18 days of copper

ltindle · 05/28/2009, 08:05 AM

I have had my fish in a hospital tank being treated with copper since may 23. I have to do 100% water changes everyday to keep ammonia in check. The problem is I have to go out of town on june 12. I was hoping to return the fish to the display tank on june 11 which will be 18 days of treatment and 18 days that the main tank has been fallow. How likely do you think it is that there will not be a reinfestation. I have been keeping the tanks at 82 degrees to try and help speed up the process. I dont have anyone who can do all the labor intensive things needed to maintain the hospital tank situation.

ltindle · 05/28/2009, 08:23 AM

Also if anyone has any other ideas please let me know

Ohiomom · 05/28/2009, 10:12 AM

18 days is way too short to have a tank go fallow..they more than likely will be reinfected I am sorry to say. Minimum guideline is usually 6 weeks..better for 8 weeks. HTH..cause not sure there is any way around it except a fellow hobbyist babysitter..

lostinthereef · 05/28/2009, 10:59 AM

i treat my fish for 10 days and put them back in and never had a problem with that.you should be ok

ltindle · 05/28/2009, 04:30 PM

Anyone wanna be the tie-breaker???

KDDG · 05/28/2009, 04:33 PM

I'll break the tie. I'm with ohiomom. Assuming we are talking about ich, 4-6 weeks minimum to really get it out of your DT. You need a babysitter. Do you know any one that could help?

jenglish · 05/28/2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KDDG
I'll break the tie. I'm with ohiomom. Assuming we are talking about ich, 4-6 weeks minimum to really get it out of your DT. You need a babysitter. Do you know any one that could help?

yeppers +1

ltindle · 05/28/2009, 04:37 PM

No not a single person...I dont know what i'm gonna do. It's pretty labor intensive and I dont know anyone with a freshwater tank let alone a saltwater tank

thegrun · 05/28/2009, 04:53 PM

How long are you going to be gone that they are okay in the DT and not in the treatment tank? Do you really need to do a 100% water change every day (what do your ammonia levels build up to in 24 hours)? If you are only gone a couple of days, I would think the fish would be okay in the treatment tank. If you must put them into the DT, all you have really wasted is 18 wasted days of copper treatment. Give it a go and if the ich comes back, start over.

Ohiomom · 05/28/2009, 04:59 PM

How long are you going to be gone? I'm in Ohio..bet we are on seperate sides of the state..

Other problem I see is if you put them back in, and you are gone for any length of time and they get re infected, could be gone before you come home..

ltindle · 05/28/2009, 05:13 PM

My ammonia level goes up to between 1-2 in 24 hrs..have to change water every day. Plus if I put them back in the display and they get reinfected i'll have to dismantle the whole tank again to catch them. Every rock had to come out this time. i'll be gone about 4 days

jenglish · 05/28/2009, 05:30 PM

Is there a local reef club? A reputable LFS (many LFS are a guarantee that your fish will have ich)? How big of a hospital tank are they in? any way you can put them in something bigger?

thegrun · 05/28/2009, 06:17 PM

Does your LFS offer maintenance? You may be able to bribe one of the employees to come over once or twice to take care of the fish. I agree it would be a major headache to catch the fish!

bradbmbj · 05/28/2009, 07:02 PM

Maybe you can get 2 or 3 garbage cans and plumb them together with the tank to add water volume... It wouldn't be hard, and should be fairly cheap.

ltindle · 05/28/2009, 08:08 PM

Thank you everyone for all your ideas....I'll check with the local clubs and stores and see if I can figure something out. Thank you!

mitziem · 05/28/2009, 08:45 PM

I had the same problem with the copper treatment...I did 50% wc everyday for 8wks..it was a really pain. IMO I would stop the copper treatment after 18days....I believe i only did mine for about 8 days then stopped it after 2 fish died because of ammonia levels being so high. But i wouldnt put back in DT and then have to retreat the poor fish. Hard call...check iwth LFS and hopefully they will be able to help you out.

mitziem · 05/28/2009, 08:47 PM

Where in Ohio are you? Im close to Toledo and would help you out if i could. I was fortunate enough to have a best friend that did my wc for me everyday when i was out of town.

ltindle · 05/29/2009, 06:24 AM

I'm in Lebanon, OH which is about 25-30min north of Cincinnati ohio. Thanks for the offer though. LFS said they dont provide those services

They are telling me to throw them back in. Said I could do it now since they dont have any spots. I tried to explain the ich lifecycle to them, but they didnt seem to get it and told me I was wrong lol

Bruno3047 · 05/29/2009, 09:11 PM

Got bio-balls? I mean seeded, aerobically-active ones?

If you got some bio-balls, you can load up a regular old-style box filter with them, stick it in the hospital tank, and get some bio-filtration going in there. Some bacteria will die-off from the copper, but most of it should stick, It'll take about a week or so before it really starts to kick in, but you should be good after that.

For a bacteria booster, you can buy some of this stuff. Claims to cycle a tank in 24 hours, patents pending.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18986

BTW. 30 days minumum (and a lot of luck) to clear a fishless tank of Ich. 6 weeks much better and 8 weeks 99.9% guaranteed.

GL.

05/28/2009, 08:05 AM	#1
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	18 days of copper I have had my fish in a hospital tank being treated with copper since may 23. I have to do 100% water changes everyday to keep ammonia in check. The problem is I have to go out of town on june 12. I was hoping to return the fish to the display tank on june 11 which will be 18 days of treatment and 18 days that the main tank has been fallow. How likely do you think it is that there will not be a reinfestation. I have been keeping the tanks at 82 degrees to try and help speed up the process. I dont have anyone who can do all the labor intensive things needed to maintain the hospital tank situation.

05/28/2009, 10:12 AM	#3
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	18 days is way too short to have a tank go fallow..they more than likely will be reinfected I am sorry to say. Minimum guideline is usually 6 weeks..better for 8 weeks. HTH..cause not sure there is any way around it except a fellow hobbyist babysitter.. __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

05/28/2009, 04:33 PM	#6
KDDG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 208	I'll break the tie. I'm with ohiomom. Assuming we are talking about ich, 4-6 weeks minimum to really get it out of your DT. You need a babysitter. Do you know any one that could help? __________________ Kelly Current Tank Info: In wall, bar: Approx. 310 Gal

05/28/2009, 04:59 PM	#10
Ohiomom Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,586	How long are you going to be gone? I'm in Ohio..bet we are on seperate sides of the state.. Other problem I see is if you put them back in, and you are gone for any length of time and they get re infected, could be gone before you come home.. __________________ .....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em!

05/28/2009, 05:30 PM	#12
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	Is there a local reef club? A reputable LFS (many LFS are a guarantee that your fish will have ich)? How big of a hospital tank are they in? any way you can put them in something bigger? __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

05/28/2009, 08:23 AM	#2
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	Also if anyone has any other ideas please let me know

05/28/2009, 10:59 AM	#4
lostinthereef Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: somewhere Posts: 125	i treat my fish for 10 days and put them back in and never had a problem with that.you should be ok

05/28/2009, 04:30 PM	#5
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	Anyone wanna be the tie-breaker???

05/28/2009, 04:37 PM	#8
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	No not a single person...I dont know what i'm gonna do. It's pretty labor intensive and I dont know anyone with a freshwater tank let alone a saltwater tank

05/28/2009, 04:53 PM	#9
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	How long are you going to be gone that they are okay in the DT and not in the treatment tank? Do you really need to do a 100% water change every day (what do your ammonia levels build up to in 24 hours)? If you are only gone a couple of days, I would think the fish would be okay in the treatment tank. If you must put them into the DT, all you have really wasted is 18 wasted days of copper treatment. Give it a go and if the ich comes back, start over.

05/28/2009, 05:13 PM	#11
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	My ammonia level goes up to between 1-2 in 24 hrs..have to change water every day. Plus if I put them back in the display and they get reinfected i'll have to dismantle the whole tank again to catch them. Every rock had to come out this time. i'll be gone about 4 days

05/28/2009, 06:17 PM	#13
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Does your LFS offer maintenance? You may be able to bribe one of the employees to come over once or twice to take care of the fish. I agree it would be a major headache to catch the fish!

05/28/2009, 07:02 PM	#14
bradbmbj Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Orleans Posts: 554	Maybe you can get 2 or 3 garbage cans and plumb them together with the tank to add water volume... It wouldn't be hard, and should be fairly cheap. __________________ New tank, $1200.00, New Skimmer, $400.00, New Lighting, $800.00, Not letting the wife find out... Priceless

05/28/2009, 08:08 PM	#15
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	Thank you everyone for all your ideas....I'll check with the local clubs and stores and see if I can figure something out. Thank you!

05/28/2009, 08:45 PM	#16
mitziem Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lambertville, Michigan...(don't blink) it's a stone throw from Toledo, Ohio Posts: 54	I had the same problem with the copper treatment...I did 50% wc everyday for 8wks..it was a really pain. IMO I would stop the copper treatment after 18days....I believe i only did mine for about 8 days then stopped it after 2 fish died because of ammonia levels being so high. But i wouldnt put back in DT and then have to retreat the poor fish. Hard call...check iwth LFS and hopefully they will be able to help you out. __________________ Thanks Mitzi Current Tank Info: 75gal bowed front tank/ and about a 1700gal Koi and goldfish pond.

05/28/2009, 08:47 PM	#17
mitziem Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lambertville, Michigan...(don't blink) it's a stone throw from Toledo, Ohio Posts: 54	Where in Ohio are you? Im close to Toledo and would help you out if i could. I was fortunate enough to have a best friend that did my wc for me everyday when i was out of town. __________________ Thanks Mitzi Current Tank Info: 75gal bowed front tank/ and about a 1700gal Koi and goldfish pond.

05/29/2009, 06:24 AM	#18
ltindle Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 178	I'm in Lebanon, OH which is about 25-30min north of Cincinnati ohio. Thanks for the offer though. LFS said they dont provide those services They are telling me to throw them back in. Said I could do it now since they dont have any spots. I tried to explain the ich lifecycle to them, but they didnt seem to get it and told me I was wrong lol

05/29/2009, 09:11 PM	#19
Bruno3047 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,018	Got bio-balls? I mean seeded, aerobically-active ones? If you got some bio-balls, you can load up a regular old-style box filter with them, stick it in the hospital tank, and get some bio-filtration going in there. Some bacteria will die-off from the copper, but most of it should stick, It'll take about a week or so before it really starts to kick in, but you should be good after that. For a bacteria booster, you can buy some of this stuff. Claims to cycle a tank in 24 hours, patents pending. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18986 BTW. 30 days minumum (and a lot of luck) to clear a fishless tank of Ich. 6 weeks much better and 8 weeks 99.9% guaranteed. GL.