copper treatment!

Have a Flame Angel in 10 g Qt with a case of the ich. Ive had him in the qt since i got it 2 weeks ago. the last couple of days showing signs of ich and i treated with copper. my question is what ammount (ppm or whatever) should i keep the copper levels and for roughly how long do i leave copper in. there are no inverts in tank just the flame and one blue damsel. the damsel is showing no signs of the desease. this is the reason i qt the fish right away i dindnt want to infect the main display until i was sure the fish was clean. any advice is appreciated thanks
Anthony.

 

You need to use the instructed amount. If you're using Cupramine, Seachem suggests a minimum of 3 weeks and at least 1 week since the fish has shown symptoms. .50ppm is the suggested by Seachem for their Cupramine product.

Seachem. Cupramine FAQ

 

im using a product called coppersafe and on the instructions it is unclear as to what parameters to keep the copper level at. I put in the recomended dosage and it tests at 1.5ppm. all other params are in check but the nitrite is at .25ppm and was 1ppm a week ago i am suspecting this is what caused the outbreak. I hate to lose this fish!!

 

Running a QT is labor intensive. Constant water changes can be necessary if you do not have an established filter to keep amonia and nitrite in check. Make sure you dose the new water with your copper before you add it to the tank. Its possible you will need to do 2 gallons a day in a tank that size to keep everything in check.

 

I would discontinue using the copper and use Hyposalinity treatment instead, much safer and less stressful for the fish. You also might want to try using soaking some food in ginger Root, see this post for more info.

 

1.5 ppm is the level you want to keep the copper at. Dont add anymore.

 

thanks i will try my best!
i lowered the salinity to 1.020 probly should go lower?

 

SIMPLY NOT TRUE!
I have never in 35 years of fresh water or salt water used anything other than a 10 gallon tank, with a Bowel or piece of PVC pipe for the fish to hid in and a small HOB filter and an air stone or internal air driven filter with just floss or a sponge in a QT tank. Unless I was QT'n a very large fish then I might use a 20 gallon.

Yes you do have to do water changes but I never do more than a gallon and then I only do them every couple of days or so. Having 1 small fish in 10 gallons of water should not have issues with ammonia even after a week. I would siphon off any remaining food or fish crap off the bottom when ever I do the water change which helps keep it in check.

 

Just for clarification: You can not use copper and hypo salintiy at the same time.

 

That was why I said discontinue the Copper and he needs to read that article. As long as he does a water change and removes as much of the copper as he can it should be OK.

I really hate to see anyone using copper, especially on a sick and already stressed fish. As a preventative in a fish only environment its not as bad but I really would have to say that the success rate of curing anything with copper is dismal, but this is JMO.