Toxic killer or miracle cure: Have you used copper in your tank?

[Peace River]

Toxic killer or miracle cure: Have you used copper in your tank?

Copper in your tank can make an impact – both good and bad. It can be used to medicate fish, control algae, and promote the health of certain livestock; however, it can also be toxic and should be used with caution. Small amounts of copper come in to our tanks as an ingredient, but let’s talk about directly adding copper to your tank or to the food. Have you used it successfully? Do you completely avoid directly adding copper? Have you used it with mixed or negative results? Please tell us about your experience with copper in your reef tank and share any tips in the discussion thread.

Photo by @merlberg

 

[Dburr1014]

Other.
I have not purposely put copper in my tank but I have a copper fitting fixed close proximity to the salt water. It may or may not have dripped into the tank. I can't confirm either way.

 

[ReefGeezer]

IMO, copper can be effective but is suitable only for QT systems.

 

[cwerner]

IMO, copper can be effective but is suitable only for QT systems.

Yes. I'll never put copper in my display tank, only QT tanks. Even if you dose copper before ever getting coral I've heard the copper can be absorbed into your reef rock and then leach out later even after you've used Carbon or other methods of removing it.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I have used Cupramine in my 135 gallon fowlr system a few times in the past, but never the reef tanks.

 

[Gtinnel]

So does a qt count as putting copper in my tank?
I’ve ran a qt with copper with mostly positive results, but I have never added copper to a display tank.

 

[littlebeard]

Where is the QT only option?

 

[Dburr1014]

Where is the QT only option?

With the other option.

 

[fishyjoes]

QT tank is "my tank" - so yes, I've used copper successfully in my (QT) tank (but not my display)

 

[Borat]

Copper is massively inferior to superior potassium produced in Kazakistan!!!

 

[Koigula]

To be blunt the LFS selection is highly critical. Some stores I call the dead fish people and some stores a perfect. I everyone squabbles over cost instead of quality they will be catered to in that fashion.

Copper is a lot of work while QT stresses out the healthiest of fish. I get a few spots on one fish everyfew months in my tank and haven't bought a fish or Qtd in years.

 

[fodsod]

Never used Copper but one of my LFS uses it in all their fish tanks as a precaution. I've never gotten a sick fish from them so I guess it works pretty good. I'd use it in a QT/hospital tank if needed though.

 

[threebuoys]

I use copper in QT for all fish I purchase. No issues.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Copper is great when used properly. There are too many dumping this chemical into their systems- then asking questions or adding it for the wrong purpose and even adding drops or m/l and walking away. IT Must be tested using a reliable copper test kit. Dealing with an issue and asking for the cheapest medication and test kit offers poor outcomes.
When overdosed can be a toxin and when mixed with certain medications can dissolve the bonders that make it safe, hence making it toxic.

 

[hunterallen40]

I dose copper daily into my display. Since I run ozone, it gets depleted quickly (as seen by my ICP-MS results). It is an essential compound for photosynthesis, so I add a very small amount to keep it just barely detectible on an ICP-MS test (it should never be detected on an ICP-OES test).

 

[bushdoc]

Majority of my fish have been with me forever and in “old times” few reefers quarantined with medication. I added few small fish recently, but used passive quarantine, however, I had copper and copper test ready just in case.

 

[Kathy Floyd]

I have used Copper in my QT tank. It saved my tang and foxface.

 

[Koigula]

Never used Copper but one of my LFS uses it in all their fish tanks as a precaution. I've never gotten a sick fish from them so I guess it works pretty good. I'd use it in a QT/hospital tank if needed though.

Some that use that never get butterfly fish and run levels low but long term.

 

[Nano_Man]

Qt tank for copper treatment and used correctly fine but not any display tanks

 

[Ericksonmap]

Never in a display. But I do use in my Qt