I have a blue tang in a hospital QT at the moment treating with cupramine. I have a seachem Copper test but I am not sure how much I trust it. It is not exactly a "scientific measurement" of the reagent. The instructions tell you to stick a swirl stick in the reagent powder, tap off excess then stir in your test water. The part I am struggling with here is for example I read approx. 0.3 last night trying to keep at the target 0.5. I added 10 drops to try and bring it up to about 0.4-0.45. Today my reading is exactly the same as yesterday. Minimal evaporation, same procedure etc. Are all the copper test like this or is there one more like most other test where your reagent is measured scientifically in drops or mL? Which ones do you trust? I would really like to not under or over medicate.
Which copper test kit do you use?
- Thread starter kayakatl
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None are better than Seachem. The uncertainty you feel about that reagent is understandable, but isn't a problem. The mechanism for that reagent only require a catalytic presence. Not a measureable amount.
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No one makes better test kits than Seachem. Not easy to use, but accurate
Agreed. I had the same issue. But I eventually got it figured out. Do you run a skimmer on the QT tank? I know that good skimmers will pull it out. the copper is aminated and it will react with the air bubbles and can be skimmed out. I know their directions saw skimmers are OK but I called and spoke with tech support because I figured I was skimming the compound out and they said they are considering changing the directions.....the skimmers have just gotten so good that they are causing some issues.
If you are not running a skimmer, you are likely just haveing some absorption. Keep adding and testing. The good thing about Cupramine is that it is very gentle and safe. I have switched from my Red Sea copper to cupramine simply because of how safe and effective it is. It really is a great product....and the best kit to measure it with is the SeaChem copper test kit.
That might be part of your problem. You are only supposed to fill the pipette to the base of the bulb......that only half fills one disk on the tray???? You should not even come close to filling the disk. If you are then you are putting too much water in there.
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Just once. Are you sure it says twice?
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Sorry, yes. I was thinking of a different test. I use this kit all the time. If you come in the store, I'd be glad to run a sample test.
No problem, i had to look it up because i was wondering if I had been doing it wrong all along! I trust if you say it is accurate that it is. I am actually convinced that my ich is cleared up, however I think the poor fish has gotten a bacterial infection. I need to start her on antibiotics. She has been in cupermine for 5 weeks. She has random fits where she seems to go absolutely nuts for 10 minutes or so then calms down. Also she will not eat anything green. No nori or formula 2, but she has taken a carnivore diet. She eats almost noting but mysis, and a little brine. I have tried grazing blocks and garlic to get her to eat her veggies to no avail. Do you have any suggestions?
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Yes you do do it twice but I did it today and it leaves plenty of room without overflowing the disk. It was about 2/3 to 3/4 full before the 2 drops of reagent.
Edit: Hippos are primarily zooplankton eaters in teh wild anyway so no real worries there
Edit: Hippos are primarily zooplankton eaters in teh wild anyway so no real worries there
