Parasite plague

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mssamurai

New Member
Hello all!!
This is my first post on this forum, although I have been trolling the forums for awhile . My story starts with a beautiful dogface puffer that developed what I believe to be ich. Long story short it has wiped out most of my livestock. I stupidly tried garlic and vitamins to boost immunity, followed by reef safe ich treatment. Nothing worked . I finally pulled out my survivors and have started to treat with copper. I considered hypo but not really sure what I was dealing with I went with copper. Lost 3 fish this morning on day 2 with copper at 0.2mg/L concentration(so not overdosed). Second dose is suppose to be given tonight to maintain 0.5mg/L. Remaining fish showed no symptom, should I still ramp up to full dose? Can I dose an antibiotic with copper in the event I need too? Leave tanks fishless for 8 weeks? In the meantime, CUC are rather interesting to watch too. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Hi, even though they no longer show symptoms they can still have some residual parasites. There's not much reason to dose an antibiotic in your case. It could do more harm than good. Let the copper finish up.

Yes, no fish for 8 weeks is advisable.
 
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mssamurai

New Member
bang guy,
Thank you for your reply. So continue with the copper at 0.5mg\L? I am using Cupramine. I set up HT in uncycled tank but did pull a canister filter and bag of sand from the main tank. Will this be sufficient? I also have an ammonia badge alert since it's only a 10gal holding 2 chromis, bangaii cardinal and lemon head goby. My sole survivors. I asked about antibiotic cause cardinals fins look a little shorter.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
W time the fins will heal. Now adding sand to your qt will displace water. So say a ten gal tank doesn't really have 10 gal of water. Sand will also absorb copper so doses can be tricky
 
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mssamurai

New Member
I only added a pantyhose full of sand. Tank is bare bottomed with a few decorations to hide in. I'm using a copper test with the Cupramine. I actually assumed it's more than 10gal since the canister filter is rated for 55gal. I know overkill but that's I'll I had. That at least hold a few extra gallons, right? I tested and got a 0.2mg/L reading. It's the seachem copper test. Is this going to be reliable enough?
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
Seachem is the appropriate test for cupramine. I wouldn't worry about the volume since you are doing things the right way and monitoring the level by testing.
The accepted fallow time for ich is 72-76 days so more like 10-11 weeks.
 
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mssamurai

New Member
Although, I feel like I'm doing a complicated chemistry experiment while testing for copper ;). Thanks for all your help. I'll continue to treat with copper, leave display empty for 8 weeks and hope for the best. This hobby relaxes me and stresses me out at the same time.
 
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mssamurai

New Member
Oh okay 11 weeks it is. I suppose those 4 small fish should be okay in a 10 gal with my ridiculously overrated canister filter. Lol. What do you recommend for copper treatment duration? I'm still a bit confused about dosing copper with water changes. Do I just hold off on water changes unless I see something off in water quality?
 
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deejeff0442

Active Member
Well my bad. I looked it up. It says usually 60 days for the life cycle but could go to 72. Been at this for 30 yrs I always got rid of it in 6 weeks but seems to me over the years ich has developed and don't die off as easy.
Evolution I guess in some ways
 
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deejeff0442

Active Member
Was it in the saltwater fish museum? Lol
By the way I ain't that old been doing this since I was 12
Bought my 1st tank with my paper route .
Which by the way that job isn't around .now they drive by my house and throw the paper anywhere on my property from thier car
 
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