copper/hyposalinity
- Thread starter gen
- Start date
b_ball12_99
Member
If you could I wouldn't do both. Remember, no inverts allowed in a tank after it has been coppered.
Are you doing copper already? Hopefully, if you are your fish are in a hospital tank.
Hyposalinity is a better choice than copper for treatment of ick, just because it is NON-toxic. If I were you, I'd to a water change, and switch to hypo.
[ August 26, 2001: Message edited by: Beth ]
Hyposalinity is a better choice than copper for treatment of ick, just because it is NON-toxic. If I were you, I'd to a water change, and switch to hypo.
[ August 26, 2001: Message edited by: Beth ]
gen
Member
I've only been using copper for one week,(I started on the 19th) should I give it the 21 days that the instructions advise. A lot of the ich cleared up within the first 2 days of use. Now I see white spots floating around the tank, is that the ich that has fallen off the fish? Should I do a water change? The last one was also on the 19th, 20%. What should my temp be at? I do not have a hospital tank, I am treating the ich with the fish in the main tank.
thanks gen
thanks gen
What is in your main tank? You can not treat with medications or hypo if you have LR, LS or inverts.
I would do a water change, and, if you have carbon filtration, begin that to pull out the copper. If you use copper in your main tank fo 3 weeks, you will crash the system, which might happen anyway.
Begin hyposalinity and over the next 2 days, in slow increments, reduce your salinity to 1.009. Maintain this for 3 weeks following all signs of ick disappearing from your fish. Continue regular water changes paying special attention to Ph, as hyposaline water tends to get too low in Ph. Maintain your usual water temperature.
I would do a water change, and, if you have carbon filtration, begin that to pull out the copper. If you use copper in your main tank fo 3 weeks, you will crash the system, which might happen anyway.
Begin hyposalinity and over the next 2 days, in slow increments, reduce your salinity to 1.009. Maintain this for 3 weeks following all signs of ick disappearing from your fish. Continue regular water changes paying special attention to Ph, as hyposaline water tends to get too low in Ph. Maintain your usual water temperature.
gen
Member
My main tank is almost Fish only with one horseshoe crab. since I don't have a hospital tank what should I do with the crab? just put him in a bucket with salt water, will he live for the next 4 weeks like that.Hyposalinity is just doing water changes without putting back the salt, correct?! 20% a day? return the carbon to the filter will help take out the copper? I have the hydrometer with the floating plastic arm, I read that this one is not accurate enough. should I go buy a new one? I'm going to start this tonight.
thank you for all your help. gen
thank you for all your help. gen
jimi
Active Member
Yes that is how you do hypo. Exchange the saltwater with freshwater only, but as mentioned pay attention to the ph as freshwater does not have the buffering ability of saltwater and has a low ph from the start. The crab will have to be put in another tank or rubbermaid container with a powerhead or something for circulation and gas exchange.As far as the swing arm hydrometers they really are not accurate enough for hypo. A refractometer is prefered but if your lfs has a refractometer that you can compare your hydrometer to you will kow where you stand.
Hyposalinity should be done in small increments over the course of 48 hrs. A couple of gals at a time, several times a day, until you get it down to 1.009, over the course of 48 hrs. You can use the hydrometer you have, and perhaps get a floating hydrometer-thermometer to compare it to.
Perhaps ask your LFS if they can house the horseshoe crab for you? Or, as jimi said, place the crab in a DEADICATED container; it will require a powerhead, and water changes also to ensure quality water is maintained for the horseshoe. The problem now is that copper is in your tank. It would be best if you can trade in the crab for something else. Once you use copper in a tank, inverts cannot return to a copper treated tank.
Perhaps ask your LFS if they can house the horseshoe crab for you? Or, as jimi said, place the crab in a DEADICATED container; it will require a powerhead, and water changes also to ensure quality water is maintained for the horseshoe. The problem now is that copper is in your tank. It would be best if you can trade in the crab for something else. Once you use copper in a tank, inverts cannot return to a copper treated tank.
gen
Member
Well I have to tell you that I wimped out on the hypersalt. When I went to my lfs they told me to keep doing what I was doing with the copper and they gave me another medicine, now for the real laugh, I paid the lfs $50.00 to come to my house and help me. I'll keep you posted. Thanks to everyone for all your information. Gen
pufferlover
Active Member
Heck for 50 bucks I would have come to your house lol.
Had to come back and tell you I was justing kidding you not trying to offend you. In this hobby you do what you have to and if what they tell you works then it is well worth it. If not then I would beat them silly (whoops their I go again).
[ August 28, 2001: Message edited by: Pufferlover ]
Had to come back and tell you I was justing kidding you not trying to offend you. In this hobby you do what you have to and if what they tell you works then it is well worth it. If not then I would beat them silly (whoops their I go again).
[ August 28, 2001: Message edited by: Pufferlover ]
gen
Member
Terry I am using Seacure copper. The lfs also recommned desafin only one treatment . I'm not sure if it did anything. I think time is what is going to cure it at this point. The ich is only on the fins of the powder blue tang. I trust my lfs it is a well known store on Long Island. the man that came to my house is also the man that keeps the tanks up and running in the store. He does house calls ( charges like a Doctor too!) I also purchased a Red Sea Berlin Protein Skimmer and a Aquanetics UV Sterilizer Q15IL. My tank looked better after 24 hours. And the fish seem healthier.
I was afraid my tank was going crash, I have only been doing this since June 1. Thats when I introduced my first 2 fishes. And one died 4 days later. I did not want to lose it already! thats why I paid someone to come to my home. Hopefully, in time, I will become more knowledgeable, and know what to do on my own. It is a very expensive hobby to mess up .
what do you think about the skimmer.
Gen
I was afraid my tank was going crash, I have only been doing this since June 1. Thats when I introduced my first 2 fishes. And one died 4 days later. I did not want to lose it already! thats why I paid someone to come to my home. Hopefully, in time, I will become more knowledgeable, and know what to do on my own. It is a very expensive hobby to mess up .
what do you think about the skimmer.
Gen
gen
Member
Jimi I only have it into the little cup. That is the way the lfs set it up. Will it slow down at all? It is not as green as the first day. also the foam has slowed down so I turned the screw a 1/4 turn to produce more. My horseshoe crab just died and my ammonia when up so I had to do a 20% water change. I guess the copper got to him! It's been 2 weeks today that I've been adding copper but the ich is not totally gone. Since I had the protein skimmer installed I have not had to add copper, it was staying at .25. Is that true due to the skimmer? Also did I read somewhere that you used copper and then eventually over time added live rock and invertabrates?
Thanks Gen
Thanks Gen
jimi
Active Member
You can run the drain line into a empty milk container or larger cup. The skimmer will slow and produce a dry foam after awhile which is good then you will be able to run it wide open. I doubt the skimmer is helping keep your copper levels consistant, you may have enough in there. Yes, I have coppered two tanks in the past and later and still have live rock and inverts with no problem. The problem in using coppered tanks may come from long term use of it or if the tank was a dedicated HT and copper several times.
gen
Member
I don't have live rock. fish only.I have a big piece of dead coral, and the bottom of the tank is sand with crushed coral. What will level my ammonia off? I use bacterplus when I am doing water changes, but that did not seem to help the ammonia. I turned off my uv sterilizer because of the bacter plus, that is what the lfs said to do. leave it off for 3 days. any other suggestions would be helpful.
Gen
Gen