questions about ich

[zman]

i just got a 10 gallon tank a few weeks ago and now it has ich. i treated it with copper and have been feeding the fish garlic soaked brine shrimp. How long does it take the copper to get rid of the ich and how will i know when the ich is gone? I will be setting up a new 29 gallon tank soon and was wondering if i should put any of the LR from the 10g that has been treated with coper into my new tank. what do you guys think?
Zman

 

[cprdnick]

I don't know about the other questions, but absolutely nothing int the 10 gallon that has been in contact with copper should be in contact with the 29.

 

[beth]

Originally posted by Zman
i treated it with copper and have been feeding the fish garlic soaked brine shrimp. How long does it take the copper to get rid of the ich and how will i know when the ich is gone?
You need to use a copper test kit that is compatible with your copper and maintain copper levels using the kit at .25-.30ppms for 3 wks.
I will be setting up a new 29 gallon tank soon and was wondering if i should put any of the LR from the 10g that has been treated with coper into my new tank.
NO.

 

[debra w-c]

Substrate and rock absorb copper. If you used this rock in your new tank you could not have any invertebrates in your tank ( no crabs, shrimps, live rocks, snails etc). The copper will leach out of the rock slowly over time and poison and kill these animals.
If you will have a fish only tank you would be fine.
When you treat fish with copper it is important to do this in a bare tank. NO SUBSTRATE, NO ROCK.
Because the rock absorbs the copper it can lower the level of copper in the water to a level that is not effective to kill the ich.
If you are currently treating fish. I would check the copper level with a copper test to make sure it is correct. It would be a good idea to pull out the substrate. Frequent water changes and suctioning off the bottem of the tank can help remove some of the parasites.
Hope that helps.:happy: