Pistol Shrimp and Copper - Do they mix?

Madjack · 01/27/2008, 04:27 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank with 2 Percs, 1 Bicolor Dottyback, Yellow Watchmen Goby and a Pistol Shrimp. I'm seeing the fish starting to rub against the rocks, glass etc. I want to be proactive and add copper, but I think it will kill the shrimp. Am I right?

Quarantine the shrimp in a separate tank or the fish? Once I copper a tank, how long before the ich is gone so I can prepare to return the shrimp back to the tank.

Any suggestions would be wonderful.

kar93 · 01/27/2008, 04:30 PM

Yes theyre is no marine invertebrate that will tolerate copper. Once copper is in the tank it will be in the water(obviously), sand and liverock is like a sponge for it. if i was you i would get a QT tank setup

ahullsb · 01/27/2008, 04:33 PM

Don't treat your display tank with copper if you ever plan on it being a reef tank again. Take the fish out and treat them in a separate tank.

mrrrkva · 01/27/2008, 07:36 PM

Or use a natural approach. Add garlic to your food, get garlic press and make up a batch for food, if they do have parasites, they will drop off, absolutely never add copper to a reef tank

Madjack · 01/27/2008, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the replies. I thought so, but wanted to be sure. The tank is a 30g FO to watch before placing in my reef tank.

Would a bare 10 or 20 gallon tank do? Use a regular filter (no charcoal) or a sponge filter?

01/27/2008, 04:27 PM	#1
Madjack Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 58	Pistol Shrimp and Copper - Do they mix? I have a 30 gallon tank with 2 Percs, 1 Bicolor Dottyback, Yellow Watchmen Goby and a Pistol Shrimp. I'm seeing the fish starting to rub against the rocks, glass etc. I want to be proactive and add copper, but I think it will kill the shrimp. Am I right? Quarantine the shrimp in a separate tank or the fish? Once I copper a tank, how long before the ich is gone so I can prepare to return the shrimp back to the tank. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

01/27/2008, 04:33 PM	#3
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	Don't treat your display tank with copper if you ever plan on it being a reef tank again. Take the fish out and treat them in a separate tank. __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

01/27/2008, 04:30 PM	#2
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Yes theyre is no marine invertebrate that will tolerate copper. Once copper is in the tank it will be in the water(obviously), sand and liverock is like a sponge for it. if i was you i would get a QT tank setup

01/27/2008, 07:36 PM	#4
mrrrkva Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Staunton, VA Posts: 851	Or use a natural approach. Add garlic to your food, get garlic press and make up a batch for food, if they do have parasites, they will drop off, absolutely never add copper to a reef tank

01/27/2008, 08:36 PM	#5
Madjack Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 58	Thanks for the replies. I thought so, but wanted to be sure. The tank is a 30g FO to watch before placing in my reef tank. Would a bare 10 or 20 gallon tank do? Use a regular filter (no charcoal) or a sponge filter?