View Full Version : Adding copper as a prevention method?
I was advised by a LFS, that after I buy tangs to add copper every day for the next 5 days as a prevention method for getting sick.
Is anybody aware about this method? Is this something that you guys are doing? What will be the drawback of adding copper constantly?
I need your opinion.
Reefscape
12-16-2007, 10:21 AM
No, this is a massive NO NO in a marine system, we need our tanks to be copper free..What should happen is that you quarantine any new purchases in a hospital QT tank for a good few weeks to ensure that the fish is healthy and safe to be added to the main display tank..
The only time should be used is when treating a specific illness, certainly not used as a preventative measure.
Niko
clown-lover
12-16-2007, 10:36 AM
If he stated in conjuction with a QT tank I might be able to get a pulse on his reasoning but copper and other medications should only be used IMO when there is a necessity to do so. Why purposely stress out fish more than they already are???
I applaud you for asking here before going ahead with such a plan and recognizing that you may have received some faulty information.
As far as drawbacks to a marine system, it will kill any inverts you have in the display tank, it will more than likely permantly adhere to any Live Rock you have in the tank (I don't know of a way to remove it, however if there is a chemist around they might be able to tell us of a way)..
It has been stressed before from other people who know more than I do, that you should NEVER place inverts into tanks that have previously been used as a copper treatment tank.
razec
12-16-2007, 10:47 AM
No, the owner stated to do this copper treatment in my display tank once I add the first tang.
jones57742
12-16-2007, 10:51 AM
I was advised by a LFS, that after I buy tangs to add copper every day for the next 5 days as a prevention method for getting sick.
Razec:
I live in the fresh water world but "I would not do this one"!
Not only is copper very affinitive (as per previous posts any invertebrates will go away due to [I believe] the production of cupric carbonate)
but the induction of metals (other than traces which will be utilized by plants) into a closed aquatic system "does not seem like such a swift idea".
TR
tamableanimal
12-16-2007, 11:00 AM
Never add copper or any chemical for that matter to treat for parasites bacteria. into a main display tank. Most have major impacts on inverts and the good bacteria in our tanks. These treatments should only be done in a quarentine tank. I would highly suggest that you set up a QT for new additions to the display so that you can treat them if they need to be.
clown-lover
12-16-2007, 11:11 AM
No, the owner stated to do this copper treatment in my display tank once I add the first tang.
Don't do it.. I can give you all kinds of link (I'll have to find them) on what copper does to a tank that you can take back to him.. While Tangs are more susceptible to things like Marine Ick that is just a part of their makeup and its why it is wise to NEVER add a fish to your tank without Quarantining them first.
clown-lover
12-16-2007, 11:12 AM
tamableanimal beat me to it.. :D
Pufferpunk
12-16-2007, 2:35 PM
If I were you, I wouldn't shop there anymore. You can guarantee they use copper in all their tanks. This will compromise all the inhabitant's immmune systems & cause they to be very sensitive to ich/velvet in the future. All their fish wil be weak. Even when really necessary, copper can't just be dosed willy-nilly into a tank. It must be carefully monitored. Forget this store!
I'd not shop there anymore either. The copper will not only be potentially deadly to inverts but should also be monitered strictly even when used in a QT. Although I used it with a tang, it still is a poison and can harm the beneficial bacteria a tang uses to aid in digestion.
Thank you for your advice. I will not use the copper treatment in my tank.
Pufferpunk
12-16-2007, 6:15 PM
WHEW!
clown-lover
12-16-2007, 6:35 PM
Thank you for your advice. I will not use the copper treatment in my tank.
I think you have made the right decision razec. And like others have said I wouldn't go to that store again.
Pufferpunk
12-16-2007, 7:45 PM
I remember going to a LFS around here & seeing a tankfull of emaciated green spotted puffers. It was right after my article on them had come out in that month's TFH mag. I told the guy working there, they needed to be treated for IPs. He said all their tanks were treated with copper. I tried to explain how bad that was & that fish need to be treated internally for IPs. I told him this info was in my article, which was probably on his shelf. He laughed, & walked away!
I remember going to a LFS around here & seeing a tankfull of emaciated green spotted puffers. It was right after my article on them had come out in that month's TFH mag. I told the guy working there, they needed to be treated for IPs. He said all their tanks were treated with copper. I tried to explain how bad that was & that fish need to be treated internally for IPs. I told him this info was in my article, which was probably on his shelf. He laughed, & walked away!
You should of grabbed the magazine with the artical in, rolled it up and then beat him repeatedly around the head with it till you got your point across
Yesterday 12/15/2007 I bought a yellow tang from that store.
As of 4:00PM CT I noticed that the yellow tang bought yesterday has black spots on this body.
Today in the morning when I turned on the lights he was almost white. The yellow color came back 5-10 minutes after the lights came on.
Is he already sick with black ich? Or this is something because of stress and will go away without any treatment?
The dark coloring is their night color. It also appears when they are very stressed. You may notice a thick white horizontal stripe when they are in their night color as well. The black spots, are these powder like spots? A general area of black/grey in the night time? Or dark blobs of color almost like ink?
These are like powder spots.
jones57742
12-16-2007, 9:21 PM
You should of grabbed the magazine with the artical in, rolled it up and then beat him repeatedly around the head with it till you got your point across
LOL
I presume that the rolled magazine would be in the right hand.
I believe that a broken off Lone Star with the appropriate jagged edges held in the left hand slightly below his waist would be a tremendous catalytic agent in the reduction of the time required for his behavior modification.
TR
These are like powder spots.
I was hoping that wasn't the answer. It might be Black Ich: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/paravortexfaqs.htm
razec
12-16-2007, 10:00 PM
Should I wait to see if it goes worse? It is something which will go away without treatment?
Grins
12-16-2007, 10:14 PM
It can really be stressful when a fish is sick or you think it might be. Understand. If it were me read all I could about it and make a decision before bed how to proceed.
razec
12-16-2007, 10:24 PM
Thank you.
You should of grabbed the magazine with the artical in, rolled it up and then beat him repeatedly around the head with it till you got your point across
:eek: :perv:
Now that's bad, Wayne.:nono: :lipssealedsmilie:
Razec, sorry about your bad experience. I hope you learned your lesson.:)
Raz, how is the tang looking today?
Same like yesterday. Eats very well and is very active. I moved it into a QT with copper treatment.
Squawkbert
12-17-2007, 3:10 PM
Yep - FS owner=idiot, should be told that you (& your numerous club member friends) won't be in anymore. Cu use should be limited to QTs. - I haven't had a marine tank in >25 years and even *I* know that.