Honest opinion needed

superman85 · 02/17/2014, 12:27 PM

So a week ago today I started cupramine treatment, advice given by two different, experienced lfs. It is 175 gallon tank, which has Juv. Koran angel, yellow tang, small miniatus grouper, and lunar wrasse.

Most of my fish, were hiding most of the time, and the Koran angel had some brown coloration on him. They all come out to eat, but hide for the remainder of the time. All water parameters were great, having myself, and two others test the water.

Having just these few fish, and having lost a lion fish two weeks ago after four days, I was convinced my lfs's, that something parasitic may be in the water, and cupramine would help eradicate that. So I listened and treated.

After one week of cupramine, .5 level now, the fish appear to be eating better. The brown patches on angel fish have subsided drastically, and he now has an inflamed, cloudy eye, which I am sure is from some scratching.

Apart from that, the other fish appear to be the same, no signs of ick or velvet etc.

At the same time I started using cupramine, I finally got a brand new SRO skimmer in, which has been working much better than the one I had. I have also been feeding mostly spectrum pellets, as opposed to frozen foods. The angel now eats 90 percent pellets.

So my question is, seeing that the fish are not changing a whole lot, should I begin taking cupramine out, since, they have eaten better, and their appearance is not changing?

My possible guesses as to what happen:

Another parasite, not flukes, or ich, was in the water, which was causing some lethargic fishes. Perhaps I killed them and relieved the fish?

or 2, the skimmer, has really started to work, thus improving the water quality by removing organics. I have been told by numerous people, angel fish will turn brown color when they are not happy. Perhaps last weeks big water change before copper, and the skimmer have helped remove stressful organics from tank?

or 3, the increased pellet and nori feeding, has helped the angel fish reduce his brown patch coloration. Maybe I was giving too much PE Mysis and frozen foods, which wasn't his style?

Either way now, the tank appears to be more "lively", and its not like Ive seen ich spots come and go.

So rather than continue using copper, which may be causing unnecessary stress, and after all, not actually killing anything anymore. Should I start to pull it and hope the water quality improved, and that was the real issue with my fish?

Shane C. · 02/17/2014, 12:33 PM

My opinion is that you changed to many things all at once so it's hard to tell exactly what has improved the situation. I would proceed with the med treatment long enough to ensure the lifecycle is broken of whatever you thought was causing the problems...

syrinx · 02/17/2014, 12:43 PM

I would not have treated without sure signs of parasites, and then in a QT tank. I do agree with above that you need to calm down and not keeping changing things all the time (like your username reeftofish king etc) worry mainly about water quality, dont add more fish for a while, and QT when you do.

superman85 · 02/17/2014, 12:54 PM

This is my only account name. My brother, who says he tanks care of the tank, had an account reef2fishonly, but that is not me.

And what is too many changes? Diet? I was under the impression people can improve diet etc at anytime. As far as skimmer goes, I was looking to replaced the one in there for months, and finally received it in.

Shane C. · 02/17/2014, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman85

And what is too many changes? Diet? I was under the impression people can improve diet etc at anytime. As far as skimmer goes, I was looking to replaced the one in there for months, and finally received it in.

The challenge is you potentialy changed three different parameters quickly and so it's difficult to determine which of those has improved the situation. That makes it difficult to provide advice for next steps. That is why I suggest continuing treatment for the duration necessary to break the lifecycle of whatever you think may have been making the fish sick. You don't want to prematurely stop treatment and allow it to come back, should it have been a secondary disease. The important thing though is your fish seem to be feeling better!

syrinx · 02/17/2014, 01:58 PM

I dont care who you are-I was the one who helped "bro" with the crushed coral change,and as I said then I am always happy to help. But that is the point, you had nitrate issues 2 months ago, less than a month ago you changed out the gravel for sand, you have had numerous fish exchanges with out QT, and now possible issues with parasites. That among with the changes you listed above, shows that you are in constant change. Get a protocol of tank maintenence, follow it and keep your hands and new fish out of the tank. If you want to continue copper, do so as indicated by the manufacturer. Other than that- just let the tank balance out. Your fish load is light enough for a 155 that things should settle down.

02/17/2014, 12:27 PM	#1
superman85 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 48	Honest opinion needed So a week ago today I started cupramine treatment, advice given by two different, experienced lfs. It is 175 gallon tank, which has Juv. Koran angel, yellow tang, small miniatus grouper, and lunar wrasse. Most of my fish, were hiding most of the time, and the Koran angel had some brown coloration on him. They all come out to eat, but hide for the remainder of the time. All water parameters were great, having myself, and two others test the water. Having just these few fish, and having lost a lion fish two weeks ago after four days, I was convinced my lfs's, that something parasitic may be in the water, and cupramine would help eradicate that. So I listened and treated. After one week of cupramine, .5 level now, the fish appear to be eating better. The brown patches on angel fish have subsided drastically, and he now has an inflamed, cloudy eye, which I am sure is from some scratching. Apart from that, the other fish appear to be the same, no signs of ick or velvet etc. At the same time I started using cupramine, I finally got a brand new SRO skimmer in, which has been working much better than the one I had. I have also been feeding mostly spectrum pellets, as opposed to frozen foods. The angel now eats 90 percent pellets. So my question is, seeing that the fish are not changing a whole lot, should I begin taking cupramine out, since, they have eaten better, and their appearance is not changing? My possible guesses as to what happen: Another parasite, not flukes, or ich, was in the water, which was causing some lethargic fishes. Perhaps I killed them and relieved the fish? or 2, the skimmer, has really started to work, thus improving the water quality by removing organics. I have been told by numerous people, angel fish will turn brown color when they are not happy. Perhaps last weeks big water change before copper, and the skimmer have helped remove stressful organics from tank? or 3, the increased pellet and nori feeding, has helped the angel fish reduce his brown patch coloration. Maybe I was giving too much PE Mysis and frozen foods, which wasn't his style? Either way now, the tank appears to be more "lively", and its not like Ive seen ich spots come and go. So rather than continue using copper, which may be causing unnecessary stress, and after all, not actually killing anything anymore. Should I start to pull it and hope the water quality improved, and that was the real issue with my fish?

02/17/2014, 12:43 PM	#3
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I would not have treated without sure signs of parasites, and then in a QT tank. I do agree with above that you need to calm down and not keeping changing things all the time (like your username reeftofish king etc) worry mainly about water quality, dont add more fish for a while, and QT when you do. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

02/17/2014, 01:58 PM	#6
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I dont care who you are-I was the one who helped "bro" with the crushed coral change,and as I said then I am always happy to help. But that is the point, you had nitrate issues 2 months ago, less than a month ago you changed out the gravel for sand, you have had numerous fish exchanges with out QT, and now possible issues with parasites. That among with the changes you listed above, shows that you are in constant change. Get a protocol of tank maintenence, follow it and keep your hands and new fish out of the tank. If you want to continue copper, do so as indicated by the manufacturer. Other than that- just let the tank balance out. Your fish load is light enough for a 155 that things should settle down. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

02/17/2014, 12:33 PM	#2
Shane C. Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 97	My opinion is that you changed to many things all at once so it's hard to tell exactly what has improved the situation. I would proceed with the med treatment long enough to ensure the lifecycle is broken of whatever you thought was causing the problems...

02/17/2014, 12:54 PM	#4
superman85 Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 48	This is my only account name. My brother, who says he tanks care of the tank, had an account reef2fishonly, but that is not me. And what is too many changes? Diet? I was under the impression people can improve diet etc at anytime. As far as skimmer goes, I was looking to replaced the one in there for months, and finally received it in.