increase O2 levels while using meds.

I think you should increase the level of copper a bit. I wouldn't go less than 2.25 and personally, I've ways QT'd all my fish at 2.5 copper power for 30 days min. I just got done QT'ing a picasso clown for 36 days at 2.5. no issues at all.

 

[Tessa B.]

Thank you so much!

 

[Tessa B.]

I currently have a sponge filter going. I will add some ceramic rings. Thanks for the copper advice. They no longer have any symptoms or spots but I think I will keep it above just in case. I plan to do Prazi Pro after this like the quarantine protocol suggests before putting them back in my display tank. It will be awhile so I wanted to have something established. Thanks and sorry I am clearly a newbie but I love fish and dont want them to die!

 

[LeftyReefer]

you can do prazi and copper at the same time. (I do).

although I have recently switched to using plain prazi powder rather than prazipro.... the pure powder doesn't lead to bacterial blooms like the prazipro liquid does. Fritz sells packets of prazi powder called PraziCleanse.
each packet comes predosed for a 20gallon tank. for your 10G QT tank, you would just need half a packet per application. I do 3 rounds of prazi, 7 days between each round.