Running copper in predator Tanks forever.

[snapper1]

I lost several Fish to a nasty ICK outbreak,I now am considering running copper in my predator Tanks permanetly.The copper is at a .4 for copper levels that is more then high enough to kill ick :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: HA HA HA HA die die die.Err sorry I have had a terrible time the last several months with ick in this tank.Copper seemed to be a universal treatment for ick, I lost a grouper to ick and fin rot and several other fish.The whole Tank has been nuked no problems in the last 11 Days .My local fish shop owner runs copper in his Tanks always.Would I be able to run copper in my predator tanks permanetly.

 

[Len]

I'm not a fan of copper medication, even in FO tanks. Copper has a relatively high lethal dosage level, and although fish and higher ordered animals can tolerate copper, it's really nothing I'd subject them to (at high levels) for a long period of time. Over time, these metals and toxins accumulate in tissue and can cause problems. A QT/hospital tank really is the best approach. JMHO

 

[Anonymous]

.4 will eventually poison most of your fish, if kept there long term-you only need .14-.17 ppm for true effective kill level, and more (higher) doesn't get the job done any faster or better

high copper will also suppress nitrifying bacteria

lions do NOT tolerate high long term copper levels

if you lose a bulletproof fish like a grouper to ich, there are things more basic you're most likely doing wrong

 

[Anonymous]

>....My local fish shop owner runs copper in his Tanks always.

That's 'cause he is not keeping his fish long term.

 

[snapper1]

26 Days and all Ick is Dead wahooooooooooooo,Fish are not rubbing againist rocks and everyone is eating well Death to all Ick Wahoooooooooooooooo. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

If you want to get rid of the ich, run the tank with hyposalinity 1.007 sp. gr. for a month.

Copper can cause all sorts of problems including causing the skin to split open.

 

[Anonymous]

>....My local fish shop owner runs copper in his Tanks always.

That's 'cause he is not keeping his fish long term.

:wink: True dat!

Copper has an accumulative long term effect. Over time, it is absorbed and not released.

I also agree with Len, I would never treat my tank with copper. Best to use in QT tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, at pH 8.1, it will fairly rapidly precipitate out in the form of copper oxide, so it won't be effective very long unless you keep putting it in. Then it keeps precipitating out.

Then if your pH fluctuates in the more acidic direction for some reason, you can release a whole lot of copper ion at once, and kill everything.

There is no reason to use copper on ich. Save it for amyloodinium.

You can cure ich with hyposalinity. No drugs. (It will kill inverts, but presumably you don't have them in a predator tank). You can also make it go away by feeding garlic-extract soaked food, feeding lots of high-quality food, and generally improving the water quality. (Healthy fish should be able to fight off ich even if it is present.) As was said above, this is more an indication that something else is going wrong than it is a disease to panic over.

 

[snapper1]

Thanks for the Advice but its been 30 Days and no Ich and everyone is Happy and eating so I will go with Copper. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

No one doubts it can kill ich. The question is whether it might kill something more valuable.

Are you really going to add it every day? (That is a very bad idea, and you should let us talk you out of it.)

 

[stetto]

do not put copper in your display tank. i thought teh same as you did before,but i learned my lesson. my puffer got ick, treated it with copper,used the dosage it said and the LFS said. long story short i believe it made all the fish in my tank 'retarded'. it sounds wierd,but i think it messed there brain up and eventually all died but a damsel.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the Advice but its been 30 Days and no Ich and everyone is Happy and eating so I will go with Copper. :wink:

Please start a thread in a couple of months "anyone know why my fish seem to be a bit off and dying?"



Seriously, please post in this thread down the road, and let us know how it is working. Good to have some results long term.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the Advice but its been 30 Days and no Ich and everyone is Happy and eating so I will go with Copper. :wink:

Snapper why don't you work on your husbandry practices so that you don't have outbreaks of this disease in the first place?
In 22 years of keeping groupers, I've never lost one to any disease, let alone one so easily to avoided as Ick (C. irritans).

Running copper in a tank all the time is extremely unwise...I suggest you follow the advice given. The fish you're keeping are hardiest, most easily maintained fish in the hobby. Most beginners, if they follow some simple procedures, have no trouble whatsoever. Although I would never do it now, back in the old days I even cycled a tank with one for crying out loud.
If you can't keep them healthy without subjecting them to what amounts to constant chemotherapy, and can't follow good advice given to you by more experienced hobbiests, then I have little hope for your future success in this hobby.

Jim