FAQs on Copper Use, Toxicity,
Troubleshooting/Fixing
Related Articles: Copper Use
in Marine Systems, Medications,
Use of Biological Cleaners,
Aquatic Surgery, The Three Sets of Factors That Determine
Livestock Health/Disease,
Related FAQs: Exogenous Poisoning (from
outside, External, Inorganic, e.g. Metals),
Copper 1, Copper 2, Copper 3,
Copper 4, & FAQs on Copper:
Science, Rationale/Use, Free
Copper/Cupric Ion Compounds (e.g. SeaCure), Chelated Coppers (e.g. Copper Power,
), Making Your Own/DIY Copper
Solutions, Measure/Testing,
Utilization/Duration, Prophylactic Use, Copper Product FAQs, Copper Test FAQs, Copper Removal FAQs, Copper Removal 2, & Live Rock, Marine Parasitic Disease, Parasitic Marine Tanks,
Parasitic Reef Tanks,
Cryptocaryoniasis, Marine
Ich, Marine Velvet Disease, Medications/Treatments 1, Medications/Treatments 2, Medications/Treatments 3, Antibiotics/Antimicrobials, Anthelminthics/Vermifuges/Dewormers,
Copper FAQs 1, Organophosphates, Epsom/Other Salts, Formalin/Formaldehyde, Furan Compounds, Garlic, Homeopathic Remedies (teas, pepper sauce,
other shams...), Malachite
Green, Mercury
Compounds/Topicals, Methylene
Blue, Metronidazole, Quinine Compounds, Sulfas, Treating
Disease, Treatment
Tanks, Medications/Treatments
II, Treating Parasitic Disease, Using Hyposalinity to Treat Parasitic
Disease, Garlic Use, Antibiotic Use, Marine Disease 1, Puffer Disease,
|
Use of copper entails... understanding... the
basics of what this material does (besides interrupting metabolic
processes of lower life)... is a proteinaceous
precipitant to fishes... making them slimier... Some fishes as
species, individuals can't take much of this... along with
present state of health, other stressors... You must treat
carefully, with testing, be ever-vigilant in observing your livestock's behavior. Be ready with new/stored water for
change-outs.
|
Kole Tang; hlth., and Cu f'
10/18/17
Good afternoon Crew,
<Dave>
I unfortunately experienced a loss in my tank last night - my Kole tang.
I've had a Kole Tang previously for years... a curious outgoing fish
that was constantly on the move. I have a shallow 60g tank, 79f, 1.024
salinity, no signs of nitrates/nitrites/ammonia - although I have been
purposely
allowing a little hair algae to grow for the upcoming arrival of my Kole
Tang. I'd say overall I feed rather lightly, sometimes every second day
(but am observing my fish growing/fattening up), and only enough that
just
a small amount of thawed frozen Mysis/brine/etc... falls to the
substrate for my snails/crabs/serpent star, etc
I currently have a few corals, bta, two clowns, yellow watchman goby,
royal gramma... I noticed a plump Kole Tang with what appeared to be ICK
at my LFS and offered to buy him at a greatly reduced price because I've
successfully QT and treated ICKY fish with Cupramine in the past, and
without losses. The Kole Tang went straight into my 30g QT bare bottom
tank and I followed the Cupramine instructions as always. The Kole Tang
would sometimes eat, sometimes not, but frequently picking away at
scraps that had stuck to the foam cover on the filter. He remained
active and plump for the 16day QT. With the Cupramine treatment over and
no signs of white spots, and what looked like a healthy active fish... I
introduced him to my display tank.
The Kole Tang's been shy, not as active, and while I've witnessed him
picking away at the glass and rocks from time to time, I rarely saw him
feeding with the other fish. Almost two weeks later... Last night, he
was on his side in the corner of my tank and breathing rapidly. He still
looked to be of a healthy size, but something was obviously wrong. I
felt that removing him at that point would cause more stress and certain
death.
Watched my cleaner shrimp jump on him at that point, and the Kole Tang
swam away. I checked on him this morning and his outer body had been
completely picked away by hermit crabs and my serpent starfish.
Question... do you think the death may still be Ick related, even though
he appeared to have successfully finished a Cupramine treatment?
<Ick/Crypt might have been a factor... to extent here. As well as the
copper exposure. I suspect this fish had a trauma issue though. Perhaps
from collection, holding, transport...>
I don't think anything in my tank could've harmed him, and he had no
wounds of any sort. I'm assuming my small to medium sized bubble tip
anemone wouldn't have been the culprit (unless the BTA had actually
caught him and was eating him)?
<Could have had a brush here as well>
I'm stumped... I thought I had success in saving this fish from the
store.
Dave
<Sometimes Dave, sometimes not. Bob Fenner>
Re: Kole Tang 10/18/17
Could a simple brush from the BTA have done something like that?
<Not likely a Ctenochaetus tang would perish from glancing a BTA; no;
not of/by itself>
I was thinking possibly trauma from collection, but in the QT he was
really active, breathing at what I perceived to be a normal rate, etc...
Cupramine indicates to treat at .5mg/l, and that toxic levels exist at
.8mg/l My
treatment was definitely at .5mg/l, having checked multiple times
throughout the 16 days. Are some fish (tangs?) more delicate with copper
treatments?
Dave
<Re copper exposure; there is no sub-physiological dose. Akin to
old treatments of humans by mercuricals and arsenicals; you're killing
the host by degrees along w/ the parasite. Tangs are amongst the most
sensitive fishes to copper poisoning. Bob Fenner>
Cross contamination of copper 8/7/16
Hello there
I hope that you are having a great day Bob.
<Thank you Mark>
I had a question I wanted to run by you. I have a 140g which I just transferred
over to a 240g tank. I had moved everything already except for maybe 70lbs of
live rock.
Yesterday I accidently grabbed the wrong syringe to check the salinity in my
120g, instead of grabbing the one I use to check salinity I grabbed the one I
used to dose Cupramine for my hospital tank. To make matters worse I rinsed the
syringe in my old 120g tank. So now my 120g, with my leftover liverock, has
about .1ml of Cupramine in it from residual Cupramine.
There's nothing left in the 120g except for live rock which I had wanted to
transfer over as well. Should I take any precautions or is the dosage too small
to have any effect on the live rock? Thank you.
<Not a worry mate. Turns out that some small amount of cupric ion is actually a
micro-nutrient, a necessary component... and found naturally in seawater. The
tiny amount you've added is of no deleterious consequence.
Bob Fenner>
cloudy eyes... Cu exp. 3/18/14
Hey Bob,
A week ago I had a scribbled angel who developed some cloudy eyes. It
was not unilateral, both eyes were of equal cloudiness.
<Yes; copper involvement speculated as I recall>
My uv light went out, and I am waiting for a replacement bulb to come
in, and since then my water had some fog to it. (suggesting a bacterial
bloom)
Could this bloom, have caused both eyes to become hazy?
<Not likely>
I pulled the fish out and placed in quarantine on Friday. I used Maracyn
Plus, and the eyes are clear and as good as new again. It has been 4
days since using the Maracyn, is there a need to run it a few more days,
just like people who need to run the full treatment of antibiotics?
<... the Mardel product likely is/was unnecessary>
Also, should I place him in there now, or wait till the UV light is on
again? (should have bulb this coming Monday).
<I wouldn't have the lamp influence me one way or t'other>
I checked WWM, various queries with Maracyn plus, and didn't see
anything on this particular antibiotic,
<... re-search: Erythromycin>
as well as full treatment time. The bottle says treat days 1,3,5, but
doesn't state how long after day 5 to keep him in there.
Thanks again for all you do
<W. B>
Re cloudy eyes... Cu exp. 3/18/14
Bob,
Yes copper was in place, Cupramine. I also have Cupramine in QT and the
same level, and yet his eyes are vibrant and clear. I did this because I
read on WWM that it is fine to run Cupramine and maracyn
synergistically. I also wanted to see if in fact it was the .5 Cupramine
causing this, and from what I have seen in QT, it is not.
If it wasn't the maracyn that took care of the eyes, not sure what else
it could have been, since both tanks have equal amounts of copper,
salinity. The only thing different from what I can measure, is the tank
temp is running at 82, the QT 79. (degree F of course) Both are at a
1.022 SG.
Maybe the angel didn't like the 82 degree water? Again, the only
comparisons I can make from my standpoint.
I will take him out of QT tonight, and place back into DT, with a short
acclimation.
Re cloudy eyes... Cu exp. 3/18/14 follow up
Ok, Bob, I stumbled upon something I believe matches up. Amazing what
one
more piece of literature may entail.
The cloudy eyes were a result of something off in the tank. The maracyn
may
have helped expedite the healing process, but it may come back when he
goes
in to DT. So the real cause may lie in the tank. (nitrates, bacterial
blooms, etc) In other words, it was a symptom, or secondary sign of
something else.
Well considering I personally believe my parameters, (exception of
Cupramine) are good, I may have stumbled on what caused it. From the
time I
got him, until the time he developed foggy eyes (5-6 days), he refused
to
eat. He was new, and therefore acclimating, but not eating (no
nutrition)
may have lowered immune system ability, therefore allowing an infection
to
occur, that may have not happened if he had been eating.
So perhaps rather than use antibiotics in qt, I should be focusing on
strengthening him up, getting him to feed, before re-introducing him to
DT.
I suppose initial logic and nature says to put the flames out of a
burning
house. A further superior mind says, to not keep flammables near an open
flame to begin with!
Update on Emperor. Cu and angels
3/9/14
Hi,
<Adam>
Update for your readers - I decided to strip the copper from my tank
using Seachem's carbon. I was surprised how long it takes but after a
week the copper level was down to 0.1 and I replaced with a second set
of carbon for two reasons, after a week I suspect most of the carbon is
saturated and also if the pH should drop I did not want the copper going
back into the tank.
The Emperor has improved in colour and the blotches have gone. I decided
not to treat for internal parasites as having read up I was concerned
about my bacteria filtration. The Emperor is still eating well and his
weight seems to have stabilised. I am suspicious as to how he was caught
(Cyanide etc) but hope his digestive tract bacteria is returning.
<As the fish is eating; and didn't perish almost immediately from; I
suspect it is fine>
I have learn that Copper is more sensitive to Emperors than to the
mostly harder to keep Regal, Blueface and Majestic Angels, the Regal who
was eating half the time when the Copper was at 0.6 is now eating well.
Kind regards,
Adam.
<Thank you for this report. BobF>
Hole in the head on Majestic and BlueFace Angel
3/9/14
Hi,
<Hello again>
Fortunately after decreasing the amount of copper in the water, 80% of
the "holes" have gone.
Kind regards,
Adam.
<This too. B>
Ich. & Cu use, SW 2/9/14
Hi Bob,
<Adam>
I understand there are different strains of Ich and currently only my
Real Tang has symptoms, the other, two ocellaris, Regal Angel, Emperor,
Blueface and Majestic Angel (I like angels) all seem comfortable.
<Ok>
I have 4 questions - if I treat with Cupramine for six weeks as
copper seems the only sure way to get rid of Ich
<Do read on WWM, the Net... books re the use of Quinine compounds>
if I then place carbon in the tank and when the copper tests (API) shows
clear therefore that it is negligible and leave fresh carbon in
the system to absorb any copper with a pH shift etc can I then place an
anemone in the tank as some sites say that the rocks and sand will still
kill an anemone on contact?
<Not likely; no>
The other question is as I have read copper can damage fish
kidney and liver?
<It can; from long exposure... high concentration as well; though this
last generally just kills the specimen/s>
Lastly the Blueface changed from juvenile to adult in six weeks (80%) is
this very fast as most people seem amazed.
<Does happen>
Thanks in advance.
Adam.
<Do you need help searching WWM? Bob Fenner>
Black marks on clownfish in QT
1/25/14
Good afternoon!
<Jen>
After searching the internet for days and asking on forums with no
discernible answer, I decided it was time to ask the experts!
<Ok!>
My clownfish has been in a hospital tank, undergoing copper treatment
for white spot, for 3 weeks now. I originally had two in there but I
unfortunately lost the other smaller (male) black and white clown after
a few days in the HT. Mona, the larger of the two, is now cured of
Whitespot and doing well apart from these marks on her. She had a few
black marks that I assumed were caused by my Zoas when I first
transferred her. But these new marks look as if the original few spots
have dispersed and spread all over her.
<I see these/this>
After looking at pictures of clownfish changing colour as they mature,
I'm not convinced this is what's going on.... Those changes seem to be
from under the scales and look to be a more even spread of colour. This
looks more like the edges of her scaled are trimmed with black.
She is still eating well (tetra marine flakes twice a day, sometimes
three times. Once a day I add garlic Xtreme. I feed Mysis every couple
of days too). There's no ammonia in the HT, I do a 25% water change
every 4/5 days and have an ammonia badge in there too.
I've attached the best pics I could get with a rubbish camera and a fast
moving fish! The black shows up most between her middle and back white
line but is also on her fins.... Everywhere except her head!
Do you think I need to worry about her/do anything?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Jenny
<These markings look to be smudges; chromatophore, melanophore: color
cells on/in this fish... From? Copper exposure, gen. stress? I would NOT
treat for anything pathogenic here. Return this fish to optimized,
stable conditions and it should be fine. Bob Fenner>
|
 |
Re: Black marks on clownfish in QT
1/26/14
Bob, thanks so much for your response.
<Welcome Jen>
Yesterday was the last day of copper treatment at the recommended level
so I have now put carbon sponge and PolyFilter in the filter to remove
the copper, hopefully Mona will look less grubby soon! I was wondering
if lighting may also have had something to do with this and if I should
leave the tank light off for a few days? Do you think this may be a
factor?
<Not likely... the copper exposure by itself... most all. BobF>
Jen
|
Concern for copper 6/4/13
Dear Crew,
I am in a possible serious disaster. I just finished cycling
my 265 gallon tank. It has two refugiums in the
bottom. It was discovered yesterday that one of my kids
put a block of wood (4''x4") into one of them probably to see it float.
I found a label that says it is pressure treated with "Micronized Copper
Azole Compounds". I am pretty much scared to death that all the
money and time put into starting up my reef tank has been ruined.
<You removed it immediately I take it... likely the "biomass" absorbed
what little was released>
I'm trying to stay positive by hoping that the wood wasn't in there long
enough to seep into the water (I hope you feel the same!). What should I
watch for?
<The more/most sensitive organisms... I see below, likely the
Gracilaria... dying back>
I have Copepods all over, Mangroves, Red Gracilaria, and Hermit crabs. I
don't know what to do from here.
Sincerely,
Alyssa
<Drop in a pound or so of activated carbon, a couple of PolyFilter pads,
and if you're so inclined a dozen Hail Mary's and you'll be good to go.
Bob Fenner>
rookie mistake; brass- copper incident 1/3/12
Hi WWM Crew. I've been working on building a 55g reef tank over the past 5
months. Playing by the rules to allow for cycling, adding fish slowly,
diligent water changes with RO/DI water, Sump with a refugium, etc. Over
the past month, I started to add corals. They would close-up and die
within the week.
<Mmmm>
Snails had no chance, would also die within a few days. Although,
all 7 fish were ok. Spending hours of research, I realized I had a brass
ball valve between the return pump and the display tank.
<Ahh>
Learned further that brass contains copper
<Yes; an alloy>
... oh joy! So I promptly remove the ball valve and buy a copper test kit,
and sure enough the tank has 0.25 ppm copper... even after two 50% water
changes. Obviously the copper is embedded in all of the live rock and
sand. I've heard Poly Bio Marine Filters will remove copper from the water
column, but obviously wont clear it from the rock or sand.
<Well, most all copper will "become insoluble" in time in our systems... and
some minute amount is actually an essential element.>
SO, the big question. If I run PolyFilters for a few months, will
the tank be ok to sustain a reef?
<Yes; highly likely so>
Or do I need to "bomb-and-pave" (please say "no") and start over with a new
tank, new live rock and new sand?
<I would not start over as you state... Wait a month, re-test for free cupric
ion (Cu++), and start w/ a hardier test invertebrate>
Looking for your expertise before I basically start over -sigh-.
Thank you!
Justin
<Welcome; and don't despair. Much better times near ahead. Bob Fenner>
Re: rookie mistake 1/3/12
Thank you for the reply Bob!
<Welcome Justin>
A few follow up questions. Do you think my live rock is now dead-rock?
<Mmm, no. Assuredly not. Some part of the more "easily killed by copper
exposure" is likely killed, died back, but most all will recover. I would not
move, or change this out>
Hoping it will also come back and begin to spawn little creatures and 'things'
in time. It's been unusually bear <bare, homonym>, probably due to the
copper. Also, anything I need to do to the substrate to help release any
residual copper?
<No; nada>
Lastly, my LFS does not have PolyFilter but does have other granular media like
Kent toxic metal sponge, to remove copper. Is one better than the other?
Recommendations?
<Boyd's Chemipure>
Thanks again,
Justin
<BobF>
Itchy Fish. Cu exp. 8/15/12
Hi Crew,
I am wondering if you have any ideas as my fishes seem itchy, I had been
treating the tank with copper but about a week ago started removing it
with a Polyfilter, Carbon and Kent Toxic Sponge powder. All levels are
normal and there is no sign of Ich, fish are all still eating but it is
frustrating for them and less so for me. I am guessing at a chemical
issue rather than a pathogen infection as they do not seem to be getting
any worse or increased breathing rate. All params, pH etc are normal.
Regards,
Adam.
<Search "itchy and copper"... Likely the real issue here. B>
Scratching Regal Angel. Cu irritation likely
8/6/12
Hi Crew, I am not sure you can answer this question as I have done some
research on this. I am have tank <?> which did recently have Ich, the
Regal Tang (Not Angel)
<Paracanthurus>
used to be my barometer to check but surprisingly he/she seems to have
built resistance,
<Happens>
a Humbug Damsel and also surprisingly a small Emperor Angel all seem
immune. When there is a small outbreak two small (about 1inch) Clown
Triggers show the spots.
<Might not be Crypt, a Protozoan...>
I say small as I have been running Copper for about three weeks. There
are no signs of any white spot currently as I increased the Copper
dosage (Cupramine) I check under daytime and nighttime light and I
personally have very good vision (thanks Mum and Dad) My Regal
Angel is flicking and I do not know why.
<Highly likely just the copper exposure... is irritating>
There was a small drop in pH to 8.0 which I have corrected, any ideas
would be appreciated. He/she also seems to want the Emperor Angel to
clean him/her. All fish are eating and breathing OK. Regards, Adam.
<I'd reduce, eliminate the Cu... Read here re:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/curemovalfaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>
Copper in a reef tank 7/13/12
Hello,
I have recently had an outbreak of copper in my reef tank. I say outbreak
because I have never dosed with copper and do not know how it got in my
tank. It is a 120gal tank that has been up for several years. I noticed
that my corals and inverts had begun dying over night after thriving for
months. After coming up empty on my normal tests I brought water to my
LFS were they detected Cu levels.
<How much and by what measure, kit?>
I immediately got to work removing the few surviving inverts and coral.
<? Why not use a chemical filtrant? Oh, I see this below>
I also have done two 50% water changes and have been running both poly
pads and Cuprisorb. I use RO&DI water with reef crystal salt both of
which tested as being Cu free. It has been two weeks since this first
happened and I am suffering from information overload in regards to Cu.
I am trying to track my Cu levels with tests kits but have learned that
there are two different "types" of Cu ( bonded and free ionic). Is there
anyway to determine which I should be testing for, as I don't know the
source of this Cu?
<On the basis of readings themselves... if the Cu++ kit reads zero or
close to, you're measuring bound>
Also any ideas as to where this mystery Cu could have come from?
<Yes; your local municipality... the source water... pipes being worked
on... added. OR a copper alloy fitting somewhere in your system water
dissolving... OR, a saboteur who is or has placed something copper in
the system... OR a spurious reading re the copper itself. This last:
either the test kit/s may be faulty and/or they may be testing something
else as copper. Lastly, there IS some small amount of copper in many
foods, commercial ones often have it placed as a preservative AND
necessary minor trace element. BUT this amount should NOT show up on a
hobbyist test kit>
I have checked all my equipment for breaks or exposed wires.
<This would be obvious... from the gear failing, the animals being
shocked>
I am wondering if I had bought contaminated rock at some point.
<Doubtful, but another possibility>
Could have taken 3+ years to show up or could my pH have dropped low
enough to cause it to be dissolved out. I should mention that whatever
happened appears to have had no effect on the fish.
A very confused and frustrated,
Jen
<I'd have a lab, other place test. Bob Fenner>
EMERGENCY: Copper poisoning of 135g reef tank – 06/09/12
Greetings. My name is Thomas.
<Hi Thomas, Jordan here.>
You all have helped me in the past to get my tank to where it is today,
or where it was before catastrophe struck, and I am humbly, graciously
seeking your advice once again.
<I'm here to help.>
I've searched all over the site today while trying to fix my problem,
and done what I could so far based on what I've read.
I have a 135g reef tank that has been thriving nicely for over 10 years
now. I have about 10 various fish, but my main concern are my
corals. It is a mixed reef with everything from Zoas, mushrooms,
Ricordea and leathers to Acros, Montis, Hammers, and Goniopora (which
have thrived and spread wonderfully for over 5 years and put a hefty
dent in my finances). All corals I put in my tank thrive and
multiply quickly up to this point, and your site has made me a happy
reefer over the years. As you can imagine, I'm afraid I'm about to
lose thousands of dollars of livestock.
<Uh oh.>
I have a deep sand bed of 5" in both my display tank and my 40 gal
refugium/sump, where I grow Chaeto. There are about 175 pounds of
live rock in the main display tank. I run a phosphate reactor and
also 3 bags of carbon in the sump's flow path. I run an AquaC EV
series protein skimmer. It is a great setup, and I've had 0
readings of Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite for years.
<Impressive.>
My problem was introduced with a water change today. I typically
change about 35 to 40 gallons of water once a month, which I age for
anywhere between 3-30 days in between water changes in a large
Rubbermaid Brute trash can with lid. I run a power head in this
can as well as a glass heater.
<I see where this is going. Look into titanium heaters...>
As I was pumping the new water into the tank, I noticed my corals
starting to close and expel mucus. This is highly unusual, and by
the time I finished filling the tank I realized that my glass heater in
the trash can had shattered, and that the remaining water in the trash
can had a smell of electronics/metal. I had previously put my hand
in that water without being shocked and/or dying, so I don't suspect
electric shock as the cause of my problem here. However, I had
mixed up this water 3 days ago, and the corrosion on the metal inside
the heater had surprisingly become pretty bad, so I suspect it was
leaching copper into the water for the full 3 days.
<I do not know the internal make up of aquarium heaters and I'm sure
each manufacturer is different but I do not suspect copper to be the
killer. The foul smell produced from an electrical fire is the a result
of the rubber, plastic, epoxy, and all sorts of other nastiness being
released into the air. In your case, all of these chemicals/toxins were
released and absorbed into your water.>
My snails and large abalone have all but stopped moving, and all of my
corals have closed up completely. They seem to be beginning to
bleach, as well, and they continue to expel enormous amounts of mucus.
<As to be expected.>
I immediately mixed up new water and performed another change of about
30 gallons after giving the trash can a rinse and a bit of a scrub with
a filter pad. I was worried about changing more water than this,
though, since I've read that I shouldn't change more than 50% per day or
two.
<I would do a 50-75% change at this point. You need to remove the
chemicals/toxins as quickly as possible. Large percentage water changes
can "shock" a system if parameters are off but you need to be more
concerned with removing what was introduced. I would change all carbon
and run it a reactor if you have one available.>
I have switched now to a smaller trash can that I usually use for an
auto top off system, as I'm worried about using the regular water change
trash can as it may be contaminated now.
<I would not suspect but I'd get a new one just for piece of mind.>
I have mixed up some new water (about 20
gallons) in this new can but am hesitant to do another water change
until tomorrow. How much can I safely change in one day?
<I've done 50% on numerous occasions and know others who have done
larger.
The key is parameter matching.>
And how many days in a row can I do this?
<I'd do water changes every other day, decreasing in percentage as they
progress.>
My carbon was getting a little old, so I changed out two of the 3 bags,
since changing all 3 might be too much of a change in the biological
filtration going on there.
<Change the third bag as well.>
All this has happened in the past 4 or 5 hours, and since it is late, I
have not been able to get to the store to purchase poly filter pads to
see if I can prove it is copper poisoning and hopefully try and remove
some of it. I will be doing this first thing in the morning.
<I do not suspect copper but it does not hurt to be certain.>
Basically, I believe I have introduced 35 to 40 gallons of copper
infused water into my 175 gallons of tank volume (probably about 120
gallons of actual water). I don't have a copper test kit or poly
filter pads, but this seems to be the logical culprit... Do you agree?
<Aquarium heaters are fairly complex for what they do and smoldering
circuitry could have released all sorts of unknowns.>
Is there anything else that you can suggest I do?
<Large water changes, fresh carbon, and a little luck.>
I will cry if I have to start over again from scratch, but my true love of
the hobby will inevitably compel me to do so if necessary.
<Lets hope it doesn't come to that.>
Your advice is greatly appreciated, and your expertise and experience
are unparalleled.
Thank you. I anxiously await your reply.
<Best of luck, keep me posted>
Thomas Bolton
<Jordan>
Ridding inverts of Ich before adding to
DT? & Removing Cu, 3/25/12
Hi Crew,
I have read all the FAQ's on Marine Ich... I have a question that I
can't find the answer to. I put copper in my DT with
my fish, LR , & LS a couple months ago b/c I didn't have a QT
setup yet (do now) and a couple people told me it was fine to do as
long as I removed all inverts which I did. I found out
very soon after that it was a bad thing to do and within 24 hrs,
transferred all DT contents to a 50 gal QT.
First question: I put all my inverts in a friends tank and she got
several new fish since then and did not QT and had an outbreak of Ich
in her tank.
She has not left her tank fallow to kill off the Ich and I am going to
be getting my inverts back from her tomorrow and am worried that they
will have Ich on them and infect my tank again. <There is a very
slim possibility that a cyst could be attached to a shell or in the
water you transfer over, but it is a slim possibility> I do
plan on QT for the inverts for at least 4 weeks, <No need to go this
long, the 4 week suggestion for fish is because the parasite can
be in its dormant stage for this long before presenting as the fish is
the host. The parasite cannot host on an invertebrate.
Keeping the Inverts in a separate tank/container for 1 week would be
plenty adequate to ensure any cysts have 'hatched' which at
that point the free swimming parasite would not be able to find its
host and die>> but there are some of them that I am concerned
about. I have pencil urchins, hermit crabs, and turbo snails who
are largely, if not totally, dependent on a cycled, mature tank with
algae growth which I don't have in my QT tank. I have a HOB
filter in my sump that I plan on putting on the QT and also using the
water from the DT to fill the QT. It is bare bottom. I have
also read the FAQ's on QT setup and I understand for the most part
but I am confused as to how a non cycled tank w/o any bio filter can
sustain any type of livestock for the recommended time of at least 4
weeks w/o doing daily WC's <Again, 4 weeks not necessary for
what you are trying to achieve. A water change every couple of
days will deal with any ammonia that may happen to crop up>.
Is this what is expected?
What is recommended QT procedure for things like urchins, hermits,
& snails? <As mentioned above>
I might normally just go ahead and put them in the DT due to the
concern of lack of food in the sterile QT but I am very wary to do so
with the knowledge that they are coming from a tank infested with
Ich.
Second question: After removing everything from the DT and putting it
in the 50 gal QT, we thoroughly cleaned the DT out and started
over completely with all new LR & LS. We had thought that we
would just have to throw out the LR & LS that we had in the tank
with the copper treatment. We transferred the fish back to the DT
a couple of weeks ago but hadn't had the time to drain and take
down the 50 gal QT we were using. (our new QT is a 30 gal, just so you
know we are talking about 3 different tanks here) A couple of
nights ago I was noticing that the LR in the QT had lots of coralline
growing on it. All the coralline that had originally been on the
rock before the copper had turned white after putting in the copper so
I was surprised to see new colorful growth. <Different types of
coraline have different lighting requirements. Once your
full light is on, this species may fade away and others replace it>
I was even more surprised because we haven't turned on the lights
on the tank since taking the fish out 2 weeks ago and I thought that
light was necessary for coralline to grow.??? As I was examining
the coralline on the racks, I got an even bigger shock. There was
all kinds of life on the rocks!!! Tons of copepods and amphipods,
mini feather dusters, pineapple sponge, snails, small starfish (pretty
sure it's Asterina) etc. How is this possible after having so
much copper in the tank!? Since finishing treatment I have done
several WC's and not added more copper back in and have been
running poly filter in a canister. I always wanted them, but
never had any pods at all before treatment and now they are
everywhere! After seeing all the creatures in there, I did a
copper test with API copper test kit. It is definitely not 0 but
is less than .25ppm. I also tested the water in my DT and it was
0 so I know that my test kit is good and not just showing that there is
copper in there when there is not really any. I just don't
understand where these things came from period, and how they are alive
in there after having copper in the water for more than 8 weeks now!
Thoughts??? Also, I don't have any pods in my DT now and
really want some. Is there any way I can transfer them over w/o
transferring the water or rock that has copper in it? I'm
assuming that any readable traces of copper would be harmful to inverts
but the evidence in the QT tank with all this life blooming says
otherwise. What do you think??? I do not want to
contaminate my DT with copper again! It was a very expensive
newbie mistake!!! On the other hand, if you don't think the
levels of copper showing on my test kit are high enough to hurt any
inverts, I would LOVE to be able to use my rock again! It is very
nice, beautiful rock- much nicer than a lot of the new rock that I had
to settle for the 2nd time around. <The Rock can absorb the
copper and leach it back into the water column over time. It is
possible for you to fully remove it over time using GAC, Poly filters,
and Cuprisorb. That being said, if you are seeing invertebrate
life, it has likely reduced to adequate level>
I am even now questioning if the copper was effective on killing the
Ich since there is so much life in the tank now. <Hard to say as you
do not mention what type of copper you were using, what levels you kept
it at for the treatment period, and how you were testing it>
My fish seem to be Ich free, but it is my understanding that this is
very common in hobbyist's tanks to have it in the tank but not see
any signs of it except for times of stress that causes outbreaks on the
fish. <Agreed> I also am worried that there may be some
sort of internal parasite that has been/is killing my fish. I had
written to you about 3 wks ago about my Koran Angel that was bloated
and had white stringy poop and not swimming right. Seemed
indicative to internal parasites, but I couldn't imagine how it
could be since there was nothing new added to the tank since they were
put in 5-6 wks before and the fish was healthy until all of the
sudden. It died the morning after I wrote to you for
advice. We were devastated and it is even more frustrating to not
know what the cause was. Now my lawnmower blenny is not eating
and swimming sideways, sinking to the ground and just laying, sometimes
upside down.
This has been going on for 4 or 5 days now and I can't believe he
is still alive! He has been bloated for weeks but otherwise
seemed happy and healthy and always ate well. <Perhaps a swim
bladder issue> I had guessed that his bloated belly was due to
him being in the QT with no algae to eat since the copper had killed it
and he was eating too much protein. I give dried seaweed on clips
but he has never touched it. I feed Seaweed Extreme pellets, but
even they have about 30% protein. I was very saddened to see him
struggling so much the other day and although he is still holding on,
he has not improved and I do not think he is going to get better.
Crossing my fingers though... So to sum up, the last part of my
ramble, do you think there could be a parasite that is attacking my
fish internally one by one? And if so, what steps should I
take??? <I doubt anything like you describe would kill them one by
one, they would all succumb. Any issues with the other fish other
than the Blenny?
That being said, PraziPro is a very safe medication that be used to
treat for flukes which tend to be an issue in our hobby and is a good
measure to use if you are already QT'ing and treating your
fish>
Sorry for all the questions. This hobby is so much fun but can be
so stressful and frustrating when you are having such problems and
don't know why or what to do! I am so grateful that your crew
is so knowledgeable and
willing to help!!! I, and COUNTLESS others appreciate it soooooo
much!!!
Thanks,
Lindsey
Re: Ridding inverts of Ich before adding to DT?
3/25/12
Thank you so much for your reply and advice! I was using Copper
Power, a liquid containing 1.26% copper sulfate. I followed the
instructions and the API test kit read that the copper was at 1.0 ppm
(maybe higher)... After talking to people on forums and researching
online, I found that those levels were too high so I did a water change
and didn't add copper so I could lower it to 0.5 ppm. It has
been too long ago for me to remember specific time periods but it was
probably about 1 week at the higher levels and well over 3 weeks at the
lower levels. I was recommended the Copper Power<Not familiar
with the product> at my LFS but it was only 1 of 2 brands they
carried (no Cupramine) <I would order some if you can to keep on
hand if you are going to use this type of treatment. It is much
milder on the fish and as effective>
and the Copper Power directions only told to put one ounce per 20 gal
of water. No instructions as to what levels to maintain at and no
phone # or website to contact for questions.
You mentioned a swim bladder issue with the lawnmower blenny... I have
read lots of contradictory info about them not having swim bladders and
many people with lawnmowers experiencing the same symptoms as
mine...<It is true that they do not have bladders, I was making a
general statement, sorry for the confusion> Do they in fact have a
swim bladder?
The lawnmower blenny is the only fish currently showing any signs of
problems. At the beginning of copper treatment a couple mo.s ago,
we did have a Royal Dottyback that experienced the same symptoms and
finally died after a week and a half. I thought it was due to the
copper because it started showing symptoms the morning after we added
the copper. Then we had the Koran Angel with the same symptoms
about 3 weeks ago. It died quickly after showing symptoms
compared to the Dottyback and the Lawnmower. Do you think it is
just coincidence that all 3 fishes are experiencing the same symptoms
so far apart in time or is it the same thing infecting them? <It is
possible that the excessive copper at the beginning along with the
prolonged exposure at a relatively safe level (.5ppm is the high end)
caused these issues, but that is cautious statement based off the
information you have provided. Here is a link to an experiment to
show the effect of high levels of copper on ornamental marine
fish.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/10/breeder. >
Are you saying that it would be wise to treat with PraziPro when QTing
fish whether or not they show any signs of parasites? <I do think it
is wise and I do so myself. It is effective against not only
external parasites like flukes, but internal worms as well, here is a
link to the product, read the description.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12098>
Do you think it would be beneficial at this point to remove the
Lawnmower from the DT and put in a HT for PraziPro treatment? <The
behavior you describe is not indicative of having any type of internal
or external worms/flukes. So that treatment will not likely
impact this specific issue.> He has not been eating
for days so I don't have the concern of there not being algae to
eat in the
HT. <A valid concern and your number one issue is getting him to
eat. Is he not interested in dried Nori?>
And lastly, is there any way to transfer the pods from the QT that has
low levels of copper still in it to the DT??? MY DT is 70 gal
with a 30 gal sump/refugium. <I would be very cautious about getting
any water containing copper into your DT. If there is a way you
can get the pods out with a net of some sort, strain them, rinse them
with fresh saltwater, and then put them in, that would be fine>
Thanks again! <You are welcome> Lindsey <Bobby>
Re: Ridding inverts of Ich before adding to DT?
Bobby,
The lawnmower has never been interested in dried seaweed of any
kind. He died this evening :( Sad but I was expecting
it.<Sorry to hear, they are very personable fish> I will
find and get some PraziPro & Cupramine to have on hand. Thanks so
much for all your help!<You are welcome>
Lindsey<Bobby>
Copper treatment wrongly given, don't want
to give up 1/17/12
Hi,
<Hello>
I am contacting you as last resort before I am forced to give up on my
marine tank. Have been given some awful advice from
the LFS, they are the ones who started me in the Marine tank, and so
have followed their instructions religiously. The tank has only been
set up for 3 months, and has 2 common clownfish, 2 cleaner shrimp, 3
turbo snails and some hermit crabs. The water has been cycled for 2
months, we were just waiting to get our new fish.
The female clownfish looked like she had some scratches on her white
stripes, and white fluff on her head. We went to the LFS for help and
was given this information:
Buy and set up a quarantine tank, use water from the main tank and put
a piece of live rock, coral sand and put the shrimps in there for about
a month.
Treat the main tank, as is, with copper based medication. The copper
will kill any parasite in the water, so treating the quarantine tank is
pointless as the fish will go back into untreated water.
<And into a dead tank with little to no denitrifying bacteria to
remove ammonia.
Secondly, the disease needs to be diagnosed accurately before selecting
a treatment.>
As newbies, and trusting people, we did EXACTLY as told. The snails
fell onto their backs (all three sadly died) The hermit crabs slowed
down and spent most of the night in their shells. The clownfish died
through the night, but I expected that as she had stopped eating.
<Were you told to buy a copper test kit and monitor the copper
level? Too low a level will not be effective and too high a level
can/will kill fish as well as invertebrates. There are other safer
methods of treatment as well.>
I rang my LFS the next day who tried to bluff his way by saying he told
me to take the snails out (he
didn't) the hermit crabs shouldn't be affected (another lie),
and to keep treating. This was the first sign to me something was badly
amiss with his information, so <I> contacted 4 other LFS, who all
agreed on possible solution which was:
Do a water change every day for 7 days, use carbon sponge to take out
as much copper as possible, set up a protein skimmer (something I was
told I didn't need as I have FO tank) to improve water quality,
<Protein skimmers greatly improve water quality and in my opinion,
are a must, FO or no FO.>
leave shrimp for month before putting back, even then could still lose
them, and NEVER go back to
that LFS!
After 5 days, the male clownfish is still alive, the hermit crabs all
made it, the shrimp are alive in the small tank, and I have been told I
can't test for copper as the levels will be so low they won't
register, but could still kill shrimp.
<A good test kit should read residual copper levels if
present.>
Should I carry on with the removal, and continue with this tank, or for
the sake of animals and future animals, should I return everything and
transform the tank to tropical?
<Well I believe you have learned an important lesson here. Never
take one person's advice in this hobby but get advice from others
as well. I'd go ahead with your plan and not throw in the towel
yet. A good book by a reputable author is highly recommend and our site
has volumes of information at your disposal. A link to our marine index
can be found here.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/index.htm
James (Salty Dog)>
Sad, but hopeful, from Northampton
Copper and coral 5/17/11
Hi Sara,
I'd like your input on a problem I have/had. I've had three or
four large SPS branching corals that have been thriving/growing for
over three years. A while back I bought a Raccoon Butterflyfish from my
trusted dealer. Shortly after I placed the fish in my system along with
the shipping water, the subject corals began bleaching and eventually
killing the large head and two Galaxea corals. When I bought the fish,
my friend, the owner was not present. I later come to find out that the
owner treats his entire display system (fish only of course) with
copper. My question to you is, do you believe dumping about 8 cups of
this copper treated shipping water into a 5' x 18" x 18"
(85 gallons) system could cause this. I'm thinking that in that
amount of water, any copper in the bag would be diluted to a non
dangerous level, likely just a minute trace. My dealer came over to
observe what was going on and he felt there wouldn't be enough
copper in the system to cause this. I tend to disagree with him and is
why I am asking for your input. I have no other explanation why this
could have happened other than the tainted water.
Cheers,
James (Salty)
<Aloha Games,
Good question. There's a lot of highly technical science journal
articles on the effect of copper on corals and coral spawning,
especially for Acropora species. From what I was able to gather from
just briefly reviewing several of these abstracts, copper tolerance
appears to vary among Acropora species. However, you can't help but
notice that these studies all measure copper concentrations in ug/L.
For example, one study looked at the effects of a range of copper
solutions of 2 to 20 ug/L on a few different species of Acropora
corals. I'll also note that marine invertebrates in general are
probably intolerant (to varying degrees) of any concentration of copper
higher than 10 ug/L. And I wouldn't be surprised if I found
scholarly research to suggest that the tolerance is even lower among
stony corals.
Ok, so, let's put this in perspective. I'm sure that copper
treatment solutions vary in concentration from brand to brand and in
application to application. Also, there's probably some relevance
to particular type of copper solution used (i.e. is the solution made
with copper sulfate or chelated copper? -- at marine aquarium
alkalinity, chelated copper is less toxic to fish, but I'm not sure
if it's less toxic to marine invertebrates). So we don't really
know how much copper the store owner put in his system, what type of
solution he used, or what dosage, etc. But let's just say, for
arguments sake, that he brought the copper levels in his system to 0.25
ppm using copper sulfate solution (I believe this is considered, at
least by some, to be the "target dose" for therapeutic use).
As an aside, I'll note that CopperSafe instructs to maintain levels
at 1.5 to 2.0 ppm with their chelated copper, which they seem to
suggest is as safe as 0.3 ppm using copper sulfate solution. In any
event, for all crude purposes, 1 ppm converts to 1000 ug/L, and thus
0.25 ppm converts to 250 ug/L (way too high for any marine
invertebrate). However, your system is 85g and 8 cups is only half a
gallon. Thus, your system would have diluted the copper treated water
by a factor of roughly 170. So now we're down to a copper
concentration of about 1.47ug/L (assuming yours started at 0). Would
that be a concentration high enough to harm your corals? I don't
know, but I would guess not (or at least, not to the extent you
saw).
However, I'm sure it's possible that the store owner over dosed
his system. Or maybe my calculations are wrong. Or, maybe your copper
levels were already elevated, or perhaps your corals are just
particularly sensitive. Who knows?
I do strongly suggest you read this nice article by aquaculture teacher
and veterinarian, Roy Yanong;
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa165
Cheers,
Sara
>James, Sara, am going to post this to WWM if you have no
objections. A couple of brief stmt.s/addenda: Some (very small) amount
of copper (cupric ion, otherwise) is essential to coral metabolism (and
most other life). The amount "brought in" w/ James' BF
should be exceedingly little here. Strange to me, there are movements
afoot (at the state Senate level here in CA) to do away w/ copper as an
anti-fouling paint component... Save the... what? Ourselves AND the
planet! Cheers, BobF<
Re: Copper and coral
The amount "brought in" w/ James' BF should be
exceedingly little here.
<Agreed... perhaps I took too long to explain why. :-P
-Sara M.>
<Likely that bill-able hours thing! B>
Re: Copper and coral
Hi Bob,
<James>
I do not have a problem with you posting this. Awful upset about losing
that large colony along with the Galaxea corals. I have two branching
corals of another species and these were not affected at all. I might
add that all my Shrooms wilted up to less than the size of a penny.
They are still bright in color, not dead yet. I ran both a Poly Filter
and Chemipure simultaneously after the event occurred although the
Chemipure was always in the system. Sure beats the hell out of me,
nothing added, nothing changed, no change of salt, parameters stable,
SOP the same.
James
<Not the copper... B>
Re: Copper and coral 5/17/11
Haha, more likely just the habit of answering questions with long
answers... :-/
<Ahh, this too. B>
Temporary copper wiring in reef
tank 3/4/11
Dear Crew
<Hello Joe.>
I have read in the WWM files that if an urchin chews through electrical
cable and exposes copper wiring, it is advisable to do at least a 30%
water change. With reference to this, I need to weave the plug end of a
pump's cable (without the plug affixed) through some rockwork in my
reef tank. I was thinking of sealing up the exposed copper parts with
tape or similar.
Total time for this immersion will be less than 5 minutes. Assuming
that any seal made is not perfect, will this quick meeting of
salt-water and copper facilitate any significant and dangerous leaching
of copper into the water column?
<No, you will be fine. Copper is not a hand grenade that destroys in
a fraction of a second! That being said it would be a good idea to seal
the end (just a little tape will do) for other reasons.>
Any help that you could provide in this would be, as always, hugely
appreciated.
Many thanks
Yours
Joe
<Welcome, have fun, Scott V.>
Japanese Dragon Eel and clown trigger.
9/14/10
Hi,
<Hello Kellvin.>
My fish store is bringing in a Japanese Dragon Eel for me. 25-30cm.
Currently I have a show Clown Triggerfish 25cm and a Banded eel and
some grouper. Can the dragon eel be kept together?
<Nothing I would recommend.>
Lastly, can dragon eel tolerate Seachem Cupramine?
<Although it might not die instantly, no moray eel should be brought
into contact with copper containing products of any sort.>
Thank you with God Bless. Kellvin.
<Cheers, Marco.>
Cupramine, use, effect on biofiltration
7/2/10
Hey Crew
<Hello Jimmy>
I have gotten conflicting reports on this issue: Will Cupramine have a
detrimental effect on the nitrogen cycle of a tank.
<Yes, to an extent, depending on the concentration used>
I called Seachem and they say no, but they do say that the amine moiety
<RMF corrected spelling>
<?what is this word?>
on the copper will cause false high readings from ammonia test
kits.
<Try using a salicylate kit -- one with a yellow/ green test strip.
I find the API kit for this to be excellent>
I know that prophylactic copper treatments are not usually recommended
if a fish is otherwise healthy.
<Agreed. Try Chloroquine phosphate http://www.wetwebmedia.com/quinmedfaqs.htm>
I have had a closed disease system for many years and am thinking of
adding a fish to the system to replace a 13 year old Foxface that has
moved on. It took much effort to get my system disease free when I
started, and of course, I am going to quarantine. I plan on at least a
6 -8 week quarantine.
<Mmm, too long IMO. 2-3 weeks for fishes is usually adequate. 3 if
using CP>
If no visible signs of disease are present is that an adequate
indicator that I will not be introducing trouble into the system?
<Usually, yes. Although even when treating prophylactically there
are no guarantees. If healthy, and introduced to a stress free and
healthy system afterwards most problems are avoided>
Somewhat unrelated question: How often is it acceptable to siphon the
gravel (i.e. gravel wash) in a marine tank that uses aragonite
substrate? I usually do very small water changes ( 5 gal ) every other
day on my 180G FOWLR with great success, takes all of 10 minutes and
the system looks great for years. Amazing how this approach has yielded
better results than a single 50g water change once a month.
<If you are using gravel, then regular siphoning is required. If
using fine sand, then periodic siphoning is fine, and some people never
siphon their sand at all! If you have problems with BGA on your sand
then it needs to be siphoned off and usually through as well until the
problem is resolved. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marsubstr.htm
>
Thanks
<No worries>
Jimmy
<Simon>
Please help! It's an emergency!
Accidental copper dosing in a reef tank. 5/18/2010
Mr. Fenner (or crew),
<Hi.>
I screwed up really bad. My fish only tank houses numerous tangs, and
they've all caught ich really bad, so I dosed the tank with
Cupramine.
<It is best to put the fish in a hospital tank and treat
there.>
I forgot to turn off the skimmer for about a couple of hours (it is one
of those CPR hang on the back type), and then proceeded to remove the
skimmer and put it on my Nano tank which houses a lot of corals.
<Uh oh...>
I didn't empty out the water in the skimmer, and now I'm
guessing all that water from the fish only tank is mixed in with the
water in the coral tank. Did I screw up that bad?
<Pro ably not nearly as bad as you think, but in any case, water
changes, large ones, ASAP.>
It's 4 in the morning and I can't run out and get a copper test
kit, but could you ease my mind some? Or just tell me that I screwed up
bad and give me a solution. Thank you so much.
<Water Changes, adding carbon to the filtration system, and perhaps
Poly-Filters if they are available. Will soak up any copper>
<Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/cutrbfix.htm
>
<MikeV>
Huge Mistake, Copper treatment, Cu removal,
NO3 contr. 4/12/10
I have been reading your site for information on CopperSafe in the main
tank. I didn't find you until after going by the advice of the LFS.
And when mentioning what I have read I was told I should not read so
much because most of the information is outdated.
<Have heard this myself from several pet stores, sad
attitude.>
Now I'm devastated and trying to pick up the pieces. It's a 90
gallon FO tank and I understand that I should replace all of the sand
and the live rock is pretty much shot.
<Perhaps>
I have two clowns, pj bottom, and green Chromis left. Tried to add
other fish but they all die within a couple days. Could it be copper
from the rocks?
<Doubtful if copper is not showing up on the test kit, more likely
something else, do you QT your fish?>
Ammonia and Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5, Copper is not showing up on the test
and PH is 8.2.
<Ok>
I have a protein skimmer and using a wet/dry. I'm told this is a
good set up for a fish only tank this size but just don't trust
anything I've been told any more.
<Wet/dries can be problematic for nitrates but you seem to have
these under control.>
What about a bare bottom with live rock? Is that a bad idea? Is it time
to give up?
<Bare bottom with live rock can work, so can sand, all depends on
what you are looking for. Don't panic.>
Wishing I never gave my 29 gallon away....it was a lot easier. Never
one problem.
<Would make a nice QT as well.>
Thanks
Sarah
<Welcome>
<Chris>
Re: Huge Mistake, Copper treatment, 4/12/10
Chris thanks for getting back to me.
<Welcome>
I guess I am working myself into a panic.
<The ulcers aren't worth it.>
I'm tired of tossing money out the window.
<Been there, done that.>
Yes, I do QT my fish.
<Good>
I didn't at first which is why CopperSafe was in my main tank but I
think a lot of us have learned that the hard way.
<Yep>
After two weeks I introduce into the main tank using a slow drip for 2
to 3 hours.
<I would extend the QT period to 4 weeks for most fish, gives a
little longer for problems to become visible. Acclimation time seems
fine.>
I do 9 gallon water changes every other week with bought water.
I've tested that too.
<For long term cost savings and to be able to better control water
quality I would investigate purchasing your own RO/DI unit. Far too
often I have seen store RO/DI units improperly maintained and producing
poor quality water.>
I have read that if it is a Fish Only Tank with NO live rock then a wet
dry with bioballs is ok and shouldn't be a problem.
<This is fine, but to me live rock is so key that I would consider
using it whenever possible, it really makes life easier.>
Is this a myth?
<No, but it can still cause nitrate problems as organic material is
not removed from the tank, just held in the filter where it will still
decay.>
If this is true would it be safe to say that I could remove the live
rock....well sort of live rock looks pretty bad right now....from the
tank and just put base in there adding a piece of live rock every week
or so?
<This should be fine, but don't remove it all too fast, make
sure the wet/dry can keep up biologically.>
I'm not sure I want to ditch the sand either. I kind of like the
look.
Its not a deep sand bed just about an inch to two.
<A thin layer is fine, you won't get the nitrate reduction but
doesn't seem to be a problem for you.>
Basically I'm looking to keep a fish only tank and would really
like it if the new ones wouldn't die. Its by no means over crowded
and no aggressive fish in there.
<You seem fine livestock wise.>
So if its not copper leaching out from the rock and all my other tests
have come out fine then what is killing the new fish that come in?
I'm really lost here and don't know what else to check. The
last thing I want to do is go back to LFS. Have any ideas on where to
go from here?
Thanks for the help.
Sarah
<I am assuming your fish are doing ok during QT and only have
problems once introduced to the new tank. What other fish have you
tried to add? Since you have a QT at this point I may consider moving
all the fish to QT and
starting the main tank over since you are thinking of getting rid of
the rock and sand anyway. This would eliminate any disease that your
current fish may have some immunity too or whatever toxic conditions
that exists.
Nothing obvious jumps out at me that would be causing this issue, and
it may save you some headache and work to just get the new base rock, a
little sand, and a little live rock and new water and start over.
>
<Chris>
Can I use Amquel+ with CopperSafe? No and
reading, action, ASAP -- 3/31/10
Hi,
<Hello>
I was searching on your site and over the web for an answer to this
question in the past 2 days and no luck. I also asked the guys at
Kordon - no answer yet.
I have setup a hospital tank to treat my saltwater fish of Marine Ich.
I am using a bare tank with PVC fittings inside for hiding places, a
sponge filter
<That was, was not inoculated with nitrifiers?>
and a loop system with a bare 10G tank converted into a
"temporary" sump.
Inside the sump I have the bio material from an older CPR skimmer
<Ah, good>
and some Chaeto. I thought to use the Chaeto in case some of the pods
and rotifers would survive the copper
<... No, will not... if the dosage is what it needs to be, will kill
both>
and would server as food for my mandarin fish.
<... nor will the Callionymid likely. I would not treat such with
Cu...
Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/cryptblensgobs.htm
and the linked files above>
I hope the poor guy will survive this.
It's been 2 days now and the ammonia into the hospital tank hoovers
around 0.5 ppm even after my repeated water changes.
<... toxic>
The water I am putting inside is from a RO+DI unit and I'm fairly
sure it's pure.
<Has naught to do w/ cycling>
I added some ZymBac in the tank as well and that seem to have helped
the ammonia growth, but it didn't bring it down much.
May I use Amquel+ or Amquel to control the ammonia?
<Will precipitate/remove the copper...>
Of course I will continue to do at least one water change per day until
I see the ammonia going down completely. I'm replacing out about
50% of water each time.
Do you know how toxic is 0.5 ppm ammonia to the fish?
<Any is to degrees toxic... half a ppm is close to deadly at high
pH>
I have 3 tangs, one coral beauty, one hawk fish, one algae blenny and
one mandarin.
<!? All in ten gallons? Do read here as well:
http://wetwebmedia.com/quinmedfaqs.htm
and soon. Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
- Valer
Re: Can I use Amquel+ with CopperSafe?
3/31/10
Hi ob,
<OB 1?>
Thanks for your quick reply. I will read the articles you pointed me
at.
<Welcome and Ok>
I was not clear on some aspects of my hospital setup. I am using a 30
gallon tank, and 10 gallon sump in a closed loop. I had 2 sponges and
the bio-material from CPR into the main's tank sump for over a
month and I moved those into the QT.
<Mmm, sounds/reads like the copper may have "bumped off"
your nitrifying bacteria... Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/quarsysfiltrfaqs.htm
<
I took out the Chaeto and I will take out the mandarin too. To lower
the ammonia should I just continue the big water changes?
Thanks,
Valer
<Keep reading. BobF>
Big mistake: Copper introduction to a
display tank. 3/29/2010
<Hi.>
I had to set up a hospital tank and am treating 2 clowns, a yellow tang
2 damsels and a snowflake eel with copper.
<Clownfish are extremely sensitive to copper.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clnfishart2.htm
>
Hope that goes well. BUT, I made a HUGE mistake.
<Ok.>
To get the eel and 2 elusive damsels I had to take all the LR out of my
display tank, so I figured it would be a good time to clean up a little
so I did.
<Reasonable.>
Mixed up some fresh water to help fill display tank back up. To help it
get back up to temp I thought it would be a good idea to use 5 gallons
from the hospital tank (DUMB DUMB!!!) so long story short I dumped 5
gallons of water with copper in it in my reef tank! OUCH!
<Ouch sums it up nicely. How big is the tank?>
Have not been able to sleep got up at 4AM and I can find 3 out of 4
shrimp (they seem fine) anemone looks normal will look for crabs after
I turn the lights on pretty soon. From what I have read I think
everything in my tank (Anemone, 1 coral banded, 3 peppermints, 1 sps, 1
brittle star, 1 sand sifting star, 2 feather dusters, 50# LR, and
crushed coral substrate) along with all the equipment and tank can
never be used for a reef tank again, right?
<I disagree with that in some rare circumstances such as this.
Depending on the volume of water in the display tank versus the 5
gallons of coppered water it may have little to no effect. The LR and
the substrate will need to be watched closely for signs of die
off.>
Real bummer. I can not believe I made such a stupid mistake. And, oh
yeah I still have a lot of things (Arrow crab, Orange Ball sponge,
Candy Cane Coral, ORA Birds Nest, Curly Q Anemone and a small
CUC)coming from DR. Fosters and Smith. WAS planning a nice reef
tank.
<You can still have a nice reef tank. You are just going to have to
work harder at it.>
Do not know what to do now, am going to do a 50% water change today
<Good, and do another change in a day or two.>
and go get a copper test
<If you are treating fish with copper, you should have a test kit
already - Copper is only effective when it is kept to a certain level
in the water.>
or just toss everything and give up (JK) Any thoughts?
<Depending on the size of the tank, this may not be as bad as you
think. 5 Gallons of coppered water in a 150 gallon tank isn't
nearly as bad as 5 gallons of copper in a 55 gallon tank....>
First thing to do is a few large water changes. This will go a long way
to diluting the copper that is already in the tank. Next, start running
activated carbon and some PolyFilters, and perhaps some Cuprisorb in
the tank.
These will soak up any residual copper in the system. I'm sure
after doing this, the copper levels will be undetectable. Keep running
carbon and Polyfilters in the system for the next 6 months to a
year.>
<Read here as well http://www.wetwebmedia.com/curemovalfaqs.htm
>
<Good Luck>
<MikeV>
Re: Big mistake: Copper introduction to a display tank.
3/29/2010
It is a 55 gallon.
<Ouch. 10% of your water volume was contaminated>
I have carbon and Polly fill in my canister filter.
<Poly fill - the white fluff, or PolyFilter - the chemical absorbent
pad?
You want to add PolyFilters.>
Should I change it or add more?
<Add more, and massive water changes, ASAP. In this volume, the
remaining love rock and substrate should be considered suspect.
Consider replacing the substrate.>
<MikeV>
Need help with Possible Cupramine
Interaction 3/27/10
Hello,
I have been looking for a possible solution to a situation I recently
had that resulted in the death of multiple fish while in quarantine. I
have looked on numerous places on the net but have not been able to
find anything that matches what happened.
I purchased 3 red striped Cardinalfish and 2 neon gobies. My plan was
to place them into a QT tank first as I had issues with marine Ick in
the past and don't want to rip down my main display tank again.
Learned my lesson. All new purchases go into quarantine first.
<Okay... you might peruse WWM re this issue. I am not a strict
adherent to this mantra... there are several fish families/groups that
are better NOT quarantined... the Gobiosoma/Elacatinus among
them>
I mixed new salt water using tap water (I know I should use RO but
don't have a RO unit yet) filled the QT
<I'd use water from a clean, established system for quarantine,
unless I could/was very sure of its quality>
and then added Stress Zyme to remove any chlorine that may be in the
tap water. I then waited a couple of days before adding the fish. I
also tested the water parameters prior to adding the fish and the
ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate where all 0, PH was at 8.4, salinity was
1.023 and temperature was 77F. So everything looked good.
I then purchased and slowly acclimated the fish into my quarantine tank
(bare tank) and then watched them for two days so that they had a
chance to adjust and I could make sure they were eating OK. Everything
was look good. Fish were eating, swimming and breathing normally.
Basically looking good. My plan then was to do a treatment with
Cupramine
<And I would not expose Gobies, and again that Middle English
derived word, several fish families/groups to copper products. Read
here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/cryptblensgobs.htm
and the linked files above>
after they settled so I could ensure that I would not have an issue
once put into my display tank.
<You won't, because they'll likely be dead>
I was doing this as I have had issues with fish acquired from our only
LFS store in the past and don't want a repeat. I should also note
that I have used Cupramine in the past without issue.
Since I am aware that fish like gobies can be sensitive to a copper
treatment I started with 1/2 of the recommended amount
<Copper strength is a threshold event experience... i.e., not having
a physiological dose (concentration) does no good... Is actually
harmful. Do you understand this?>
(Cupramine: 1/2ml per 10.5 gal instead of 1ml per 10.5 gal recommended)
for the first day.
The quarantine tank is 30 gallons so I added 1.5ml. I was going to add
the other half dose after 48hrs and then again to achieve a final
concentration of 0.3-0.4 mg/l, slightly under the recommended 0.5
mg/l.
I had tested the water after a couple of hours after adding the initial
copper dose and it was at ~0.1 mg/l
<This with a chelated copper test kit?>
which is where it should have been at. I am using the Salifert copper
test kit. Within 24 hours all 3 of the red stripped Cardinalfish were
dead and the gobies (not dead yet) looked like they had copper
poisoning. I had not yet added the second dose. One was sitting
lifeless at the bottom and the other looked like it was convulsing.
After I discovered that the fish died, I immediately tested for
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH. Ammonia: 0, nitrite: 0, nitrate: 0,
PH 8.4, temp 77F. I also retested the copper and it was still at 0.1
mg/l.
<Mmm, I'd be reading re testing for Cu++... and checking your
test kit against one of known accuracy, with test batch water and the
Cupramine added>
Both gobies have also died so obviously something went really wrong in
the QT. Right now I am at a loss as to what may have gone wrong.
<... Likely copper poisoning>
So I would like to know if the stress-zyme caused the Cupramine to go
from Cu+2 to Cu+ and become lethal.
<Mmm, don't think so... am very familiar with this API product,
its constituents... if anything, if there was some active StressZyme
left in solution, it would serve to precipitate the Cu>
I did find that you can't use Amquel as this will happen
<Really? What specific component does what with the free copper or
its alkano-amine complex?>
so is it possible that using stress-zyme prior to adding the Cupramine
caused this to happen or is it possible that there may have been
something in the tap water that caused this. Any insight would be
appreciated as I don't want a repeat.
Thanks Dan
<Again... please read where you were referred. I would NOT
quarantine these two families of fishes period... Dips/baths and
summary placement is advised. Bob Fenner>
Re: Need help with Possible Cupramine
Interaction 3/28/10
Bob,
Thanks for the insight. I was not aware that exposing gobies and
Cardinalfish to Cupramine was a bad thing.
<Is too toxic for these fishes to be safe, effective>
I am not exactly sure what you mean about " not having a
physiological dose does not good... Is actually harmful"
If you mean that to have it remain below the level that works then I
understand.
<In part this is so, the other element is that instead of
"achieving" anything positive, sub-clinical concentrations
poison the hosts. Think of successive approximation events instead... a
little kiss from your aunt may not count as a kiss to you, but pregnant
is pregnant... This latter is akin to sufficient ranges of copper
exposure... a threshold event>
My thought that building up more slowly would be a better approach but
apparently this is incorrect. I will not pursue this in the future.
In regards to your question about Amquel, there was a post on the
Seachem forums and also on multiple other boards about this.
<Would you please send along this/these links?>
But the one thing that I did not indicate in my first post (as I did
not consider it an issue at the time) and I believe may have actually
added to the problem is that this was a tank I just re-sealed. I used
GE Silicone II glass (100% pure silicone - clear). I did let it dry for
several weeks before using it so I dont think that was the issue but,
upon a closer read on the tube I noticed that it contains a mold
inhibitor.
<Mmm, the 100% product should not>
I should note that this is not obvious and was only something I
discovered after re-reading the tube several times and was clued into
after looking for a possible answer to my initial problem. I have
re-sealed numerous tanks over the years and always used GE clear
silicone without incident but it seems that all the new GE silicones
have this inhibitor which before they never had.
<This mold inhibitor IS toxic>
So I think what happened was when I removed the carbon and added the
Cupramine, the inhibitor combined with the Cupramine caused the water
to turn poisonous.
<Is toxic on its own... I don't know of any synergistic
effect/s>
I do not have a way to know for sure so I can only assume. I think the
reason that everything was OK for the first few days was due to having
carbon in the filter. It was probably absorbing anything that was being
leached.
Again thanks for the information. I am always trying to learn more to
do the right thing.
Dan
<Thank you, BobF>
Re: Need help with Possible Cupramine
Interaction - 03/28/10
Bob,
<Dan>
Thanks for the explanation on the sue of Cupramine. Much
Appreciated.
<Welcome>
As for the use of GE II clear, it is listed as 100% silicone but if you
look at the fine print on the back of the tube, then you will see where
it says "...that also provides mold free product protection".
This is on the Silicone II Clear Premium Waterproof Silicone for
Window/Door/Attic/Basement and listed as 100% Silicone.
<Oooh, I sense a big lawsuit here... How can anything be 100%...
plus something else?>
Here are the links you requested.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1373316
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1373114
http://www.seachem.com/support/FAQs/Cupramine.html#faq2
http://www.seachem.com/support/forums/showthread.php?t=3155&highlight=amquel
Here is the response from Seachem on their forum:
Re: after Cupramine dosing, can Amquel be added
----------------------------------------
Once you have finished treating with Cupramine and the copper has been
removed from your tank, it is safe to add a water conditioner, such as
AmQuel, to combat ammonia. We do not recommend using both products at
the same
time, as water conditioners are reducing agents that could reduce the
copper to a toxic form.
If you need to perform a water change to lower ammonia levels during
the course of treatment, just be sure to re-dose the Cupramine to bring
it back up to a therapeutic level.
Dan
<Mmm, yes... conversion of Cu++ to Cu+...
Back to my standard suggestion to not use such "Dechlorinator et
al. products"... and just pre-mix and store new synthetic seawater
if this is the purpose, or skip such conditioners altogether, as both
chlorine and "amines" are complexed almost immediately on
contact with seawater. Bob Fenner>
Mandarin with bubbles... Cu, ich,
nitrification issues 12/11/09
I was referring
<Oh oh... where's the previous correspondence? Starting off em
media res doesn't often work here. We have several crew members,
many queries, else in life...>
to suggestions on medication that would not destroy the good bacteria
along with the ich as I have heard conflicting
information on whether or not it does.
<Most all such medications for fresh and marine "ich" do
have negative effects on nitrifiers. Hence the need to monitor
nitrogenous metabolites, prepare in advance (via water changes,
chemical filtrants...) for such potential troubles>
I did have trouble with ammonia in a cycled quarantine after using
copper and thought that it may have been the contributor.
<It may well have been. Bob Fenner>
Rebecca
Did I Poison My Tank?/Copper Treatment
12/11/09
I recently had an ich outbreak in my display tank. I took all of my
fish out of the tank and placed them in a quarantine tank for
treatment. The fish were treated with a copper based ich treatment and
two clowns survived. The last treatment was about a week prior to
returning the fish to my display tank. (total time in the quarantine
tank was six weeks) I netted the clowns and put them in a small
container with about 1 quart of water from the quarantine tank. I then
drip acclimated the clowns using a drip line from the display tank.
After three hours I
netted the clowns again and returned them to the main tank.
Now its been two weeks since I returned the fish to the display tank
and my corals health seem to be on the decline. I have two mushrooms
and one green Ricordea and all three seem to not be fully expanding and
the
colors are not as vibrant.
<Did you test water parameters at this time?>
Im afraid that I may have introduced copper into my display tank since
I used the same net to move the clowns from the quarantine tank to the
acclimation container to the display tank. (really big screw on my
part,
should have known better)
Does anyone have any experience with this and should I be really
concerned as I am or am I just over reacting? Water perimeters have
tested excellent as far as pH, ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, and
salinity. Alkalinity, Calcium, and phosphate levels are also in the
proper ranges.
<Depending on your tank size (dilution), copper in very small
amounts can cause reactions like this and may very well be lethal.
My advice would be to place a Poly Filter in the system. This will
remove any traces of copper if present.
James (Salty Dog)>
Copper and a Rookie mistake
9/26/09
Hello! So let me get right to the point. I was looking for ways to
install a Phosban reactor in my Oceanic BioCube 29 as hanging it in the
back was not an option due to lack of space. So, thinking I was being
clever I went to home depot and bought two 1/2 inch barbed hose
couplers and two elbows all copper.
<Ohhh>
After reading the site I saw that there was a person who bought two
brass shutoff valves in his quest to save money, and while he had his
on there for months, I¹ve had mine for a week before
removing it. I¹m unable to get a test done for copper until
at least Monday, however I did buy some Poly-Filter (Poly-Bio-Marine
Inc) and after 6 hours it has turned a light Aqua indicating that yes
I¹ve potentially killed everything from my live rock to my
inverts (a Greens Star polyp colony, a small leather toadstool and a
Hammer coral), my snails all died, save for two narcissus snails. The 5
Hermits I have are running around as if nothing has happened, and my
two Clowns and Striped Damsel can rest assured that they
won¹t be getting ich any time soon.
<Mmm>
In your opinion, should I do a large water change (although I do not
have a place to put my inverts and fish etc) as soon as possible, and
can a week of running those brass fittings really leech that much
copper in the system?
<Can/does leech "enough" to be of concern, but very likely
most all has been removed by the PolyFilter... I would be changing
water out here if the life in the system is showing signs of being
poisoned still. There are "all plastic" barbs that can be
had, substituted for the metal. Online suppliers for such exist... Bob
Fenner>
Holes in head on Yellow Long Nosed
Butterflyfish 7/28/09
Hi,
<Good AM, good gosh!>
I have been treating a Yellow Long Nose Butterflyfish from whitespot
with copper treatment, which I have found very effective although in
the first week it is essential to test the copper level at least three
times a day in the first 7 days as it drops very quickly and overdosing
is very easy to do and will kill fish in hours.
<Thank you for (re) stating these facts>
Anyway, after two weeks the whitespot seems to have gone but the Yellow
Longnose Butterfly now has small holes in his head.
<Resultant from the copper exposure>
Any ideas of what they are would be helpful and hopefully a cure.
<Just good water quality and nutrition as detailed here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/HLLESWCure.htm>
There is also a small about 2inch Copperband in with him which is a new
fish I cannot get to eat anything including, brine/mysis shrimp or
fresh tuna meat.
PS The salinity is also low 1.010 which by itself did not kill the
whitespot.
<The SpG needs to be returned to near seawater strength... as in
"good water quality"... Bob Fenner>
Blue Ring Copper Toxic Levels, Pomacanthus
hlth. - 06/05/09
Hi there,
<Thai>
I've been treating my blue ring angel for white spot and he seems
to be rid of the whitespot.
However he has developed a cloudy eye and it seems pretty severe. He
twitched a lot as well and am assuming this is due to long exposure of
copper.
<Could well be>
Am planning on doing massive water changes on the weekend and adding a
copper removing filter.
Am wondering if the cloudy eye will heal itself with good water quality
and also if there is such a point of no return for the eye.
<Likely will cure itself over time, good water quality,
nutrition>
Thanks in advance
Thai Pham
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
Desperation for anorexic yellow tangs Tang
health: Probable copper poisoning 5/31/2009
Hi there
<Hello>
I apologise in advance for the length of this message/question and
would also like to congratulate you on the most informative and helpful
website I have found.
<Thank you for your kind words.>
I am writing from the UK so will convert to litres.
<Liters, gallons, UK gallons, whichever you are most comfortable
with.>
I have 3 marine tanks, 2 display (450l and 400l) and one QT (100l). The
QT is my problem NH4 -0, NO2 - 0, pH 8.0, NO3 currently about 10 SG-
1.020 for past week. (I only use in date Salifert test kits so I am
sure they are reliable measures, expensive but the best IMO) QT is
completely bare except a few plastic pots to hide in, is run by
external Fluval 204, 1 wave p/head and 2 air pumps.
<Sounds fine.>
I have had 2 yellow tangs and a maroon clown in the QT for several
months now due to various problems/diseases. Within 3 weeks of getting
them both tangs developed white spot /ich and I treated this
successfully with a copper based treatment called Cuprazin (clown
showed no symptoms at all).
<Hmm, not familiar with the product.>
They all fed well until towards the end of the treatment when the tangs
stopped eating, but within 2 days of stripping it out and adding
vitamins they began eating again. All 3 seemed fine and I was at the
end of the
further 4 wk period, almost ready to transfer into display tanks when I
went away for a few days and neighbours clearly massively overfed
whilst I was gone.
<As neighbors tend to do. Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/feeding.htm >
NO3 was 15- 20 when I went and a huge 40+ when I returned. Consequently
all 3 fish were struggling /breathing more heavily, both tangs
displayed reddened areas on both sides at the back end and base of
fins, and the clown was covered in grey film patches and some white
spots. I obviously did repeated water changes to get control of NO3
again and added an anti internal bacteria product by interpret, with no
response, so after required time I discontinued use, changed more water
and stripped out ( using Polyfilter). LFS then recommended using a
combined malachite green and formalin product as they wondered if it
was Brooklynella on the clown?
<Hmm... not Brooklynella.>
I couldn't come up with an alternative diagnosis so I did as
suggested for required time, again with no response, so I stripped out
( using carbon) and water changed etc.
<Do read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/volume_6_1/brooklynella.htm
>
At this point after searching on your site and everywhere else I
decided to just keep improving/maintaining water quality to see if they
would heal themselves and indeed this seemed to happen, very steadily
the patches became smaller and red colour went paler on tangs and, the
clown began to look more normal.
<Very good.>
Throughout these earlier treatments they all kept eating but the tangs
were slightly less interested than usual in Nori, however, just as they
appeared almost fully recovered one of the tangs started flashing
against the
plastic pots repeatedly (near its gills particularly) and stopped
eating and the breathing became more rapid. Spoke to LFS and they
stated it must be a parasite, not just bacterial due to this behaviour
so I began treating with the copper product I had previously used
successfully.
<Hmmm....>
Both tangs seemed distressed by this and began doing some strange
behaviour - nose pointing upwards/ heavier breathing/ moving around
less and neither of them were eating whilst copper was used ( clown
again eating like a horse) . I became deeply anxious but continued to
treat until the flashing stopped, then stripped out (using Polyfilter)
and did 30% water change.
<You need to stop dosing with copper. Copper is toxic, particularly
to the natural fauna that live in the digestive tract of Tangs.>
Again I left them to improve and again steadily the red colour
continued to fade and the greedier tang started eating again but only
brine shrimp (not mysis which is their usual staple) and occasional
flake, no Nori whatsoever. The other tang has not eaten since this time
which must be at least 4 weeks now, except for one day (when he ate
some Nori and one flake). I am astounded that he is still alive and am
thoroughly despondent at what to do for him ! He continues to have
heavier breathing and moves around but is almost skeletal. I have tried
everything I can think of : a huge range of formula flakes/ herbi
flake, live brine, mysis, enriched Spirulina/omega 3 frozen food, krill
etc etc I have added garlic and vitamins to both food and water. Nori
is constantly available and replaced daily. I have racked my brains for
changes as the other tang has now also stopped eating for the past 5
days and is getting rapidly thinner too. The clown continues to eat
like a horse and is eating for 3 now ! !
<As Clowns will do if given the chance. It doesn't look good for
the one Tang, just keep trying to get it to eat.>
In terms of symptoms the clowns have gone except for 1 tiny grey/white
spot above the eye. The tangs bodies are yellow again, although there
is light pink discolouration on the skeletal one at the back end and
one persistent small red patch on the other tang over his brow /
forehead and a few red/brown dots on his body.Both tangs still seem to
be breathing slightly heavier than their usual pattern.
<Stress, healing.>
The only changes I can think of in the past week are: reducing SG
slowly from NSW to 1.020 ( approx 1 week ago) in an attempt to aid
healing and breathing, adding extra vitamins to the water on a daily
basis ( the product suggests this if they are sick or weakened),adding
a skimmer and new carbon.
<Are they still in the QT tank, or are they in the main tank? If
they are still in QT, I would get them back in the main tank as soon as
possible.>
So my first question is could any of the above be making them anorexic
?
<Stress, repeated exposure to toxins that may or may not have been
beneficial>
my second question in desperation and complete confusion is please,
please, please do you have any ideas or advice of what else to try ? ?
I have scanned your site over and over in the hope of finding some
answers or inspiration but so far the only new thoughts I have had are
adding some coral sand from existing display tank that contains tangs
in case they have lost internal gut fauna/bacteria,
<This is likely.>
adding rotifers/ plankton in the hope they mistakenly ingest some and
adding other marine algaes Caulerpa/hair etc (which I did 2 days ago
with no success yet)
<I would put them back in the main display.>
Also what do you think the clown had ? and could the anorexia just be a
further declining stage before death and if so what disease do you
think they have had for future reference of how to treat etc ?
<Likely poor water quality and not necessarily a disease.>
Many thanks for any help you can give, I am absolutely desperate now or
would not have bothered you. Please respond quickly if at all
possible.
Keep up the great work you do
Many thanks in advance.
<MikeV>
Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet
Wrasse is partially paralyzed
Hello. I'm a true novice. A service takes care of my 300 - 350
gallon tank - which is a gorgeous, built in feature of the home I
purchased 2 and a half years ago. I can't say how many pounds of
live rock is in the tank, but it's substantial. Of the fish that
came with the house, I have lost 4. One, a Jawfish, mysteriously
disappeared, another, a damsel was killed due to an accident of a
falling piece of decorative coral in the tank, and two fish were lost
due to an incident where the temperature rose to 90° (I have
since installed a temperature alarm). The hot water incident occurred 6
months ago: an Anthias died right away, and a very hearty Tuskfish
(Choerodon fasciata) - a beautiful specimen - survived, but developed
respiratory problems which finally killed him 5 months later. His
long-time tankmates - a Naso Vlamingi (about 12" long), a Purple
Tang, a Cuban Hogfish, 2 Clownfish, 3 Damsels, a Half Moon Angelfish
(about 7" long), a Bodianus bimaculatus, a Foxface (Lo Vulpinus),
and a Bannerfish - have been fine. After a few weeks of mourning the
Tuskfish, 2 weeks ago I asked the gentleman that has always provided
service for my aquarium to acquire new replacement fish, which he did
(on March 16) from a wholesale place near LAX: a Porcupine Pufferfish,
a Purple Velvet Wrasse, and another Tuskfish.
<Mmm, I do hope/trust the new fishes were quarantined, at least run
through a prophylactic dip/bath before being introduced to your
established system>
The Purple Velvet seemed the worst for wear on introduction. Her mouth
was open from the moment I first saw her and
was clearly stressed from being chased by the Cuban. She hid
effectively and was slowly making progress in the community, in recent
days she was managing to feed without much harassment and the chasing
had largely subsided. (The Cuban chased the Tuskfish too, but it
didn't seem to faze that fish as much as the Purple Velvet.) My
aquarium guy claims that in 30 years of serving aquarium customers,
he's never had a negative consequence due to not following Robert
Fenner's suggestion of quarantining new fish. (The former homeowner
left me all of his books on fish, including The Conscientious Aquarist,
which I've been reading.)
<I am the author... and am very surprised at the stmt. from your
service... I worked in this aspect of the ornamental trade myself for
some 19 years... and will assure you that w/o care taken to exclude
parasitic, infectious diseases, not to mention the great good that
"resting up" before the trials of introduction with a going
social order (see your comments above), MANY more problems ensue.
Perhaps your tech. has a very good supplier of livestock that in turn
does such preventative measures>
It's a little hard to refute this man because he's all I've
had as a source of informative help since I moved here (he also served
the former owners), and he seems to have credibility.
<Pretty is as pretty does>
So the new fish entered the aquarium with chelated copper added for 3
days.
<?! NOT recommended>
The dosage was 150 ml of Coppersafe each day for 3 days. It was shortly
after this time - perhaps a day or two after stopping the first copper
treatment - that I saw the Angelfish declining.
<Poisoned>
She's been respirating more rapidly and turning pale.
<Please change out a good deal of the water and add GACarbon and/or
PolyFilter ASAP, Stat!>
I noticed some sort of darkness near her mouth, but it may have always
been like that. Her mouth is open almost constantly - looks a lot like
my Tuskfish did after the hot water incident. She's not eating
heartily, but she is eating. I talked with my aquarium guy about the
Angelfish and he suggested another addition of copper (that was a week
following the first treatment) for 3 days. Still no change in the
Angelfish. She seems more listless.
<No....>
Worse, yesterday the new Purple Wrasse began respirating more rapidly
(as I said, it always had it's mouth open and seemed relatively
stressed) and swimming as if paralyzed in the back: only using its
dorsal fins to propel itself. Consequently, rudderless, I've seen
it sort of hovering perpendicular, thrashing around during feedings,
thrown by jets at the top of the tank. I'm afraid it is going to be
hurt by the corals. I have though of getting a net to contain it (like
a breeding cage) but worry that it will stress it even more. Often it
lets itself sink, and lies under the live rock, panting. Other times,
especially during feeding, it swims up and attempts to navigate. I
added 1 more day's worth of copper yesterday, but thought better of
continuing it.
<Good. Don't!>
I tested the copper today and it is at .50 ppm. After seeing some vague
remarks - couldn't find an article dedicated to the topic - that
Angelfish may react poorly to copper, I've arranged to have the
water changed tomorrow. Decreasing the copper level may help the
Angelfish.
<Yes to both... and soon as possible on the water change>
My tank is serviced every two weeks (it was due for a "small
service" - cleaning tank glass, changing skimmer socks, checking
levels - this Friday). Every 6 weeks there is a "big service"
where at least 1/3 (I think it is more like 1/2) of the water is
changed. The levels of ammonia, etc. are checked at two week intervals.
I've been told my fish are the healthiest of any tank they know of.
I feed the following twice daily: 4 cubes of SF Brand Saltwater Multi
pack, about an equal amount (actually a little more than a cube size
portion) of mysis shrimp, and 1/2 sheet of Nori. Finally, I want to say
that the response to the obvious decline of the Angelfish by the other
fish gives me increased respect for these animals. The Vlamingi is
right beside her as I write - sort of aerating the water around her
with his dorsal fins, gently nudging her, or positioning himself
supportively beside her. The Cuban Hogfish has also been very attentive
to her. There is almost always another one of these tankmates beside
her. It truly brings tears to my eyes to see how tender they can be! I
just wish I could save her. Any suggestions for this sweet Angelfish
and the new arrival, the Purple Velvet Wrasse?
<There are a few important items to impart. First, these fishes
should NEVER have been introduced as they were. Secondly, copper should
NOT be added to an established system. There are numerous articles,
dozens of FAQs files archived on WWM re these issues... I strongly
suggest you familiarize yourself with our search tool and indices... In
particular, I would read (now) here: Sorry to state, I am in Cozumel
(not regretful re this) but can't currently access WWM. Please
search/read re Copper Toxicity and its Removal. Bob
Fenner>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet
Wrasse is partially paralyzed 3/31/09
Dear Bob,
<Barbara>
I'm VERY grateful that you responded as you have. The water change
was done this morning, and I've asked for another tomorrow because
I didn't see much change in the copper level when I tested.
<Ah, not likely to observe much... this metal is quite transient in
most set-up systems... dropping out of solution, binding with
substrates....>
Do you suggest more water changes - for example daily for the rest of
the week?
<No, I do not... the one is about all the good that can be done
thus... Diluting metabolites, further complexing cupric ion. Best now
to rely on chemical filtrants as mentioned last email>
It's expensive, but I feel utterly committed to saving my fish! I
bought 6 Poly Filters and put them in the external pump reservoir this
evening (careful to avoid the pump area).
<Wow, but good>
The filters are changing color: after an hour it was noticeable.
<Ahh, it is so pleasurable to engage an intelligent, caring person
as yourself...>
I've asked the aquarium service to bring more in the morning when
they come to do another water change. I just ordered 20 more filters
online.
<Dang! I wish I owned Poly-Bio-Marine more and more!>
The guy at the aquarium store suggested using Cuprisorb, so I thought
why not, but he sold me only 1 sock & for my tank I needed two. I
cut up a pair of my nylons to use, put one cup of Cuprisorb in each
foot of the nylons and placed these in the skimmer socks - hoping this
might help mitigate the problem.
<Will>
Looking at the Angelfish this evening I see another symptom of either
poisoning (or something else?): at the point where her pectoral fins
touch her sides, her scales/skin looks pinkish-red - like a sunburn.
Could this be a chemical burn?
<Yes>
I noticed her tail was very translucent even two days ago such that one
can almost see her blood vessels. I hope she has a chance of survival.
I want her to live and forgive me.
<Do keep faith... There is a very good possibility that these fishes
will recover in your good care>
The poor Purple Velvet Wrasse is more paralyzed, barely able to
navigate, it seems it only has one pectoral fin working now. So sad to
see this! It's nightmarish in some respects. Back to thanking you.
Can't find enough words to express this gratitude. You're
amazingly kind to take time to help someone you don't even know.
I've begun the readings you suggest and will try to quickly get up
to speed on managing my aquarium myself. Please stay well and enjoy
Cozumel.
Barbara
<Thank you Barbara. Steady on my friend and let's keep moving
forward. Bob Fenner>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet
Wrasse is partially paralyzed, Cu removal/toxicity f'
4/2/09
Bob,
I've seen the copper decrease to about .25 - not as fast a decline
as I'd hoped, but at least it is halved.
<Mmm, do look into another brand/make of copper test kit. I suspect
your reading is spurious here. Though the copper product that was
employed is more "persistent" than others, it should be about
"all gone" in the present circumstances>
The 20 additional Poly Filters arrive tomorrow (I depleted the local
fish shop's supply after adding two more, making the total 8).
<These "turned" summat blue I take it>
I believe they are removing copper by small increments. (It was so easy
and relatively cheap to pour in the poison and so difficult and
expensive to remove it!) In your first email you mentioned
GACarbon.
<Yes... Sorry for my laxness here: Granulated Activated
Carbon>
I'm not sure what it is (I presume it is activated carbon.)
<Yes Barbara>
There is carbon filtration in the form of bags of it in the sump area
reservoir, which have probably been there since I bought the house in
2007.
<Mmm, I would remove these... more a source of possible trouble than
help when "old">
In order to maximize removal of copper, and other pollutants, I will
follow your advice in Conscientious Aquarist, purchase activated
carbon, strategically locate it and replace it often.
<Do look into Boyd's Chemipure here... just a few units...
placed as it comes in Dacron bag, in your filter/circulation flow
path>
The Angelfish is barely eating, though I've seen her nibble on a
little Nori.
<A good sign>
Recent observed behavior includes, while lingering in her hiding spot,
a thrust forward, move back, thrust forward, move back, repeated
several times before stopping. She's obviously uncomfortable, or
trying to dislodge something (?). Someone suggested she may have worms
and to treat with Prazipro.
<I would not do this at this juncture. Better to allow some time for
the fishes' recovery ahead of any further stress>
(He also said Prazipro could be used prophylactically every 6
months.)
<Also not suggested, nor necessary. Where would new worms come
from?>
My guess is that the Coppersafe would preclude the likelihood of
worms.
<Not so. Cupric ion is really only useful for external Protozoans of
various types (and a dangerous Algicide)>
(I very much want to purchase a microscope now as I would love to be
able to detect any invasive parasite definitively).
<Ahh! If so, might I direct you to purchasing, using the excellent:
"Fish Disease. Diagnosis & Treatment" by Edward Noga? So
influential, that my dive/traveling partner, Randy Vallembois, hauled
and read his copy on the just completed trip to Cozumel!>
The Angelfish looks almost transparent and generally listless. It was
suggested she may be near the end of her natural life, but I don't
believe that is the reason because her tankmates, the Foxface &
Cuban Wrasse are now barely eating as well.
<Assuredly, either copper poisoning directly or its indirect
influence>
I am afraid to do anything in fear I'll make my fish worse.
<Good... that your fear is being translated into (a lack of) action
here>
Relying on your advice. I told my aquarium service that I touch your
feet as my guru and they aren't to make anymore executive-type
decisions regarding my tank from now on. (They killed the sick Purple
Velvet Wrasse
<!?>
without informing me first which truly offended me. After having lived
in Japan myself, for 10 years, I subscribe, a bit, to their philosophy
of not ending a life -
<As do I>
though I've disagreed with it while living there, unable to find a
vet to euthanize a dying pet and viewed as barbaric by many for even
considering it!). I am working feverishly to save every member of the
tank if possible and without an understanding of what's wrong, we
can't predict which, if any of the fish are terminal.
<None are my friend... as long as there is life, there is
hope>
The service is limited to monitoring and cleaning the tank now.
Period.
I'll ask that the decorative coral is taken out and replaced with a
second set (that wasn't exposed to copper), when the tank is
cleaned this Friday (though no more water change for 2 weeks). Is there
any way to remove copper that may have been absorbed by the coral or is
it too minute to be a concern.
<Really, this latter... In the absence of your wanting to stock
invertebrates, purposeful algae, perhaps plants... the amount of
"free copper" will soon be exceedingly small>
Should I think about changing the coral
sand in the tank?
<I would not>
Any other suggestions? I'm sorry to bombard you with questions.
Thank you!
Barbara
<Best to stay observant, apply yourself to reading, contemplation re
the system, its occupants for now. You are doing about all you can to
restore their health. Oh, perhaps a note to try/soak their foods in a
vitamin and HUFA product (e.g. Selcon, Micro-Vit, the newer product by
SeaChem or H2O Life Foods) ahead of offering, to bolster their health.
Otherwise, realizing you're positive involvement here and being
satisfied with your efforts. BobF>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet Wrasse is
partially paralyzed 04/04/09
Bob,
I'm sending two pictures of the fish that show symptoms of
what you have indicated is probably poison/burns from exposure to
copper. The Angelfish shows splotchy redness - which includes a
patchy redness over eyes and face (though hard to photograph
because she is incessantly hiding).
<And the pinkish area on the forward flank>
Also, I'm sending a picture of a red mark on the inside base
of the Tang's left pectoral fin. Just want to be sure that
these are the result of a chemical burn (result of copper use)
and not some other condition.
<Could be due just to copper exposure>
The Tang's red spot looks like a small pimple with
surrounding redness. He's eating though not as robustly as
before this whole ordeal began. He is very protective of the
Angelfish and often places self in close proximity - especially
at night during sleeping and when he perceives me closely
watching her.
He often blocks my view. The copper level is decreasing -
I've used quite a number of Poly Filters. You suggested my
copper readings were spurious, but the evidence of fully absorbed
poly filters (12) since my first email - used after a water
change - seems to indicate that there remained a lot of copper in
the system even after removal of water.
<Good gosh>
I put five more Poly filters in the reservoir last night
which this morning showed color change (though more slowly than
the early ones). I think the copper reading may have been
accurate. My reading this morning is below .25, but not yet 0.
The CupriSorb has also shown signs of significant absorption.
Seems the copper is on its way! However, my KH reads 14. Seems
too high for the Angelfish (which the test kit indicates thrive
at 3 - 6! (The aquarium service cleaned the tank yesterday and
reported ALK at 12.)
<Mmmm... what is the source of this extra alkalinity here?
Supplementation? If so... cut this to zero>
The prescription for high KH is partial water change, however you
suggested holding off on it.
<Mmm, I would start these back up again now... On the regular
maintenance schedule>
Is there an alternative to bringing it to a level that is more
comfortable for the Angelfish in particular without changing
water, or should I proceed with a water change?
<Mmm... can be "knocked down" with adding excess
alkaline earth/biominerals... like Ca... but I'd dilute with
water of lower alk. through changes>
Thank you again and again for being there!
Barbara
This is a picture of the splotchy red - especially on the face
and pectoral fin area of the Angelfish. She's also
respirating at a faster rate, and eating very little.
The inside of the pectoral fin of the Tang has what looks like a
small pimple with surrounding redness. The Tang spends much time
snuggled up to the Angelfish, so if it is a condition that could
be spread, this would be a likely locale.
Barbara
<Not pathogenic (disease-organism induced), but chemical...
And I discount secondary infections here. BobF>
|
 |
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet
Wrasse is partially paralyzed 4-6-09
Hi Bob,
Back again with an update and new issue. The copper is near nil.
What a relief (and ordeal that was)! Thank you so much for the
suggestions to use Poly-filters. They truly worked!
<Is indeed a "wonder product">
The Angelfish is
still hanging in there. She seems to like the little Marine Pellets
(which I'm soaking in a vitamin mix first), rather than what I
would think is higher quality food (the frozen mix I use with Nori),
but at least she is eating, although only small amounts at a time.
<Mmm, are these NL Spectrum brand? Do try these... completely
nutritious and very palatable>
I am sure you will be disgusted to learn that I just bought a test kit
- never used one, until I bought the copper test kit, relying as I have
on the aquarium service to do me right. Now I can test more of the
water chemistry. Anyway, behold, nitrates are way out of line - I mean
80 - 160 ppm!
<Yeeikes! But... not too surprising... one of the reasons for not
using copper in a main display is its effect on useful
bacteria...>
Very concerned about the Angelfish's recovery considering
conditions. Got another water change on Saturday (~70 gallons of my
300+ tank), with 25 gallons of distilled water that I bought in the
hope of reducing the alkalinity/KH. Changed the carbon, it was old ~ 5
- 6 months. Bought a Seachem product, Matrix, which is supposed to aid
in Nitrate removal. What else do you suggest?
<Mmm, time going by mostly... There are other ways of remediating
NO3... Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/nitratesmar.htm
and the linked files above>
I wonder if something is wrong with the system'¦.
<Mmm... at least the copper... but perhaps you will consider some of
the possible means of avoiding accumulating nitrates through your
reading>
I live in San Pedro. Can you recommend a consultant to help me assess
the condition of my set up?
<Mmm, can and will do. A friend, Jim Stime has a service co.... I
don't know if his route/s extend all the way to you, but am going
to cc him re>
I really don't know who to trust at this point and need advice.
It's a pretty steep learning curve at this point, and while I'm
trying to acquire more the knowledge, I'm also a grad student at
USC with papers due (one is late due to the crisis with the Angelfish).
Struggling here. Appreciate all of your help.
Thanks so very much.
Barbara
<Be chatting, Bob Fenner>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet
Wrasse is partially paralyzed, Jim Stime 4-6-09
Thanks Bob for the link and additional advice.
I've done some reading - need to do a lot more. Chemistry was never
my strong suit.
<Take a bit at a time...>
Even so, my guess is that to make for greater comfort in my tank,
reducing nitrate would help - yes?
<Very much so>
It's not just the Angelfish affected. I notice several fish with
scale/skin anomalies - dark patches or minor lesions. The Bannerfish
has what looks like some patches or scrapes on it's face and is
maintaining a position in front of the jets. He's been trying to
rub against the Tang, I think his face itches. He twitches every now
and then. These jerky movements read as pain/discomfort to me. The
aquarium seems to be a miserable place at the moment and I think that
if I can just balance the water, there may be greater comfort to the
fish who obviously have been hurt. So, I ordered the food you
recommended - NL Spectrum (I had bought Ocean Nutrition) - as well as a
water treatment, AZ-NO3, to reduce nitrate. I have this week off from
work, although school is still on, and I hope to closely monitor the
tank and try to get a better handle on what is happening to the fish in
it while writing the papers I need to complete.
I'm including my phone number in case Jim Stine is able to consult
with me: (XXXX). Thank you!
Barbara
<I will send on to him, otherwise delete. BobF>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet
Wrasse is partially paralyzed, Jim Stime 4-6-09
Hi Barbara and Bob,
Thank you for considering Aquarium Design / Jim Stime. I understand you
are seeking a new aquarium service company? Unfortunately San Pedro is
a bit too far for me to travel. I do have two names I can pass along to
you. In Long Beach is Age Of Aquariums, ask specifically for Daniel
Gilboa at 1-(800) 586-4308. The other is a good friend of mine and I
believe he is in Culver City and his name is Cande and his # is
213-247-7600.
Jim Stime, Jr.
Aquarium Design - aquarium installation and service
www.aquarium-design.com
MyFishTank .com - acrylic aquariums, stands and canopies
www.myfishtank.com
Midwater Systems - jellyfish display and production systems
www.jelliquarium.com
LA Fishguys - web based Aquarium Reality TV www.lafishguys.com
<Thank you Jim. Be seeing you, BobF.>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet Wrasse is
partially paralyzed, Jim Stime 4/8/09
Dear Bob,
I'm continuing to closely monitor the tank. This morning I
noticed something like a tear - irregular red - on the upper
portion edge of the Vlamingi's right gill. It represents only
about a tenth of the entire gill length, but has me concerned.
This is on the opposite side of the white pimple that appears on
his left pectoral fin - which while not as red as it was at
first, still exists as a raised area which looks like a pimple or
small cyst. I'm noticing jerky, irritated movements in the
Bannerfish who also has minor lesions on his face and chin (if
you can call that portion of a fish's face that!). The
Angelfish now has quite a rash - it looks like a sunburn - over
much of her upper body, along with spots on her flanks (much like
what I photographed). She is hiding less. She does eat a little
so I am trying to stretch out feedings to many small ones over
the course of the day. I expect to receive the food you
recommended today, along with the NO-3 lowering treatment.
I tried to photograph the Vlamingi's gill but just
couldn't capture it. Could there be a presence of
parasites?
<Mmm, unlikely to highly unlikely... The symptoms mentioned
are all attributable to the "cascade effect"
originating with the copper use in your main display... the
kill-off of beneficial (and not) microbes...>
I know you are pretty sure this is all caused by the Copper, but
perhaps because the Nitrate is high there are secondary
infections starting up.
<Again... I discount this>
Jim Stine referred me to someone with a Bachelor's in Marine
Biology (that helps a lot!), and he's scheduled a
consultation with me today to look over my system, make
recommendations, and give me a quote for servicing my tank for
now on. However, I intend to continue to inform myself of
standard practices, no longer willing to let go of responsibility
for these beautiful creatures that rely on me.
Thank you again, Bob.
Barbara
<And you Barbara. BobF>
Re: Angelfish is Pale & Purple Velvet Wrasse is
partially paralyzed, Jim Stime 4/8/09
One more issue I've found Bob,
There seems to be a small white worm? parasite? or what? which
has attached itself to on of the eyes of the Bannerfish.
<Mmm, no... again, much more likely a bit of the
Butterfly's tissue accreting in a "point" from
"environmental stress" (in this case the
poisoning)>
Perhaps the (previous message detailed) irregularity on the
Vlamingi is parasites as well. Oh my! I'm not eager to add
Prazipro
<I would NOT>
because of the largely disturbed surface on the Angelfish's
skin/scales'¦. Will wait to hear what you think.
Ever grateful - and hope I haven't become a pest,
Barbara
<Take your time... less is more... B>
Re: Angelfish & Vlamingi 4/8/09
Bob,
I've attached two pictures. One shows the Angelfish, the
other the Vlamingi with the red area of the gill. It seems many
of the fish are showing signs of problems. I know that it may all
be related to the copper, but given the amount of suffering
I've seen I wonder if that explains it all.
<... secondary effects, infectious are always possible...
A/the question presents itself though: is the treatment directly
for such worth the further damage probable here? It/this is the
same question we should ask ourselves when treating human
maladies... as individuals to species...>
The new Tuskfish and the Cuban wrasse seem to be respirating a
little more quickly and both have been seen lying on the bottom
resting (is that normal?). Also, the issue on the eye of the
Bannerfish is somewhat resolved. I saw him sort of scrape it off
on the side of the aquarium.
Barbara
<The AZ-NO3 product and time will solve all this. I would ask
you to read an outline of an old presentation and series of
articles:
http://wetwebmedia.com/mardisease.htm
BobF>
|
 |
Re: Angelfish & Vlamingi 4/26/09
Dear Bob,
Just a quick update.
I was connected to a local aquarist in Long Beach, Dan Gilboa
(who has a marine biology B.S.), through your friend Jim Stine.
Dan came over to my house to look at the tank and helped me
diagnose probable flukes.
<Ahh!>
He mentioned that Angelfish are particularly sensitive to this
parasite. He also found a very high salinity in the tank and
immediately removed water, adding fresh water to dilute the
salinity.
Within minutes of the treatment the Angelfish seemed better.
<Yes... much easier to breathe (respire) at lower, appropriate
spg>
Now she is back to normal - as are all the fish (however the
Vlamingi didn't like the PraziPro treatment and barely ate
for nearly a week; Dan said it upsets their stomachs).
<Is so>
It was a big ordeal, but as I now see the calmness of all of the
members of the tank, and the recovery of the Angelfish, I think
back to your kind, responsiveness to my queries.
Your quick attention to my problem helped reduce the suffering of
the fish and I am very grateful for your help. Thank you
again.
Barbara
<Thank you for this follow-up Barbara. Am very glad that you
have solved the problems here. Bob Fenner>
|
Copper problems 3/26/09
Hey guys,
<Big B>
I have a 55 gallon tank with a 30 gallon refugium below that's been
working for about 4 years now. I use to have assorted corals and
inverts, as well as an anemone, live rock and live sand. And now
there's only fish because of copper problems. I have not medicated
the tank. I only use RO water. So, my problem started when I was
desperate to replace a broken pump. The local fish store I've been
using was closed so I think I made a foolish purchase at another store
that sold pond products. After losing everything but the fish, my local
fish store suggested that it was the new pump. They said the pumps made
for outdoor ponds sometimes use copper fittings. So, I replaced that
pump with one that I purchased from their store. I'm getting
anxious to replenish after approximately 5 months of water changes and
using poly filter. The copper reading has been about .1 or .2 ppm. Once
a week, I replace 5 gallons of water, as well as the poly filter pad.
Do you guys have any suggestions for me besides being more patient?
Thanks so much.
BMG
<... the PolyFilter should be removing the cupric ion as it becomes
available... Your copper readings should be close to zip, zero, nada...
and the pad a definite blue in color if copper is present... I'd be
"checking your checker"... your copper test kit here. Bob
Fenner>
Naso Tang Issue, Cu 2/4/09 Hi, <Hello>
I have had this blond Naso Tang for about three weeks. He is
currently in quarantine getting copper and Prazi pro treatments.
<For what?> As you can see from the picture, he is
splotchy. At times, when his skin looks dark grey, he looks very
splotchy. <Yes> When his skin is light grey, it doesn't
look so bad. He is not the most aggressive eater but does eat. He
has not changed his behavior and mostly likes to hide but he will
swim around every 15 minutes if there is no sudden movement
outside the tank. Is there anything else I can do about the
spots? Thanks. Mike <Stop the copper exposure... it's
killing this fish. Acanthurids don't "like" cupric
ions... These markings, behavior are evidence of poisoning. Bob
Fenner>
|
 |
Sick Harlequin Tusk... Cu 2/3/09 I
need you help on fixing our Australian Harlequin Tusk. We have a 60
gallon tank <Too small for housing a Choerodon spp.> with approx.
35 lbs. of live rock and live sand (Caribsea). We have a Fluval 405,
<Mmm, am not a fan generally of canister filters for marine system
filtration> a Eheim Ecco, protein skimmer (turbo-twist), and two
power heads. We have had this tusk approximately 3 weeks. From day one
that we received the tusk it had a pleasant personality. It never hid
from us, had a great appetite, and would swim out to see us when we
came into the room. About a week ago we added a purple tang (small) to
the tank. The two of them got along great. The purple tang was always
swimming with the tusk. Everything was great until 3 days ago when my
husband did a water change. When my husband was near the end of the
water change (adding water back into the tank) the tusk went to the
bottom of the tank and appeared to be dead. My son touched the tusk and
it started to swim around. Since then the tusk will not eat, acts like
it is blind because it runs into things, keeps taking vertical
positions in the tank, and going to the top and spitting out water
(gulping). <Bad signs indeed> We have always keep up on
maintenance of our tanks and the perimeters are all within range. The
only problem the PH is 7.8 instead of 8.2. <This is a big... huge
difference. Likely a factor to a degree here> We have been doing a
15 gallon water change every day to try and raise the ph. The purple
tang doesn't seem affected by anything. When my husband did the
initial water change the temperature varied 1/2 degree from the temp.
of the tank which was 80 degrees. I truly admire this fish and
don't want to lose it. Can you offer any suggestions? <I can and
will... First, I must ask, make a comment re the origin of this
Tuskfish... Many that are collected in Indo. and the P.I. suffer
"blindness" issues as you've related here. Can you
confirm the origin of this fish? Have you read my article on WWM re
this? Here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/fishes/wrasses/choerodon/faciata.htm and
the linked files above... re: Selection esp.> Also, now when the
tusk lays at the bottom of the tank, the tang keeps nipping at the tusk
to make it move? <Maybe so> Should I move the tusk in a
quarantine tank, and if so, would 10 or 20 gallons be sufficient? <I
would definitely NOT move this fish, unless you had a much larger, more
established system to put it in... Where it is there are overhangs,
areas to get out of the light I take it> Also, both the tusk and
tang had ich about a week ago. <... Mmm?> The ich was so bad the
tang was really agitated we decided it was necessary to add Copper Safe
to the tank. <Ohh!> We treated the tank as though it was a 50
gallon to compensate for the live rock. <... With testing for copper
level?> We treated the tank on Sunday and the tang seems to be doing
better. I have seen no improvement with the tusk. Please help. Thank
you. <The behavior you describe is consistent with copper
exposure... The Wrasse is being poisoned... Please see WWM re copper
use, Crypt treatment. This can't be done in the present tank, in
calcareous substrate/rock presence period. Bob Fenner>
Kent Marine Tech M and copper???
9/8/08 Good evening guy/gals. <Good evening.> Thanks for
all the great work you do for the rest of us. It is greatly
appreciated! <Thank you!> I was just about to order more Kent
Marine Tech M when I looked at the contents of the product it says it
contains copper, is that correct? <Yes.> If so, why is it safe to
put in a reef tank? <It is such a small, trace amount.> Here is a
list of the contents from the online retailer: Contents: Deionized
water containing the following elements (as ions): magnesium, chlorine,
sulfur, calcium, potassium, bromine, strontium, boron, fluorine,
lithium, rubidium, iodine, iron, molybdenum, zinc, nickel, copper,
manganese, vanadium, cesium, cobalt, tungsten, selenium, and chromium.
Is it because of the form it's in? Sorry, I am not very good at
chemistry. I'm sure it must be safe, I would just like to know why.
<It just has to do with the quantity of copper, or any other
ingredient for that matter. Many things we regard as poisons are found
in virtually everything in small amounts, almost immeasurable in many
cases. Fact of it is many of these 'trace elements' (everyone
start arguing which salt now!) are needed in small quantities for life
to exist. It is in artificially elevated levels it becomes an
issue.> Thanks for your time. <Welcome, have a good one, Scott
V.>
Gobioides broussonetti in SW, Copper in foods
9/4/05 Hello, I have searched your FAQs for information on the
Gobioides broussonetti, also known as the violet goby, or dragon fish.
I was unable to obtain anything of help. I am aware that they are a
brackish fish. Mine is currently in a fresh water tank with two
Apteronotus albifrons, black ghost knife fish. I recently removed my
snowflake eel from my 55 gallon saltwater tank and was curious if the
dragon fish can be acclimated to the conditions of my reef tank.
<Can be done... this fish is marine at times, in places. Here on
fishbase.org: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=3856&genusname=Gobioides&speciesname=broussonetti>
The lack of the eel leads me wanting something of its character. If
this is possible, a procedure would be greatly appreciated.
<Slowly... a few thousandths per week, raise the saltwater/salinity
of the Goby's environment (sans the knives of course)> One more
unrelated question. I recently noticed that both the flake food i use
in my reef tank, (Wardley's) and the frozen brine shrimp, (Ocean
Nutrition Brine Shrimp Plus) have copper sulfate listed in the
ingredients. <A common preservative> I was under the impression
this would kill invertebrates and have discontinued use but have had no
adverse side affects. Any input on this matter also would be greatly
devoured. I thank you for your time. <Can be problematical in
"free" concentration (cupric ion), but there is not much in
the foods, and this quickly "falls out of solution". Bob
Fenner> Copper Catastrophe 9/23/05 Hi, If I ever needed your
amazing advice, it's now. I had a major disaster in my 72g reef
tank. A copper top battery sitting near the tank rolled off the table
and into the sump. It was in there for maybe 5 hours before I found it.
The top was pretty corroded. The tank has about 7 LPS, 3 fish, many
crabs and snails-all of which look like death warmed over. I did a 50%
water change immediately and 5 bags of ChemiPure to the sump. Is all
hope lost? From my understanding, all 75 lbs of live rock/50 lbs of
sand and the entire tank are now lethal to invertebrates. <Mike, the
acid in the battery is more lethal than the copper. The copper still
has to turn into solution. Ditto on keeping your fingers crossed, maybe
even the legs also. James (Salty Dog)> Fingers crossed,
Mike
Right Thinking -- Wrong Timing... 12/5/05 I
recently purchased a med. size Raccoon Butterfly for my 55 gallon fish
only tank. I have 2 False Percula Clowns, and 1 medium size Blue Tang.
On the 3rd day I noticed the raccoon scratching on my fake coral and
not eating. (The only thing he would eat was frozen brine.) I checked
my water and copper and all fine. I brought it to the shop I bought it
from and they said it was fine, but to add some more copper. So I did ,
and it was just above .15 The next morning he stopped scratching, but
that night when I got home, he was breathing heavy and sitting on the
bottom of the tank, and still wouldn't eat. I noticed as I got him
that my tang and him were getting along just fine. So I don't think
he was being bullied. I put him in my hospital tank, after a brief FW
dip, and he is laying on his side breathing very rapidly. He probably
won't make it. I was just wandering if you had any ideas of what
might of been the problem. Thanks, Aaron <Well, Aaron, this is a
case where all of your intentions were good, but the execution was a
bit off. First, you indicated that you have a "hospital
tank", which is good! However, you need to use it as a quarantine
BEFORE adding new fishes to your display. This will give you the
ability to catch and treat illnesses before they get introduced into
the display. Also, do think about the long-term implications of your
stocking plan. These fishes need a lot more space than a 55 can
provide, so consider this... Next, it is always advisable NOT to treat
in the display tank, for a variety of reasons. Use that extra tank.
Copper sulphate, although highly effective at treating many diseases,
can be hard on many fishes, including Butterflies.
<<Butterfly-fishes are one of the few animals the staff at the
LBAOP will NOT use copper meds on. Marina>> Sometimes, the
collateral damage caused to the fish in treating the disease is too
great. Formalin-based treatment is recommended in the case of more
copper-sensitive fishes. Again, you'll have far greater control of
the dosage in a separate tank. Unfortunately, it's hard to say what
you're looking at, but it could be a parasitic illness. If your
Butterfly is struggling, you may need to reduce the copper level in the
treatment tank. Although it may be too late for this fish, if you take
this as a valuable lesson, the experience will not have been in vain.
Chin up! Don't forget to quarantine before adding fishes to the
display! Regards, Scott F.>
Porcupine puffer disease diagnosis...
unsuitable water quality, copper exposure, - 01/12/2006 Hello, Your
web site seems quite helpful in disease diagnosis, so I hope you can
help. I have a 100 gal. saltwater tank that I have had for about 8
months and have had the porcupine puffer for about 7 or so. The problem
is that he has not eaten anything in the last 2 weeks, he is still very
active and always greets me with excitement. <... have you read on
WWM re feeding puffers, Diodontids?> The water quality is good salt
1.022 <I would raise this to near seawater strength... 1.025>
ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates less than forty <Keep under
twenty...> as far as can tell. I do use copper in the recommended
dosage <Stop! This is toxic to your livestock... should not be used
on a continuous basis... some folks think never on puffers... can/will
account for the non-feeding by itself> and have so since I have had
the tank. <This is a mistake> He shows no external signs of
disease, he acts hungry when I bring his feeding cup around but when i
put the shrimp in he goes for it once or twice then just lets it fall
to the bottom. Before I could barely feed my bottom feeder because he
would eat everything I put it. I know I need to vary his diet other
than shrimp but as of now he does not want to eat, food suggestions
would be helpful. The damsel, Sailfin, and snowflake eel are all
happy/healthy fish. I don't know what to do he does not match any
disease charts he just wont eat. Thanks <... not a disease, unless
you consider iatrogenic/induced, poor supplied circumstances as
cause... Read on my friend. Your answers are on WWM. Bob
Fenner> Stuff the Tang Hi, <Hi - Michael here
today> Thank for helping people like myself who care so much about
our creatures. <We do our best, thanks for the compliments> I
have a 55 gal tank with a Sailfin tang, <Will eventually outgrow a
55 IMO> two fire fish , one emerald crab, one turbo snail, two live
rock and one 10lb premium rock with a clam, lots of cup coral and some
other creatures. I have a copper question. I spilled about a 1&1/2
cups of copper water from my quarantine tank into my 55 gal tank.
<OUCH> I had been treating a regal tang that I felt I wasn't
ready for and traded it for the Sailfin. At the time of the I was
running an undergravel filter, 802 powerhead and a 400 emperor filter
with carbon and PhosGuard media added. <If it's good quality
carbon that will go a long way toward absorbing the copper> I did a
water change. <Good - how large? 50% or more I hope> I had two
skunk cleaner shrimp in the tank at the time of the spill. <The
copper will most likely kill any invertebrates in your system> I am
wondering would this copper have killed them a month later? <If they
died a month after the spill, it could have been stress related, likely
because of the spill> They both died in the same manner one died
Thursday morning, and the other Sunday night. They both began to stay
in the same place a lot not eating much and began to be really still.
Then a few minutes before they died they swim upside down, let the
current blow them and around, they were really jerky. Could the copper
take this long to kill them if this was the cause? <Not likely, but
possibly. Probably secondary effects of the copper killed them,
though> Will it kill my emerald crab and snail. <If it hasn't
done so in the past month, probably not, but definitely run large
quantities of high quality activated carbon in your filters, or a Poly
Filter to absorb any excess copper. I would also get a copper test kit
and see if you have a measurable level still left in your tank> If
so what can I do to prevent their deaths? <above :)> I have only
had the snail a few days and he seems to be doing fine. I do use
regular tap water, instant ocean, and proper ph 8.2 when I change my
water every two weeks. My nitrates have been getting up to 20 in the
last two weeks so I have had to do a weekly water change. My ammonia is
0, nitrites 0, and my ph is 8.2. Please help if you can. <Hope I
have...just make sure there isn't any residual copper still
dissolved in your aquarium, as it will stress all inhabitants>
Thanks so much, Michelle <Anytime - M. Maddox>
Which Is Worse, the Sickness or the
Cure? (7/25/04) Hi <Hello. Steve Allen tonight.> I've
just had my first traumatic fish Loss. <So sorry to hear. I know
exactly how you feel.> I bought a pair of exquisite wrasses and put
them in my 20 gal QT tank with a couple small PC's of live rock and
some Halimeda and other macros attached to it. I had the QT set up for
around 4 weeks before the fish arrived. It has a small penguin
BioWheel/media filter and a SeaClone hang on skimmer. <A rather
fancy set-up. A bare tank with PVC fittings to hide in, a heater, and a
sponge or power filter is usually quite sufficient.> Everything was
good for 2 weeks until Thursday, when I noticed a bunch of small white
spots all over him. he was behaving perfectly normal , no scratching or
twitching. <Still, it certainly sounds like Ich.> Knowing what it
probably was I bought a Copper test (fast test ) and a bottle of
SeaCure. Both by Aquarium systems. I removed both fish and performed an
8 minute freshwater dip (with Meth blue) . I tested the tank to make
sure copper was at 0, it was and added the dosage. Both fish were
totally traumatized but were out and about Friday PM and both ate. To
get back to the Fastest, it is a very very difficult to use kit.
<All kits are if you ask me. I have a hard time distinguishing one
subtle shade's color difference.> First off, there are 2 line on
the test vial. And no where on the instructions does it say which one
to use. I later called A-systems and was told it was the top one. I was
also told to remove the carbon from the tank, it doesn't say that
in the directions either. The test colors are all a shade of brown, and
according to my test I finally got the dosage to where it was supposed
to be. the odd thing was I had to add nearly twice the dosage on the
bottle (over 2 days) to get it to the min 15ppm. I woke this morning
and saw no fish visible but that wasn't uncommon with these fish
because they like to hide in the pvc pipe I gave them for security. I
left for work and at 9 my wife calls me and says we have 2 dead
wrasses. <:(> I came home and tested the water, the copper was
OK, according to the test. I tested the ammonia and it was too high, .5
ppm. <Might have already started to rise from the dead fish between
the time of their deaths and the removal of the corpses from the
tank.> Could the ammonia have done them both in so quickly??.
<I've seen plenty of fish survive this level, but the
combination of that with other stressors could perhaps have done it.
OTOH, we cannot know if there was any ammonia in the tank before they
died, as noted above. Hard to say for sure why they died.> What
copper medication and test kit do you recommend?? <CopperSafe is a
reputable product and Salifert tests are usually reliable. You need to
be sure to match the test kit to the type of copper you are using. Info
on this is available in the Copper articles/FAQs. Also, be sure to
remove all rock or sand when treating and bear in mind that the copper
will usually kill your good bacteria too.> Is there anything I could
have done differently?? I was thinking I could have done the dip and a
nice water change and observed, but the male had a lot of spots.
<Copper can be a touchy medication to uses. Some folks prefer
formalin, but another option is the FW dip followed by hyposalinity
treatment at elevated temps. Check Steven Pro's excellent ich
series at www.reefkeeping.com that started in October (I believe) of
2003.> I'm bummed, I had been looking forward to those gorgeous
fish being in my reef tank for a long time. <Understood. Take solace
in the fact that you didn't ruin your beautiful reef by skipping QT
and introducing ich and then, even worse, putting medicine in the reef.
Read the ich article and try again. Next time you have to treat, I am
confident you will have a better outcome.>
A Penny for thought Hi, Just a quick question. a few
weeks ago I found a penny in the bottom of my 55g. right now there
is about 90lbs live rock, a damsel , 71 Astrea snails and 4
peppermint shrimp. Tank has been set up four about 4 months with no
deaths. should I be worried about copper leaching out of penny? and
if it did would have it already killed anything in the tank if it
already did leach ? thanks so much, Chris <Well, it's just
one penny... and the modern ones aren't just copper... and you
haven't lost anything as you state. I think you're fine
here. What little Cu+2 may have been released is gone. Bob
Fenner> Re: A Penny for thought Thanks so much.
Didn't think it would be a problem, but I just wanted to ask
you guys. Finally a source to get accurate info. <Glad to be
here, of service. Bob Fenner> |
- Is This Bad? - I was propagating some
Ricordea last weekend and the piece of live rock I wanted to use had a
patch of schmutz on it (algae, really) so I went to the toolbox and
found two brand new wire brushes (the kind that look like
toothbrushes). One was steel and one was brass. Thinking it might not
be good to use the steel one because of rust, I grabbed the brass one.
After all, screws and such on ships are brass! I brushed a patch of
rock clean with the brass and mounted my specimen on it. On my way to
work this morning, I realized that brass is a copper alloy and I may
have rendered that tank useless. I did my surgery and propagating in a
10 gallon tank I use to isolate newcomers. I remember reading that that
one of the rules of reef keeping is "thou shalt not use a tank
that has EVER had copper in it". Tell me that the brass brush
didn't ruin my tank. <Well... you could probably say better than
me. Has there been any noticeable effect? Are any of your invertebrates
suffering? If not, then you are probably in the clear. You could run
some activated carbon for a little while and this will hopefully remove
any free copper that might be roaming about.> Also, is it safe to
put the things from that tank into my show tank? <I think so...
really, brass isn't going to separate into its various elements
while scrubbing a rock. The chances of you having contaminated the tank
are very small. Wouldn't be too concerned... again, you can run
carbon as a safeguard.> Thanks for your help. Troy <Cheers, J --
> New Tank - Big Oops Bob, Here is a big mistake from a
newbie to the saltwater trade. I have a 125 gal tank with 3-4"
crushed coral substrate, 130 lbs live rock, homemade sump. I cycled the
rock and it took about 6 weeks. My levels dropped to 0 ammonia, 0
nitrites, and 5 nitrates. So I added the cleanup crew from FFExpress.
Within 24 hours all were dead. <toxic shock> Started reading and
asking questions as to why?? My big mistake was to save a few bucks
(stupid seeing I invested so much) and use two copper shutoff valves
between my overflow boxes and sump. <Arghhhh!!!> These have been
installed since tank setup and live rock cycle. Approx 2 months total
time. Needless to say those are not inline anymore. So, what do I do
next? <lots of Polyfilters (Poly Bio Marine) for several months to
absorb residual free copper... after a 100% water change of course>
I want to have inverts and corals sometime. I have noticed your posts
about using carbon and poly filters. What are your suggestions and time
frames? <after the big water change... I'm thinking double
Polyfilters changes by three weeks time at least twice (6-8 weeks of
Polyfilters). Then do a copper test and continue to do so weekly
beginning with hardy inverts and polyps to test the water. Resist
colonial anemones and snails at first (squishy inverts are more likely
to draw/OD copper absorbed in substrate...perhaps more sensitive as a
rule. Shrimps, crabs, for macro organisms... Leather corals on their
own new rock for corals would be good,> Any help is greatly
appreciated. Thank you for the information contained in your web site.
Sincerely, Bob Haberkorn. <do read, share and pass along your wisdom
and a good word about the site, please. Kindly, Anthony>
Flame Angel will not eat while being
treated... coppered 3/1/08 Hi guys, I bought a flame angel fish and
placed him in my 10 gallon quarantine tank. He was doing well and
eating every type of frozen meaty foods that I fed him in addition to
eating algae from a clip that I put in the tank daily. He was eating
voraciously for over a week and now unfortunately he has come down with
a case of Ich. I am treating the tank with Copper but now he has
stopped eating. He hasn't eaten for 3 days and he seems to be
hanging in with the copper treatment but I'm afraid he'll die
from starvation while I am trying to cure the Ich. Do you have any
advice for how I can get him to eat? I have tried putting some food in
the tank but he just lets it float by and does not go after it like he
did before. I'd hate to lose this fish! Any advice you could offer
would be much appreciated! Thanks, Lynne <The copper... is
mal-affecting this fish... causes it to go off-feed... I would NOT
pre-emptorily copper Centropyge, Angels period... See WWM re Copper
use, poisoning... I would summarily dip/bath and move this Flame to the
main/display tank. Bob Fenner>
Ineffective Copper Treatment.
2/27/08 I am finding Marine Ich to be a real nuisance. I have
pulled all of my fish from the main tank for the second time in less
than a year because of Marine Ich. The first time all fish spent two
months in QT (while the main tank remained fallow) and were treated
with copper for the fist two weeks. When the fish were returned to the
main tank after two months the signs and symptoms of Marine Ich
returned within a few months and I eventually lost the Niger Trigger.
<No fun for sure> This is was my motivating factor for pulling
out all of the rock and corals again so I could get the fish into QT
again. This is the second two week course of copper treatment for these
fish in a years time. I used Cupramine again and kept the levels
between 0.25-0.50 (Salifert Test kit) as directed by Mr. Fenner last
year. I did test each day and sometimes twice without problems or
fluctuations in the copper levels. All signs and symptoms of Marine Ich
disappeared during the treatment. The fish are now at five weeks in QT
tank and two weeks post treatment. After the treatment was completed I
did two fifty percent water changes and added charcoal. Copper levels
are undetectable and the water parameters are Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, ph
8.3, Alk 3.00, water temp 82, and Specific Gravity 1.025. Now for the
problems. The Foxface is again air gulping at the surface and the Blue
Hippo Tang had a white spot on it yesterday. All of the respiratory
rates on the fish are increasing as well. Copper can cause increased
respiratory rates but I do not believe this is the problem since the
fish's behavior changes are 2 weeks post treatment. I can only
demise the Ich has returned. <Ho buoy> I am now at a loss for an
appropriate treatment method without increasing the health risks to the
fish. Is Copper still an option or should I consider other options
(Hyposalinity) for both the fish and the QT tank? I have reviewed the
Conscientious Marine Aquarist and the treatments listed there primarily
refer to dips (if my understanding is correct) except for Malachite
Green, Methylene Blue, and Copper Sulfate. Other websites lean towards
hyposalinity by lowering the salinity to 1.012 over 72 hours with
careful monitoring of Ph, and water temp. <I would try the Quinine
route.... and thereafter... attempt at "balance"; i.e.
keeping the system optimized in the fish/hosts favor> I know there
are many treatment options out there but I am at a loss for what would
be the safest and most effective treatment for the fish at this time.
Any advise you have in this matter would be greatly appreciated and I
look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely, Ward Budde <Please read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/quinmedfaqs.htm Bob Fenner>
Copper removal, snails dying and
nitrates 02/21/2008 Hello my name is matt, <<Hello Matt,
Andrew here today>> and I was wondering if you might could help
me with my situation? <<I shall do my best for you>> I have
a 90 gallon tank with overflow box, with a 165 lbs of live rock, six 25
pound bags of sand,20 gallon sump 2 power heads rated at 600 each the
pump in the sump is rated at 1200 and a 125 gallon Corallife skimmer.
As far as tank mates I have 20 crabs had 12 snails, one powder brown
tang, sail fin tang,2 yellow tangs,2 skunk shrimp and a piece of coral.
My snails just died and I don't know from what, I have an idea but
im not sure. See it started out when I bought another powder brown to
put in the tank and the original one tore him up so I took him out and
took him back to the petstore because they are the ones that told me it
would be ok to put him in there, shortly after that the powder brown
broke out with ick and the other fish got it two so I stared treating
with ParaGuard for about 5 days and that helped a little but not much,
so I asked the guy at the petstore what to do and he gave me CopperSafe
and told me to treat low dosage so it wouldn't hurt the inverts
about a week later the snails started dying he gave me another 12 after
I did two water changes and they died also. >Not...
"safe"... toxic. RMF< <<ParaGuard should not be used
in a reef aquarium as it contains malachite green, and this is one
thing that should not be added to a reef, fair to use in a hospital or
quarantine tank. More reading here regarding Malachite Green
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/malachitegreen.htm. Coppersafe, is a better
product to use. On the brown tangs, firstly, I would suggest a that you
need a larger home, at least 125gal. Stress id the likely cause of the
Ich and I can understand the two tangs fighting when the second one was
introduced, would not attempt this again. On the issue of inverts, this
could be attributed to the ParaGuard. My suggestion would be to run
carbon and PolyFilter to clean the water>> My nitrates are at 20
and I cant seem to get them down. Do you think it was the copper that
killed the snails or the nitrates? I've been treating with
ParaGuard for two weeks now? how can I get rid of the ich and do I need
to remove the bio balls this tank has been setup for about 2 months.
>... the copper. RMF< <<Ich is best treated in quarantine
tanks, and use hypo salinity, allow the display tank to go fallow
through the period the fish are in quarantine as this will kill off any
parasites that are being hosted in the tank itself. On the bio-balls,
you could slowly remove them, say a cup full every 2 - 3 weeks, and
replace this with live rock rubble. Do you clean the bio-balls at all?
If not, this could attribute to your elevated nitrate levels>> Oh
my levels are all correct except for my nitrates my salinity is .028
<<I would lower this down to 1.023 - 1.025>> in the red my
temp is 81-82 <<I would drop this temp down a little to 78 -
79f>>. If you could help me out I would greatly appreciate it.
<<Thanks for your questions, hope the above helps. A
Nixon>>
Does macroalgae absorb/release
copper 12/9/07 Hi Crew, <Tom> I have a treatment tank that
had been exposed to copper during a crypt treatment. After the
treatment cycle I put some Chaeto in this tank and the Chaeto probably
got exposed to residual copper. <Mmm, to some...> Do you know if
the Chaeto could have absorbed the copper, like rock or decorations
can, making it useable in a reef tank? <I doubt it. Strictly
speaking, there is quite likely some copper absorption and release that
will occur here. The questions are how much, and how quickly? I think
very little on both counts. Some copper is actually essential...
needed... even included purposely in some formulated foods> I'm
curious is if can use this Chaeto to re-establish a refugium tied to a
reef tank, or if there's a risk of copper contamination. <Not a
problem> Thanks, Tom <I would not be concerned here. Though free
cupric ion and other chelated varieties can be toxic, these materials
are used as algicides (in addition to epizootic treatments,
preventatives)... And IF there was "enough" copper to be of
consequence the Chaetomorpha would have been mal-affected, perhaps
killed outright. Not to worry. Bob Fenner>
Copper and moto tang 10/11/07
Dear Bob, I am very excited to received your book "The
Conscientious Marine Aquarist" which I ordered through the net
recently. I have started to read it ever since it has reached my hands.
<Ahh! Have just finished the fish sections rewrite for a new
edition> My hospital quarantine tanks have been loaded with fish on
the 7th Oct. eve. SG-1.017 temp 26 deg Cel. Matured sponge filter,
2" P.V.C pipe hardware, Good aeration. Water used bore well,
initial pH of 7.4. Now pH is 8.2, Red sea salt. Bob, I have put Koran
angel, Wimple, Black backed but, Blue damsel, Picasso trigger, Moto
Tang, Pak but, in these separate tanks after freshwater dip (15 min
with timer) with Methylene blue. The bags in which they arrived had a
pH of 6.3 similar pH was prepared using phosphoric acid (ortho)
<Okay... but I'd pH adjust first... with seawater that is
acidified... THEN freshwater dip... with elevated pH FW> Expect the
Moto tang (dead today morning), one wimple and pak but are hiding and
not eating. <Are these tanks bare? I would place some chemically
inert material in for hiding... perhaps plastic pipe> Other fishes
are fine and eating. I usually start feeding them dried brine shrimp
cubes, which they accept initially very well later tetra marine flakes
and granules. After 24 hrs, the Moto tang was covered with white spots.
I gave him another freshwater dip pH 8.3 as that of the tank in which
he was. Then he was shifted to tank with copper. As mentioned earlier I
had prepared my own Copper solution. (40 gm.s of Copper Sulphate ( Blue
crystals used in swimming pools here) to 10 liters of Distilled water.
I intend to use 30 ml for 200 liters to get .015 ppm reading of copper
with 1 tsp of citric acid.) <Okay> One day previous to the
arrival of the fish I had prepared this tank with copper. It is a 75
liter tank, I added copper and tested the again I kept on adding Cu
till I could read 0.025ppm on the API test kit. On colour chart the
first reading is 0.25ppm then 0.50ppm. As per my solution I should have
added only 15ml but I took more than 7 tests finally ended up adding
50ml till I could read little less then 0.025. 1.Is the solution
dilute, 2. Is the test kit not correct. <The solution and kit are
likely fine, accurate... the copper itself is being precipitated by the
naturally high pH... combining with alkaline materials... falling out
of solution, precipitated> The Moto tank was introduced into it this
tank on the 8th morning, On the 9th he was dull and sticking low to the
tank but balancing. I immediately referred to page 308 of your book and
it says that copper is toxic to microfauna is the digestive system. I
immediately made 20 liters water change of Sg 1.017 without copper.
Next morning that is today It is dead and had a white covering on the
dorsal fin and pelvic fin full length. Kindly help as I am now bit
confused on using my copper mix on any fish . <Tangs are hard to
treat with non-chelated copper solutions, and should not be
continuously exposed... A strict two week regimen is called for. No
more. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/crypttangs.htm and as
much of the linked files above as you find you need to understand.>
One last question is can I get rid of the parasites just by isolation
and freshwater dips without using copper. Regards, Inderjeet Singh
Bansal <Not likely... Better to rely on some formalin added to the
freshwater, pH adjusted dip enroute to ensure their eradication. Do you
understand this? Bob Fenner>
Possible Copper Poisoning? --
10/11/07 Dear Crew, <<Hello Sebastian>> As always,
thank you very much for the valuable service that you provide, and most
of all thanks for tolerating incompetent people like myself.
<<Ah, well...you're visits here should be turning that
around!>> Hey Eric! <<Hello mate!>> I am almost
afraid it's you reading this email, as you probably think I am not
qualified to own a fish tank at this point. <<Not at all... Not
as long as you keep observing and learning>> I have made another
stupid mistake and my favorite invert has passed away. <<Hmm, how
do we stop these 'mistakes?' I know!...reading/research
'beforehand'...>> I have an SPS tank as you know, you
probably also remember I am treating all my fish in a separate hospital
tank going on 2 1/2 weeks now with Copper-Safe. <<I recall,
yes>> Well, the other day I was thawing out some frozen Mysis
shrimp so I scooped some water from the hospital tank and threw a cube
in there for a while. After feeding the fishes, there was some of that
food left over, thawed out with hospital tank water, which has
Copper-Safe in it. <<I think I know what's coming>>
Well, that was about 2 days ago and this morning for no apparent reason
I watched as my beloved coral banded shrimp expired. There have been no
changes, no fish in the tank, nothing else that I could attribute to
his death, except that he ate some of that left over
"poisoned" shrimp. Could this be it? <<Is a possibility
I suppose...but it is also possibly just a coincidence and the shrimp
has expired from natural causes (has a relatively short life-span of a
few years). Either way...this is a good opportunity for me to express
the need to keep quarantine/hospital tanks separated from the display
tanks in very way...to include not sharing equipment (nets, filters,
etc.) without sanitizing between uses (for obvious reasons...keeping a
sponge filter in your display's sump for a quick bio-startup to a
hospital tank wouldn't fall under the same ruling...but it should
be sanitized after use/before returning to the display)>> I see
no changes in any of my corals, all looks good still, and I am trying
very hard to believe that the amount of copper that entered my system
through that food is minimal, since I use 2 1/2 teaspoons in 10 gallons
of water as directed. Then it was probably about 5 tablespoons of
"contaminated water that I threw in the tank. Is it possible that
the shrimp died because the soaked Mysis adsorbed the water in which it
was thawed out that had the copper in it? <<Again, is a
possibility...but I think it unlikely>> All the snails look fine,
and all corals. I am so sorry for making this mistake, I know it sounds
silly from a grown man, but I kind of grew attached to that shrimp, if
you ever have a coral banded, they have a personality, always walking
around like they own the whole tank and eating parasites from the tang
before he was removed to be treated. I feel awful. <<Is
understandable...and not 'silly' at all. We 'all' make
mistakes...even after decades in the hobby...and even some where we
knew better>> Please let me know what you think about this
situation and what you think I should do. <<You can place some
Poly-Filter in your filter flow-path for the peace-of-mind...but I
think all will be fine regardless>> In addition, how much longer
should I treat with Copper Safe? <<21 days en toto>> I have
been making water changes every other day, siphoning the bare bottom,
replacing half the volume in the hospital tank. I have treated for a
total of 16 days now. <<Five days to go then>> Thanks again
for all your help, Sebastian <<Always welcome. Eric
Russell>>
Changing Diets, Centropyge, reading...
10/1/07 Hi again, <Greg> Well I have a Lemonpeel angel fish
in quarantine that came down with a severe cases of Cryptocaryon.?
Fortunately, I caught it early and have been able to bring it under
control with Cupramine (no more visible spots, breathing returned to
normal). Problem is the fish has changed it feeding preferences. <Oh
yes> Before the ich and Cupramine, mysid?shrimp and?flake was easily
accepted.? Now, only frozen brine is accepted.? The fish does go after
the brine eagerly, but will only eat one or two Mysid and/or flakes,
then stops until brine is introduced.? How can I train this fish back
into a decent food?? Could Cupramine be affecting dietary habits?
Thanks, Greg <Yes. Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dwfangfdgfaqs.htm BobF>
Re: Copper Range in mg/l, Cu
poisoning now... -- 08/31/07 Dear Mr. Fenner <Yo!> As I told
you earlier I bought a Clown Triggerfish exactly one week ago and
it's in my 20G QT. The first few days he was really active and ate
very well. As I spotted some tiny white spots ONLY on the fins I added
Chelated Copper the day after I put him in the QT. <The spots may
not be treatable thus... may not even be parasitic...> Now after one
week with frequent water changes (I change about 6 liters per change)
the ammonia is at 0.15 -- 0.2, nitrates is at almost 0 & Salinity
is at 0.017. And the copper level is somewhere in between 0.15 -- 0.30
according to my ZOOLEK Copper test kit. But the problem is that he is
not active or swims as much as he used to be in the first few days and
doesn't eat that much although he eats (prawn meat) slowly. He
often hides near the dead coral I have placed in the QT. Whenever I go
near the tank he runs to a upper corner and almost keeps is face above
water. He freaks out when I go near the tank. <All symptoms of
copper poisoning...> So obviously there is something wrong. I wanted
to give him another freshwater dip and put him in my established 80G
main tank but I am sacred <scared maybe> to face another white
spot <... do you have access to a cheap microscope, some familiarity
with same?> problem as my main tank is running smoothly. There are
few white spots on his fins although I am not completely sure whether
it's Ich. I pointed a torchlight on his body and looked really
close but there are absolutely no white spots on his body and his
colors are very vibrant. What am I supposed to do now? I don't
wanna lose this wonderful fish. Let me know whether you need any other
information to diagnose what's going on. Please give me some
advice. Thanks in advance for your advice, Best regards, Rachel <...
I would not have exposed this fish to copper given what you have
presented... I would read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisindex.htm and learn to/use the
indices, search tool... BobF>
Re: Copper Range in mg/l --
08/31/07 Dear Mr. Fenner Thanks for the advice. I do have a friend
who owns a Microscope. What am I supposed to do with it. Can I test for
Ich through a microscope? <The holociliate of about the right
size... two nuclei...> And if the Trigger is copper poisoned should
I change the entire water in the QT and replace it with non-copper
treated water? <I would, yes> or as it been almost 9 days without
any signs white spots on his body should i directly put him to the main
after a freshwater dip? <Yes, I would> I really really appreciate
your view. Thanks, Best regards, Rachel <You have read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/curemovalfaqs.htm RMF> Hyposalinity
together with copper sulphate treatment 8/22/07 Dear Sir, Your site
is the best I have come across on the net. I have learned lots from
your wonderful Site. I have a question. Can one treat the marine fish
while in hyposalinity with copper sulphate? <Can> What is the
effects of copper in such a salinity. <More toxic...> Regards,
Inderjeet Singh <Bob Fenner>
Re: Hyposalinity together with
copper sulphate treatment 8/26/07 Dear Sir, Thank you for the
prompt reply, You have said copper can be used so should I keep a level
of 0.15 mg/l as suggested or reduce it. <I would maintain this as a
minimum stated concentration> Your second answer is not clearly
understood by me. It will be toxic to what, the fish or the parasites.?
Regards, Inderjeet Singh. <The host fishes... the lowering of spg
makes copper exposure more dangerous. BobF>
Re: Hyposalinity together with
copper sulphate treatment 8/28/07 Dear Bob, Thanks again, This is
going to be a bit long mail so please do excuse me I am Architect
turned Aquarist, this hobby has changed my profession I am a serious
LFS hobbyist doing my job for past 5 years in freshwater. <Neat! I
too was self-directed to a life of enjoyment, study and sharing in our
interest> Here in India Marine is not much popular. Recently I
visited Singapore for the Aquarama Exhibition . <Ahh! Have gone to
most of these biannual industry get-togethers> I was inspired with
Marine setups and the Underwater World. <The UK co. I take it> I
set up my tanks for marine and got two consignments of fish sadly all
the fish died within two weeks because of Velvet. Then I started to
read and browse the net and I came to WWM. This is my favourite site. I
spend most of my spare time reading your articles. I now give my fish
the fresh water dips and am trying to quarantine them. <Ah, good>
Now I have been successful to keep the fish alive. Your site is a big
Ocean of knowledge. <Thank you my friend> The reasons of my
earlier question is that I am confused and not sure what method I
should use? 1. Only Hyposalinity ? 2. Only Copper treatment Or 3. Both
1 and 2 ? <Depends a good deal on the species, specimens in
question... For many that are sensitive or in bad initial health,
neither may be appropriate... For incoming fishes, pH adjusted
freshwater dips with a bit of formalin (as detailed on WWM) is my
favorite prophylactic approach...> Now, the reason I am asking you
the above question is that I have set up 40 tanks of 15 gallons in
circulation to a common sump. All tanks are individually connected with
of 3/4" pvc pipes for inlet and outlet. In the Sump the water is
filtering through Ceramic rings, filter pads of different grade, bio
balls. The water is then pumped back. I plan to quarantine marine fish
in these tanks. <Mmm, much we should state here... each of these
tanks flows back independently I hope... and you have VERY good
mechanical (one micron or less) AND physical (e.g. UV) sterilization to
exclude the sharing of parasites...> I read on the net that Protein
Skimmer must not be used as the organic waste will remove the copper.?
<Yes... w/ or w/o the waste... and the waste alone> I am using
API test kits NH3, NO2, NO3, pH and Cu. Do I need to monitor anything
else? What method should I use from the above? <Dips, baths... and
keep good records of what species from what suppliers have problems...
Arrange your ordering to reflect...> Salt used is Red Sea as this is
the only salt commonly available in India. <As your business
grows... do consider becoming a distributor for other brands... and
product lines... Marine keeping will explode some day (and I think
soon) in India> I have prepared my own Copper Sulphate solution by
mixing 40 gm.s of Copper Sulphate ( Blue crystals used in swimming
pools here) to 10 liters of Distilled water. I intend to use 30 ml for
200 liters to get .015 ppm reading of copper. <I would add 4-5 grams
of citric acid to your mix here... much better... to keep the CuSO4 .
5H2O in solution> I want your advice for any other precautions that
I should take while Quarantine. My tanks are recycling now. And soon I
shall add the fish when the NH3 and NO2 readings are ZERO. Thanks once
again. Regards, Inder. <I will gladly help you in your endeavours.
Life to you. Bob Fenner>
Cupramine and Nitrites - 7/4/07
Quick question/observation... Currently quarantining 3 fish: Tuskfish,
2 x Bannerfish in a 20gallon glass bottom tank with a Fluval 104
Filtre. The foam pads were left in but the ceramic stones were removed
as they seemed to absorb the Seachem Cupramine product that I was using
to treat my fish. <Not them, but the "biofilm" on
them...> I was conducting 30% water changes every second day. I have
been using ONLY water from my Reef Tank which maintains pristine water
conditions (no signs of ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, pH 8.2). <Good
that you have this available> I have been using Cupramine as
directed thus maintaining the copper level at .5PPM in my tank. The
fish seem to be doing fine. I have done 2 different water tests on my
reef tank to ensure my quarantine tank is getting optimal water
conditions but have only been doing Ammonia, pH, and Copper testing on
my quarantine tank. pH is fine, no traces of Ammonia, and the
appropriate Copper level of .5PPM. Last night (after two weeks) decided
to do a thorough water test on the quarantine as I am going away this
upcoming weekend. Every thing checks out except Nitrites are off the
charts. I retested my Reef Tank and everything checked out... so I did
a water change in my quarantine tank... lowering the water to a level
to just the point that my fish could still swim (i.e. about 80%) and
then syphoned reef tank water back into the quarantine tank to fill it
back up. Note: Salinity and temperature are identical matches. I then
topped off the appropriate Cupramine dose to get me back up to
approximately .5PPM of copper. 2hrs later, I did another test...
nitrites are still off the charts. <Yes... the "secondary"
microbes that convert the nitrite to nitrate are being inhibited by
copper exposure and a lack of substrate> Seachem Cupramine's
FAQ's say to basically ignore Ammonia readings that are unreal...
something to do with the majority of Ammonia test kits pick up
something in the Cupramine. Basically SeaChem's stance, is to do
frequent water changes and not worry about unreal ammonia readings.
However, my ammonia readings are in check... no signs of ammonia. Are
you familiar with this issue? If I did an 80% water change, I'd
expect to see no signs of Nitrite or at least a severely diluted
reading. Are you thinking the test kit is reacting with the Cupramine
product to give me a false reading? <Mmm, no, I don't think so.
But I encourage you to contact SeaChem's technical customer
support... They're excellent... and ask directly if this test kit
can/does yield such false positives...> As I mentioned before, fish
in quarantine are acting normal and feeding eagerly. Not only have I
been doing the water changes as per above... but after every feeding I
am syphoning out any leftovers so that no visible solids remain in the
tank. I even opened up the Fluval canister filtre to see if there was
solid food waste caught in the foam cartridges... nothing. Do you
figure I am ok? Tried to get hold of Seachem today... but 4th of July
and no one's picking up the phones... David Brynlund <I do think
you're okay here... Do just keep up with the measuring for Copper,
doing the water changes... Bob Fenner> Re: Cupramine and Nitrites
- 7/4/07 Thanks for the super urgent response Bob... You're the
greatest! <Welcome> You said that you think I am ok here. Do you
mean, relax and keep vacuuming up solid waste and my 30% waterchanges
every two days? Or should I be actively trying to get those nitrites
down by mass water changes daily? <The former> So, the Cupramine
inhibits the nitrites from breaking down into less harmful nitrates?
<Indirectly in a few ways, yes> Aren't the nitrites toxic
though? <Are... or more to the point, pertinence here, can be under
various other co-factored incidences> If I recall correctly the
reading is about 4PPM maybe a little higher. I'm still confused as
to how an 80% water change would NOT dilute my readings? <Mmmm... is
a bit artifactual... I do wish we were face to face... and I knew your
chemistry and physics backgd. a bit... Is/are diluted, but the
sensitivity of the kits is so poor, the actual subjectivity of reading
such... that the difference here is hard to make out> Yes, I'll
give Seachem a shout tomorrow... David Brynlund <Do please send
along your synopsis of what is said. Cheers, BobF> Re: Cupramine
and Nitrites 7/5/07 Hi Bob, spoke to Seachem today... <Ahh!>
Would be a pleasure to meet face to face sometime... Chemistry and
physics background? Hmm, well I did fairly well in Chem/Phys through
high school, but I'm an educated Finance guy. <A good combo. I
taught H.S. level in these subjects for a few years... and have an
ongoing interest of course...> Tech Support at SeaChem said that
Ammonia is the only parameter that should yield a false positive.
<Yes, as I, and I believe you thought as well> With a bare bottom
tank and only foam cartridges for filtration, she mentioned that likely
any sort of biological bacteria was held in the ceramic stones and I
removed them. <Good> Therefore, I didn't have the biological
bacteria present to continue the process as you mentioned... Converting
Nitrite to Nitrate. She recommended using a product called Seachem
MATRIX as non-copper absorbing bacteria holding stones and then using
their SeaChem Stability additive to introduce or reintroduce the
beneficial bacteria to continue the Nitrite - Nitrate cycle. She
mentioned I should be setting up these products about 3 days prior to
introducing new fish for quarantine or fish for medicating (if
possible)... And then removing the product afterwards. <Mmm, sounds
reasonable> Now I know for next time. My 3 fish are still doing well
in quarantine and have finished their Cupramine treatment... The
Tuskfish has also shed his Lyco##### (I forget the name of the cotton
like fungus I sent you pics of and my employer has blocked all hobby
sites on our network server... DOH!). <Yikes... Lymphocystis> All
seems well. My main display 200gallon system has remained fallow less
one snowflake moray eel now for 2 weeks. Shall I give it another week?
Two weeks? <This latter...> Before introducing them back into
main display? <I would "wait" a good month total> I
guess I am a little bit eager now to get them back in there given the
nitrite levels. By the time I locate or order SeaChem's recommended
product it could be 10 days... As my retailers here don't carry
either of those products. <... Man! What will it take to urge the
trade to be/come just a bit more sophisticated! Well, we're doing
our part I hope/trust> Thanks again! David Brynlund <And you. Bob
Fenner>
Response to Ich Question Posted
7/4/07 7/5/07 I was reading FAQs today and noticed the
question/guidance entitled "Cupramine and Nitrites - 7/4/07".
I wanted to share my experiences because I experienced something
similar, with tragic results. <I thank you for this> I too
treated my HT with copper (ionic copper sulfate, not Cupramine) and my
nitrites shot up in spite of constant water changes, vacuuming, etc. I
too have a SeaChem copper test kit and checked copper twice daily to
ensure that I was maintaining proper copper level. My fish were
likewise feeding and acting well. And then they died. They had no
visible ich infestation, so my only guess was that they died from
prolonged exposure to nitrites coupled with exposure to the copper.
<Might be... at least a factor> I think SeaChem test kit tells
you to follow a special protocol if you're using chelated copper.
Not sure whether Cupramine falls into that category. <Does> My
point is, my experience suggests not to ignore high nitrite levels and
to do frequent water changes. This makes life hard when using chelated
products, which is why the authors of many articles I have read prefer
the use of ionic copper sulfate. Just my two cents. Andy <Mmm,
benefits (chelates are "longer lasting") to both... Bob
Fenner.
Nitrite Question, Copper murdered my
nitrifying bacteria? (And QT) 6/7/07 Hello Crew. <'Allo!>
I have a question about the effect of copper on nitrifying bacteria.
<Kills 'em.> I have a 30 gallon marine QT/hospital tank that
I cycled with two mollies. <Poor mollies...> I have since had to
introduce my four fish---a tiny gold stripe maroon, a tiny blue hippo,
a lawnmower blenny and a 3.5" yellow tang--into the hospital tank
to allow my display tank to go fallow because my blue hippo got Ich (I
know, I know . . .). <Hope this is a big system we're talking
about, 125g+ ???> Of course, my ammonia and nitrites shot up -
ammonia went from 0 to 2 ppm and nitrites went from 0 to 2.5 ppm.
I'm treating the tank with copper (keeping it between .15 and .30
ppm, but boy are those tests hard to read!). <Seachem?>
They've been in the tank 5 days. The blue tang and maroon clown are
happy as clams--you'd think they have known each other since birth.
They seem totally unaffected by either the copper or ammonia/nitrite
levels. <I'm sure they are affected, whether or not it's
apparent.> The lawnmower blenny, who was perfectly healthy when I
removed him from the display on Saturday, is now resting peacefully in
pet heaven with my German shorthaired pointer. The yellow tang is
hanging in there--he hasn't eaten since entry into the tank and
periodically leans over to one side, but he is responsive when I
approach the tank, stick my hand in, etc., and he's alive every
morning when the lights come on. His breathing is not labored, but I
can tell he's not feeling great. I have been doing 20% water
changes daily and re-dosing to maintain proper copper levels.
<Hmm... maybe you should brush up on QT setups?
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/QuarMarFishes.htm You need to be doing water
changes that will keep the toxic byproducts of their respiration and
feeding to a minimum. Usually 20% is not enough with four animals in a
30-gallon. > Yesterday, I added Bio-Spira, which dropped my ammonia
down to 0 overnight but my nitrites were still about 1.5-2.0 ppm this
morning. <Hmm, the addition of Bio-Spira is mostly moot at this
point. As you are seeing, the copper has deleterious effects on the
bacteria, and they won't properly establish in the presence of
medication. This is a good reason to use the water from your main tank
to dilute the toxins in the QT whenever testing indicates a need. Think
of it as aggressive water-changes for your main system...> My
questions: What effect will the copper have on my nitrifying bacteria?
<See above.> Do you recommend that I do multiple doses of
Bio-Spira while I'm treating with copper? <No doses would be
fine.> Do you recommend anything different with respect to the
yellow tang to up his chances of survival? <Just refine your
approach to new species introduction in the future. I think you have
taken a concerned and proactive approach to the current situation.>
My LFS will cure ich without chemicals (using an incredibly ingenious,
patent-pending (no kidding) top secret method--I'd have to kill you
if I told you how it works) for $5 per day. <Per fish? What a
racket! I should've thought of that one!> I could send him there
until I ran the copper treatment on the other two fish and then put him
back in the QT, but it would certainly be cheaper to just buy another
yellow tang (but what kind of father would I be??). <Yes, we usually
shy from relating importance of our livestock to their cash
value...> Thanks for your guidance. <You are most welcome, but I
bet you will do fine as you are. Do some google searching here on WWM
and read as much as you can. In no time, you may be the one answering
the Q's. > Andy <-GrahamT>
Re: Copper murdered my nitrifying
bacteria? (And QT) 6/7/07 -- 6/8/07 Follow up for Graham:
<Howdy, Andrew.> My tank is 110 gallons. <Good.> Your
inquiry about Seachem copper test - - - yes, why do you ask? Is that a
bad test kit brand? <Well, it a hard test to read results from. The
slider, right? [Shudders]> All of my test kits are Seachem, except
my calcium test. I sure wish there was an easy to read test kit--do you
have any recommendations? <
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/coppertestfaqs.htm > I know that everyone
speaks highly of Salifert, but I have to give up an arm to buy one of
those kits. <Hmm... get what you pay for, I'm afraid. I like the
Lamotte kit Rick O. has with the colorimeter (sp?)... makes the testing
a snap.> As for QT, I know, I know--I was an idiot, thought I could
beat the odds, will never, ever, ever do it again, will quarantine all
new arrivals for at least 2 weeks, etc. Hindsight is always 20-20.
<Been there.> I was in the hobby 20 years ago and just got back
in it. Didn't realize how much it has changed until I read
Bob's book and found this website, both of which have really opened
my eyes. <Been there, too. Was out of the hobby for ten years when I
fell back in...> I promise to keep the questions coming . . .
<Oh, goody!!! -GrahamT> Andy
Bringing a Ht back on-line after
killing off nitrifying bacteria with copper -- 06/19/07 Dear Bob or
other venerable member of the Crew, <Howzit?> I had a thought . .
. . which (surprise) prompted a question . . . relating to my
long-standing Ich saga with which Bob has been helping me out. I placed
my four fish in a 30 gallon HT to battle Ich, dosed with copper and
monitored religiously for 13 days, with water changes, before everyone
started dying due, I can only assume, to elevated nitrite levels (1.5
-2.0 ppm) caused by the copper hatin' on my nitrifying bacteria, in
spite of 30% daily water changes (I know . . . wasn't enough). The
sole survivor of my uneducated husbandry practices is my gold stripe
maroon. The maroon has 3 more weeks in HT/QT before my display tank has
completed its fallow period. Once everyone started dying, I pulled the
copper out of the water with a combination of activated charcoal (Kent
Reef Carbon) and water changes (plus it's been almost a week since
I last dozed) <Or dosed!> and now my levels are undetectable, and
then added Bio-Spira. My ammonia is 0, and my nitrites are
slooooowwwwwlllly coming down and are now higher than 0.5 but lower
than 1 ppm. My HT/QT if filtered with a Marineland hang on the back
power filter with BioWheel (can the copper permanently pollute this
paper BioWheel?) <Won't> and penguin powerhead for
circulation. Although the clown seems to be doing fine, I am constantly
worried about the nitrite levels in the tank and breathe a sigh of
relief every morning when I turn the light on and he's still alive.
So, I want to maximize his chances of survival (he wasn't cheap and
I he's cool). Well, the obvious is doing massive water changes
every day to dilute the pollution until the tank re-cycles, but I'm
going through salt like a Cod Salter. So, my thought . . . One of my
LFS sells fully cured reef rubble for $3.99 per lb. If one can quickly
cycle a tank with live rock, why not buy 3 lbs of cured reef rubble and
drop in the HT? <Good idea> It sure would be cheaper than either
salt or Bio-Spira and could work instantly? <A bit slower>
Another reason for this is that it would allow me to keep the QT up and
running once I pull my fish out without having to break it down only to
bring it back up when I buy a new fish for quarantine. I could buy a
few mollies for $2, acclimate them and they could be the permanent
inhabitants of the QT. If I ever needed to run copper or some other
medicine, I could simply put the reef rubble in a nylon filter bag and
drop it in the sump of the display tank for the treatment period.
<Yes> Three fears came to mind about doing this, though. First,
even though I *think* I pulled all the copper out, does enough copper
remain to have an adverse effect on the reef rubble? <Minimally>
A sub-question--because I used Ionized Copper Sulfate that precipitates
out, would it be prudent to siphon the glass bottom to remove any
copper precipitate that is resting on the bottom and on which my reef
rubble will sit? <Yes, worth doing... with all Crypt-infested
systems actually> Second, assuming that the reef rubble is truly
cured and assuming that I get clean pieces that don't have any
appreciable life on them (sponges, etc.), am I taking the chance that I
may actually exacerbate the problem by jolting my system with ammonia
and then nitrite when the rock starts eating and pooping in my tank, or
will any spike be quickly dealt with by the rock's bacteria?
<Not much, if, as you state, this material is more or less fully
cured> And finally, and probably most importantly, am I taking the
chance that all of my hard work killing my fish with copper to remove
Ich will be negated by the reintroduction of Ich or some other parasite
that hikes in on the live rock? Thanks!!!! Andy <Mmm, check the
system the rock is in... this should be a small concern. Bob
Fenner>
Copper toxicity question? 6/6/07
Hello all, <Howdy> I am finding it is time for my second question
in 3 years. I would have thought the answer to my question would be
easy to find in your FAQ's and articles but it is not. So here is
my question. What are the signs and symptoms of copper toxicity in a
marine fish? <Usually... rapid, shallow breathing, disorientation,
gasping near the surface, often head tilted upward... to lethargy,
deep/labored breathing on the bottom... Possibly apparent mucus
production on the body, fins... death> The reason for my question is
I have treated my fish in a QT tank for the prescribed amount of time
and all visible signs and symptoms of marine ich are gone except
increased respiratory rates in about half of the fish. <Hopefully
with daily plus testing of copper...> The rapid breathing developed
near the end of the copper treatment. The main tank remained fallow for
two months before the fish were moved back. They have all been back in
the main tank now for over two months. I then ordered three new fish on
line and all were in great health on arrival. All three were eating on
the same day placed in the QT tank. I did a 2 week treatment with
copper after they were in the QT tank for two weeks. None of the fish
ever showed any problems until near the end of the copper treatment.
Guess what the problem was. It is rapid respiratory rates only. None of
the new fish ever had the visible white spots you would expect to see
with marine ich. I treated these new fish out of fear of introducing
ich to the main display again. If you should need any other information
I would be happy to provide it for you. Thank you for your time and
consideration in this matter. <Welcome. Bob Fenner>
Re: Copper toxicity question? --
06/08/07 Sorry about the two e-mail question. Your prompt response
to the initial question made me think of another I should have asked in
the first e-mail about copper toxicity. <Ah yes... the nature of
this media... the rationale for our posting responses for
perusal...> I did perform daily copper checks. I used Cupramine
buffered active copper and tested daily with a level of 0.50 mg/l for
two weeks. <Mmm... this is actually too much free cupric ion... I
want to mention to browsers to not allow this Cu++ level to go beyond
0.35 ppm or the equivalent units of mg/l> I used the Salifert test
kit and read it as best I could with the color scale provided. <I
would also like to recommend other brands of copper test kits... Posted
on WWM> After two weeks I did two fifty percent water changes over 3
days and added carbon. Two of the three fish in QT are in perfect
health and no worse for the wear including a flame angel. <Good>
The problem fish is a false percula (wild caught) specimen. He is
exhibiting the signs and symptoms described to me by Mr. Fenner in the
initial e-mail. <Well... am sure you are aware of my admonitions re
these wild-caught instead of captive-produced specimens... AND they ARE
clowns... do behave "oddly" at times... AND they, along with
many other fishes that live in close association with non-vertebrates
are more sensitive to the same sorts of challenges> I was wonder
what the recovery time is or if there is a recovery time for copper
toxicity. <Weeks> I was also wondering what else I could do
besides ideal water conditions and no copper to help this fish along on
the road to recovery. <Mmm, perhaps the use of Polyfilter,
HUFA/Vitamin prep.s... in the water, food> I really hate the thought
that I may be the source of this fish's health problems. <Source
and cure> Again, thank you for your time and consideration in this
matter. Sincerely, Budde <Welcome my friend. Bob
Fenner>
Cataracts and HLLS???? -- 04/30/07 I have a
110 Gal tank. 100 lbs. live rock, 100 lbs. live sand. I have one
Blue Damsel, one Talbot Damsel, one Blue/Green Chromis, all
healthy. I also have one Yellow Eye Kole Tang, and one Radiant
Wrasse. They have all been through a six week quarantine (the tang
and wrasse at the same time) and after much stress and treatment on
the fish, and myself they appeared to be fungus and ich free. My
wrasse started acting funny the last week or two of quarantine even
though he looked beautiful. I thought it was because the now
healthy tang was becoming territorial and picking on the wrasse.
<Maybe> So in week five I put a small container of new washed
sand in the bottom to give the wrasse somewhere to bury himself for
protection. His damage from the tang healed immediately. After the
six weeks they seemed great so I put them into my display.
Unfortunately under the bright lights of my display tank I can see
two problems. The wrasse has cloudiness in his eyes one worse than
the other no bulging or anything just like a cloudy film. Is this
cataracts and can I treat this. <Is likely
"environmental" in origin... and will go on its own>
He swims around and runs into the rocks and glass when he comes out
and I feel so bad for him. He is not eating that I can see. The
tang appears to have scars on his face like small divots. Could
this be HLLS. <Mmm, maybe... this is a symptom... not an actual
disease... could be resultant simply from stress from the
quarantine...> Not much algae grew in the quarantine tank and he
would not eat any seaweed or algae foods. I tried everything I
could buy that was seaweed or algae, dried, frozen, flakes and
sheets, even with the garlic entice added. I could only get him to
eat omega brine shrimp soaked in Zoe. Now that he is in the main
tank he picks at Ocean Nutrition's Formula Two and eats the
algae off the rocks and glass. Will this help. <Yes> LFS is
no help. I don't want this to get worse and everything I read
on your site says diet, diet, diet. The wrasse and tang had a tough
quarantine I treated them with the following, (not at the same time
and with a few days rest between treatments) Quick cure (Formalin
and Malachite Green), <Toxic... the symptoms above are actually
very likely from this exposure...> Fish Mox, <Amoxicillin for
browsers> Kick Ich, and Rally. <These are scams> Could any
of these treatments be the cause. I'm sorry for the length but
I'm lost and have tried researching your site. Could not get a
decent picture of the wrasse <Keep practicing, reading... the
indices, search tool... BobF> |
Good pic, eh?
|
Contaminated equipment... SW...
3/19/07 Hi there, <Hello, Brandon here.> I'm been
running a 6G nano for about a year now, recently (2 months ago) I
started using an old heater/pump in a plastic bucket to heat and aerate
RO water for a 2L bi-weekly water change. <This is a good idea.>
I lost a snail last month and today it seems another has bitten the
dust. <I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they most likely
starved to death. Most people recommend 1 snail per 10 gallons. Keeping
two in this tank likely extinguished their food supply, or took it down
to negligible levels. Think about it like this, if I gave you one
chicken nugget a day, you are still eating right? But eventually you
will starve to death. Same thing with the snails. While it is true that
they need algae to live, they need a specific amount per day, if they
cannot get this they will slowly starve.> The parameters are:
Nitrate 15ppm, Amm 0, Nitrite 0, Ph 8.1, Sal 1.025, Temp 26c, Alk 2.7
and have been stable. <The Nitrate is a little high. Would be better
if it was under 10 ppm. I will assume that your Alk is 2.7 mg/L since
you did not say. This translates out to 7.8 dKH. This is low. Ideally
you want to shoot for 10-12 dKH, or about 4mg/L. This will give you a
more stable pH.> If the old heater/pump was used in a freshwater
tank with a copper based treatment would the copper possibly be getting
in the water it is aerating/heating? <Anything is possible, but if
there were copper in the water, the crustaceans that you mention below
would likely be doing extremely poorly, or dead. All crustaceans are
extremely sensitive to copper.> The Zoanthids in the tank are also
retracted, hermits and shrimps seem fine. <This is most likely due
to the NO3 levels. Try cleaning out your filters once a week, and see
if this solves the NO3 problem.> All the best <Good luck to you.
Brandon.> Luke
Huma Huma help 1/2/07 hello. <Hello,
Graham here.> I have had a catastrophe... and want to help save my
last fish... I purchased some turbo snails from the local pet store and
after introducing them to my 75 gallon tank all my fish started
scratching. I added Sea Cure and that was the end of my marine life. I
lost 2 clown 2 damsel 1 yellow tang and my emperor angel.. now my
trigger is left but he is still scratching away at his side. he has his
whole belly red and flakey now. what can I do ? My tank was all zeros
for no2, no3 and ammonia and a ph of 8.0-8.2.... I now have him out of
the tank and in a quarantine.. he seems to be fine but he is scratching
his skin really bad...I an dosing him with sea cure BTW. <Very hard
to diagnose a problem like this when you can't see it. Send a
high-resolution .JPG that has been either compressed in an image editor
or to a .ZIP file. (Make sure the file is no bigger than 500k, but
preferably under 100k) If you cannot send a pic, I recommend you try to
work out an identification from our FAQs using the search tool.>
Thanks Josh <Welcome.> <P.S. Bob F. : Please jump in if you
see a red flag I'm missing! -Graham> <<Mmm... copper
poisoning... removing the copper, hope, time going by...
RMF>>
Maracyn and Coppersafe Reaction 1/16/07 Boy
did I screw up. <Uh-oh.> I have 125 marine tank. I had a huge
case of ich...I added CopperSafe. <Doh!> The next day all my fish
had pink fungus all over them. I added Maracyn. <Doh!> Now my
tank looks like swamp water. <I bet.> I am losing fish one by
one. <Not surprising unfortunately.> I don't know what is
killing them now there is no sign of ich or the pink stuff. <The
fact that you declared nuclear war on your tank.> I only added
Maracyn once. <One time too many sadly.> My water STILL is swamp
water green. HELP!!!! I have already done: 50% water change
<Good> 80% water change <Good> 100% water change
<Good> I have put a phosphate filter in the sump and a pantyhose
sock with some granular phosphate remover. I leave my white lights off
hoping that the light won't promote growth. Okay, I have now
replaced ALL of the following: Live rock all 140# Live sand all 60#
Water Now running Phosphate Carbon AmQuel and Cycle for life and water
is still turning green slowly HELP!!!!! Emily Gansereit <The double
hit of copper and antibiotics has made your tank hostile to most all
marine life. The tank is now cycling and living organisms are starting
to re-colonize the tank. This starts with the toughest, usually lower
forms of life, like free floating algae. Best bet now is to test for
copper in the water, if found do more water changes. Get some
Poly-Filters and run these along with carbon and the Phosphate remover.
Water changes are your friend for the foreseeable future. Also get a QT
tank to avoid this situation if the future. With time and proper care
the tank should return to normal.> <Chris>
Copper... measure mostly 1/17/06 I have a
copper question. I know it is not good to have in your main tank, which
is why I started a new 125 gallon reef ready tank and used my own RO/di
unit, but after making the initial 125 gallons of water that read 0 on
my TDS meter, and getting that in my tank. My next water readings were
in the 50's, then kept getting a little higher. <... in the
presence of? Gravel, rock? Sea salt? All will show, increase TDS> I
didn't think much of it, but I found out I need to repack the di
membranes. Anyway, I had some copper tests left over from my previous
tank and decided to take a test just for kicks. It turned out that the
reading was at .05. (the lowest # on the scale, however it was picking
it up). <Likely artifactual> My question is, Is the copper that I
got out of my tap water through my di unit as harmful and hard to get
rid of as the actual regular copper medication. I bought a Pura
filtration pad and am running that, along with activated carbon in my
powerheads. I have 150 lbs. of live sand, and 100 lbs. of live rock,
and one tomato clownfish in the tank now. Everything seems fine, but I
want to get the copper out. It's probably been in for maybe a week
or two before I caught it and put the Pura pad in. Am I too late, or do
I still have some hope. Please advise me. Thank You for all of your
past and Future help. Aaron <Not a worry... even if present... will
be transient. Bob Fenner>
Upside-down Regal Tang ... parasitized, copper
poisoned main system - 03/26/2006 I recently upgraded my marine
tank from a 75gal to a 120gallon tank. A few days after the move I
noticed the beginnings of ICH on my juvenile Emperor Angelfish and my
Red Basslet. <The system itself is infested> Upon the advice of a
friend of mine I gradually lowered the salinity in the tank to 1.014
and started using Cupramine. <Not the main/display tank...
no....> The ICH started to clear up, everybody stopped scratching
and the tank seemed to be much better. <Just cycled off...> Then
about five days ago, a week or so into the treatment I noticed my
1" Regal Tang lying on her side on the bottom gasping. Her eyes
were so puffed up she looked more like a Black Moor Goldfish than a
Tang and she was a bit swollen and bloated looking. I immediately
tested the water and all water parameters are fine. Nitrite and Ammonia
zero, Ph 8.5, and Nitrates below 20ppm. The only thing I could think
might be wrong was the sign efficiently lowered salinity was causing
her to absorb too much water. (I'm not sure exactly how the whole
thing works but from what I understand Marine fish are designed to
absorb water and excrete salt. So since she was in a lower salinity she
soaked too much up maybe?) <Interesting proposition. Much more
likely poisoned by the copper/system treatment> Anyway, I put her in
a floating breeder trap with a few pieces of macro algae for cover and
began to slowly raise the salinity in the tank back up. I've got
the salinity back up to 1.020 now. By the day after I'd put her in
the breeder trap the Regal Tang's eyes had started to go back down
to normal. After five days they're down all the way. But the rest
of her is still puffy and bloated. Not to the extent that her scales
are standing out on end like Dropsy, she's just puffy. Even along
her dorsal fin she's puffy. And she's stuck upside-down. <Do
orient like this in all such space> She can right herself and swim a
little but as soon as she stops swimming she goes belly up once again.
I've been throwing a few flakes in for her each day but she's
not eating and is not even interested in the Macro Algae. Is there
anything else I can do for her? Does she just need more time to recover
or is it hopeless? <... You've got a bit of reading to do...
Start here: http://wetwebmedia.com/parasittksfaqs.htm
the linked files above, Copper Use, the Paracanthurus article and
FAQs... Bob Fenner> Blind Harlequin Tusk? 9/21/05 Howdy Crew,
I've recently purchased a 4" long Harlequin Tusk. After about
5 days in QT it was showing signs of ich. I waited a couple of days to
see if it would clear up on it's own and it did not. The fish never
stopped eating and was acting normal. So I read up on treating them for
ich and saw on WWM that you can use copper but that in too high of a
concentration, will cause them to go blind. <Can, yes> I decided
to go ahead with the copper as the ich wasn't getting any better. I
used Mardel Copper Safe and treated with less than the bottle
prescribed hoping the tusk wouldn't go blind. This was yesterday
and at feeding time last night, the fish was swimming around looking
for food but wasn't really finding any. I think he's gone
blind. My question is, can a tusk regain their sight? <Highly
unlikely this fish is blind, was blinded... Very likely it
"doesn't feel like eating" due to copper exposure> I
immediately put a bag of carbon in the filter to remove the copper and
did a 1/3 water change with RO/DI water. Thanks for all your help.
<Mmm, you'll have to devise some method of treatment... Bob
Fenner>
Copper in marine systems 9/21/05 Hi Bob I
have been reading about copper on your website and I have a few
questions about how long term copper exposure affects fish. I read that
fish can get copper poisoning, but how can you tell? What are the
symptoms? <Mmm, some of them... include rapid breathing while the
fish is setting on the bottom, at an angle near the top... to very
labored/slow breathing... glassed over eyes, milky body appearance, for
marines: drooping fins... > What do you think about keeping tanks
constantly dosed with copper as a preventative measure for disease?
<A poor idea... many stores, some wholesale operations utilize
copper on a continuous to semi-continuous basis... long-term exposure
shortens lifespans considerably> I am just learning about saltwater
systems and am trying to gather as much information as possible.
<Let's settle on "as practical"> Are some marine
fish more sensitive to copper than others? <Oh yes> Are scaleless
fish more sensitive than scaled? <Definitely> What exactly does
long-term copper exposure do to a fish? <... several things... how
much of this do you want to discuss? The histopathology? Just gross
morphology? Maybe just a key example? The loss of packed-cell volume in
the blood is one such effect... real trouble, as the hematocrits of
fishes are high, DO quite low in seawater> I read somewhere that
copper can eventually kill off all the intestinal fauna in a fish. Is
that true? <Yes> What else can happen? <Too much to elaborate
here... If truly interested, a trip to a large/college library, search
tools there is in order> I know copper is a heavy metal and I would
not think that any exposure it that great. Thank you so much for your
time and help! Regards, Kristina <You show tremendous curiosity and
intelligence... Might I suggest you use your interest, abilities here
to do said search, write up for the pet-fish magazines, pulp and e-...
I will help you sell such. Bob Fenner> Copper treatment and bad
reaction - 10/28/2005 Hey guys, another question for you. <Fire
away.> My Pakistani in QT has been in copper for a week now and he
has no more Ich left but now he's darting/flashing/twitching.
<Uh-Oh.> Is this another outbreak coming or is it from copper
exposure? <It does sound like poisoning.> Should I take him out
or leave him in for the maximum of the two week period (it states in
the FAQ'S that a good rule of thumb is 2 weeks of copper exposure
for a fish to avoid giving copper poisoning)? <You should do an
immediate, large water change. Run some PolyFilter or carbon to remove
the rest of the copper.> I went this long without harming him, I
don't want to take on any additional high risk. <I would back
off of the copper treatment and watch for improvements. How high is
your copper reading?> Thanks, Jay <Thank you for helping me
address a weak point. - Josh>
Re: Copper treatment and bad reaction -
10/28/2005 I'd be cool with doing that, but I don't want to
put any parasites in my display tank so I feel like I need to go the
full two weeks. <I don't mean that you would be finished with
QT, but that you should step back to observation at this point. Further
treatment may/may not be necessary.> I measured the copper very
carefully every time I redosed after a water change (if anything, I put
less than what I was supposed to). <Does this mean you only measured
what was going in, not total concentration? Even with water changes,
the existing copper would still be there, at least to some extent (I
doubt you are draining all water and cleaning the tank with each). Do
this a few times in a row and there's bound to be trouble.
Everything added needs to be adjusted for what already exists.>
He's really not breathing fast, is it possible that he's just
reacting to the copper exposure sort of like how we react to an
antibiotic? <I think you most likely lost control of your copper
level by accident. Take care of his basic needs now (water quality,
feeding), and be prepared to "start over" if the problem
manifests itself again. Oh yeah, sorry if you got another blank
response. I think this thing timed out on me when I was ready to send,
hence no message showed as sent for you. Good luck Jason. -
Josh>
Re: Copper treatment and bad reaction...or? Not
Using Copper Properly - 10/31/2005 Ok great, thanks Josh. <Sure!
Sorry I'm just responding but I've just signed on for the
day.> I think I was misleading on my email. After a water change I
only put in what I took out (redosed copper for the amount of gallons
taken out not for the total gallons of the tank all over again).
<Glad you realized not to slam the tank anew. But..> I did a test
for the overall copper level and it's almost 0.3. <Is this per
package instruction. Usually much lower (.015 area).> I'm having
a BIG problem with nitrites, they're at 4ppm and I've done
several 30% water changes in a week, and last night just did a 40% and
the level won't budge. <<30%-40% is NOWHERE near the
amount of water you should be changing with the situation you currently
have. MH>> <BIG is not even close to the problems this
WILL cause! You have serious issues at work here. I've never seen
copper at this concentration, thus my question as to instructions.
Nitrites at this level are very toxic; can cause suffocation and brain
damage (would appear the same as poisoning). I remember on a previous
query, you were recommended to use water from your main tank when doing
changes to combat this by another crew member. Are you doing this?>
There really isn't any ammonia, which to me, is strange. <Likely
been converted/not registering.> Am I in danger with nitrites that
high for a Pakistani b/f temporarily? <Yes, for any aquatic
animals.> I only have another week left in q/t, <According
to..?> <<Usual quarantine protocol is 30 days DISEASE FREE.
Why was there no consideration in favor of using hyposalinity for this
delicate fish? MH>> will he be ok with that level for this
short period of time? <No. Stop the copper and address this.> The
other day, even with all of the spots gone, he leaned sideways and
scratched his gill on the pvc pipe. <Suffocation perhaps, or
"Are these things on?"> Do you have any idea why he would
do this if he's been treated with copper for over a week and had no
spots for a week and a half? <No spots means nothing.> Is there
another outbreak coming or is this a reaction from the copper and/or
high nitrites? <At this point, I'd say either. It seems you are
poisoning a brain damaged fish, the Crypt. is likely in larval form
now. Read this by Scott F. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ichart2mar.htm
. You are far from done here, but may still succeed. - Josh> Thanks,
Jay <Welcome as always.>
Medicating with Copper We are treating with Coppersafe right
now and our water is cloudy.....is that normal? We have also put in
Melafix.... that is what we were told to do? Our Coppersafe is at the
correct levels, just wondering if it causes cloudy water? <Hello,
the cloudy water could be caused by a heavy bio load, insufficient
filtration, or over feeding. If you are medicating with Coppersafe in
your main display tank the substrate is going to absorb all of the
copper and destroy your biological filtration, which could also cause
the cloudy water. Copper in a display is pretty much useless,
quarantine the fish in a QT tank and let the display run without fish
for 4 weeks. Frequent water changes will help as well. Best Regards,
Gage>
Cupramine and bacteria Dear Bob, <Joanne> Thank you for your wonderful
and informative web site. I have an important and urgent question. Here is the
situation. I have a 120G marine tank. Some months ago I had some disease(s) wipe
out most of my fish - to date we could not positively identify the disease but I
am sure one of them was ich. I am 30 years in the hobby and I think I have some
experience - I hope - but it seems never enough. With the fish that survived
some ich did too but never serious. The fish and the ich seemed to strike a
balance of power and so it did not seem more pressing that to keep the tank
clean as usual. <This happens... some sort of induced/acquired immunity/stasis>
Recently, because I wish to introduce more fish to the tank (I have two puffers
now) I decided that it was imperative to treat the tank with copper. I chose
Cupramine as it was most recommended and added it at the recommended dosage. I
was assured by the company and the dealers in the local shops here in Montreal
that it does not interfere with the biological filtration. How can that be?
<Not... does interfere... may destroy entirely> Since its introduction the ich
is almost gone with some new generations hatching every few days but in
decreasing numbers. My ammonia shot up but oddly not the nitrite which is hardly
measurable. Because I want to keep stress as low as possible I chose to use a
chemical agent called Prime to reduce the ammonia which it does if I use it
regularly. I also added some Cycle to replenish the nitrifying bacteria but I am
not certain if the copper has not interfered with that too. <Will> My question
is this. Did I kill the bacteria culture in my filter bed? <Possibly, or at
least sent them into a sort of "metabolic check"> How can I tell? At this time
should I worry more about the ich or the ammonia? <Both, equally... as either
could be cause for your puffers loss> With many thanks and kind regards, Peter
Paul Biro <Do monitor ammonia... consider other treatment modes in future. Will
cc Ananda here (our puffer aficionado). Bob Fenner
|
|