Copper And QT Filter/Quarantine 11/5/09
Hi,
<Hello Anne>
I need to setup my empty 55g as a QT tank. I don't have any type of filter sitting in the sump ready to go for this tank.
Would I be ok to do frequent water changes to keep the ammonia in check?
I'm planning on using copper(fish with ick in DT) and was under the impression that copper would kill any beneficial bacteria from a filter. Is this true?
<Yes, but you may be able to avoid using copper and start with a freshwater dip, and/or or use quinine which is much safer than copper. There are many marine fish that are quite sensitive to copper so care must be taken here when selecting medication for treatment.
Check out the quinine FAQ's here.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/quinmedfaqs.htm>
Thank you,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Anne Canfield

Treating for Ich vs. Ammonia Spike Question 10/20/09
Hi crew,
<Hello>
For new fish arrivals, I currently use a 10 gallon QT with the following equipment:
No substrate
A heater
A power head
Whisper10 filter that includes a fuzzy sponge type insert that is supposedly for "good bacteria" to grow on it for biological filtration.
<Sounds good.>
In the past, I have tried to use the thin sponge cartridge that inserts into the Whisper 10 filter along with some of those "Bio Stars" that I've hung in my main tank for a few weeks prior to setting up my QT for biological filtration but this was never enough to keep my Ammonia level at 0.
<Surprising, are you QTing multiple fish at the same time or feeding heavily?>
So, now I use live rock in the QT and that gives the new fish places to feel safe and it keeps the Ammonia level easily at 0. This practice, along with keeping new fish quarantined for a full 30 days before moving to my main tank has kept the main tank disease free since 2004.
<Good>
The only problem is that now I have a newly purchased Dwarf Angel fish (Coral Beauty) that has been in the QT since October 3. It took about a week to start eating but when it finally started it has been eating well every day and looking fine until last night. I saw some white spots on it's pectoral fins.
This morning it has now stopped eating. I now fear the fish has Ich.
<Possibly>
I have Sea Cure Copper and a test kit and even though these fish are supposedly sensitive to Copper, it is all that I have and I want to start treating the fish but my question is this:
<Ok>
I know that I have to pull out all of the live rock from the QT tank so that the copper will be effective but if I do this, I fear that the fish will die from the Ammonia spiking up due to the lack of biological filtration.
<Water changes.>
I don't think that flimsy sponge inside the Whisper filter will be enough to keep the Ammonia level safe while I treat the fish with Copper.
<The copper would just kill it off regardless.>
How can I keep the Ammonia levels at 0 with some sort of biological filtration that won't absorb the copper so I can successfully treat the fish?
<Lots and lots of water changes, most likely needed daily. Can also an ammonia binder to help between changes.>
Thanks,
Lynne
<Welcome>
<Chris>

Re: Treating for Ich vs. Ammonia Spike Question 10/21/09
Hi Chris,
<Hello>
To answer one of your questions. I only have one fish at a time in the QT.
<Ok>
Now that I have opened my Copper and read the instructions it recommends keeping a therapeutic range of between .15 mg/l and .20mgl.
<Ok>
I have an API test kit that only measures a wide range of copper levels of .25 to 2.0. which makes using the SeaCure brand of copper I have risky.
<Agreed, best to always get the test kit from the same manufacturer as the copper treatment to avoid such issues.>
Since this type of fish is sensitive to copper anyway and now I realize that my copper and my test kits are incompatible is there another non-copper related treatment you can recommend that I do given my equipment and my fish?
<I like the quinine drugs, Quinine Sulfate or Chloroquine Phosphate , both are easier on copper sensitive fish and fairly effective, but expensive and can be difficult to find. Otherwise formalin runs a distant second.>
Lynne
<Chris>