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Old March 29th 06, 07:52 PM posted to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs
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Default Copper Treatment Levels...

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.