Tangs … To Treat or Not to Treat with Copper?

[Alchemy]

Some background … I have a Blonde Naso and a Kole Yellow Eye Tang in my 20 gal quarantine since 6/28/19 … Also in the quarantine is Springeri Damsel that came out of my DT about 5 weeks ago because he was getting beat up by one of his buddies … but he looks fine now. The problem… the Kole tang has been rubbing on the PVC fitting I have in the tank. This has been going on for the last couple of weeks. Both are very timid and hide behind the sponge filter as soon as I get close but are otherwise very active. Both are voracious feeders and consume the Sea Veggies and spirulina I put in the tank twice a day. I can see nothing on either fish or the damsel. Otherwise all are active and seem happy. So the question is should I treat them with copper or something else? I was hoping to get them into the DT on 7/27/19 because I don’t see anything on them.

 

[jvalentine]

Generally speaking, copper at therapeutic levels (at or below .5) is safe for almost all fish, Tangs included. I have successfully QT'ed a Powder Blue, a Purple, and a Convict Tang using Seachem Cupramine. I usually let them sit in the QT for about a month in the copper (I think you would be fine treating for 10 days on this, seeing how you dont see ich on the fish). Then do a 25% water change and run activated carbon for 48 hours before moving them to my DT

 

[Alchemy]

OK thanks for the info .... I guess treating at the .5 level is the safe approach.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

OK thanks for the info .... I guess treating at the .5 level is the safe approach.

Note that is for cupramime which is an ionic copper. If it is a chelated copper product, I believe 2.0 is the new standard since there have been reports of velvet making it past 1.75 levels.

@HotRocks or @4FordFamily can elaborate more on that.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I went ahead and dug it up, as it is a sticky lol. Forgot about that.

BAD NEWS - Velvet Strain Survives 1.75 PPM Copper!

Breaking News: We believe we have discovered at least one strain of velvet that survives 1.75 PPM copper, we recommend increasing to 2.0PPM to eradicate it. @HotRocks and I have quarantined hundreds of fish over the past year and we've unfortunately learned a lot of hard lessons we can pass to...

www.reef2reef.com

And another helpful one to get to all items related to QT.

Thread Links to All Things Quarantine - Fish/Inverts

The original comprehensive guide to quarantine by @Humblefish How to Quarantine Also by @Humblefish, this pretty much speaks for itself. The Do's and Dont's of Quarantine The dangers of Aerosol Transmission by @Humblefish Aerosol transmission Information on Bio-film and its impact on...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Alchemy]

Steve, thank you for the two links - I have seen these and had them bookmarked. I'm reading them again - it never hurts. I'll be getting some Prazipro and I am trying to decide if I should use Copper Power or Cupramine. I think I read someplace one was less harsh I am also going to be getting a Hanna Copper checker.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Steve, thank you for the two links - I have seen these and had them bookmarked. I'm reading them again - it never hurts. I'll be getting some Prazipro and I am trying to decide if I should use Copper Power or Cupramine. I think I read someplace one was less harsh I am also going to be getting a Hanna Copper checker.

Not a problem. I have run both, and with a Hanna used correctly they have both done well. Cupramime before Hanna was iffy, as .5 is a lot harder to manage then 2.0 lol. Not much wiggle room.

 

[rkpetersen]

Steve, thank you for the two links - I have seen these and had them bookmarked. I'm reading them again - it never hurts. I'll be getting some Prazipro and I am trying to decide if I should use Copper Power or Cupramine. I think I read someplace one was less harsh I am also going to be getting a Hanna Copper checker.

Copper Power is less risky overall, partly because it has a wider margin-of-error for the therapeutic range as compared to ionic copper.

Take a look at the charts in the post below. At least in this person's experience, ionic copper is never preferred over chelated.

Fish and Treatment Guidelines (with chart)

Fish and Treatment Guidelines (with chart) The following chart is a quick reference guide on what QT protocol should be used according to which type of fish you are running through QT. It will give you an idea of which methods are generally safest with certain species but is not meant to be...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[4FordFamily]

Copper Power is less risky overall, partly because it has a wider margin-of-error for the therapeutic range as compared to ionic copper.

Take a look at the charts in the post below. At least in this person's experience, ionic copper is never preferred over chelated.

Fish and Treatment Guidelines (with chart)

Fish and Treatment Guidelines (with chart) The following chart is a quick reference guide on what QT protocol should be used according to which type of fish you are running through QT. It will give you an idea of which methods are generally safest with certain species but is not meant to be...

www.reef2reef.com

I concur, copper power with Hanna checker would be my recommendation at 2.0 PPM

 

[jcricket]

I am currently running a 20 gallon QT tank. It has a powder blue and hippo in it. I have it at .4 cuppramine. They have been in QT at this level for about 2 weeks. They look really good and are eating very well.

Also, if you are seeing them scratch, I would think it would be better to wait to move them to the DT until you are certain they are 100%

 

[Alchemy]

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. Going with Copper Power. Again thanks.