Copper Treatment Levels...

Whats an appropriate level of Cu (in ppm) for treating parasites,
specifically sal****er ich? TIA. -Andy

[yin]

12ppm

> wrote in message
...
> Whats an appropriate level of Cu (in ppm) for treating parasites,
> specifically sal****er ich? TIA. -Andy
>

[yin]

that should be .12ppm

"yin" > wrote in message
u...
> 12ppm
>
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> Whats an appropriate level of Cu (in ppm) for treating parasites,
>> specifically sal****er ich? TIA. -Andy
>>
>
>

[kim gross]

wrote:
> Whats an appropriate level of Cu (in ppm) for treating parasites,
> specifically sal****er ich? TIA. -Andy
>
>
Since you are asking this on a reefs newsgroup, the only safe Cu level
is 0ppm undetecible on a hobbiest test kit. Cu at elevated levels is
lethal to all inverts in your aquarium.

If you have the fish in a hospital tank you can use Cu, but I would
suggest instead that you use hyposalinity, Cu is pretty rough on the
fish also. Just drop the Sg down to 1.010 and you will find that the
ich will not survive and the fish will do fine. Again this will kill
the inverts, but it is much easier on the fish and will not contaminate
anything with copper.

Kim

[George Patterson]

wrote:
> Whats an appropriate level of Cu (in ppm) for treating parasites,
> specifically sal****er ich? TIA. -Andy

Get a copper test kit that's suitable for the type of copper compound you're
using. I prefer to use "CopperSafe" for treatment. Add about half of what the
directions say to add, wait several hours, then test the concentration. The next
day, add whatever it takes to get the concentration up to 0.20 ppm. Some test
kits are hard to read, and, if you aren't certain of the reading, err on the
side of caution. It's *very* hard to get excess copper out. Don't go over 0.25
ppm. I prefer the "FasTesT" kits.

After that, test the concentration twice a day and maintain at least 0.15 ppm
for two weeks.

Be aware that copper will kill invertebrates and other creatures that are
commonly kept in reef tanks. If you have a reef tank, remove the fish to a
hospital tank for treatment. The like cycle of the parasites seems to be about 2
weeks, so keep the fish in the hospital tank for 3 weeks. All of the parasites
in the main tank should have died of starvation by that time.

George Patterson
Coffee is only a way of stealing time that should by rights belong to
your slightly older self.

Thanks to all. Yes, I'm using a hospital tank. I guess I should have saved
you guys some typing by being upfront. Apologies! -Andy

> wrote in message
...
> Whats an appropriate level of Cu (in ppm) for treating parasites,
> specifically sal****er ich? TIA. -Andy
>