Copper QT

[roodeem]

I started treating my Ich infested fish in a 10G with copper.

The Copper bottle instructions say to have it at 2.5 PPM but I've been reading to have it at .5 for over 4 weeks. Which one would be most benificial? Would it hurt to have the PPM higher than .5?

I have a problem with the amonia as well. Filtration consists of Penguin Bio Wheel stuffed with bio balls. I've also added some ceramic rings to the tank which I will rig up to a powerhead later. The QT is brand new so my levels are all over the place.

How do I keep the ammonia levels down. Currently it is at 1.0 so I performed a 50% water change and got it down to .5

Live stock in QT:

Med. Clown Trigger
Med. Dog Face Puffer

Thanks

[Kevin1000]

"How do I keep the ammonia levels down"

There are several std ways.

Consider transfering some mature biological filter media from your show tank to your QT filter. The mature filter media will seed your Qt filter in a short period of time.

Keep some prime or other ammonia reducing product handy.

Make a large batch of SW and keep handy - make water changes as needed.

Consider purchasing an ammonia alert badge - will keep you from having to do multiple water test.

Hope this helps.

[roodeem]

I took your advice from before and purchased the Seachem aleart badge. Its a great help but at the same time it makes me worry too much. It keeps reading alert even after I do my 50% water change. I've been reading that some copper treatments make the ammonia reading on some test kits go up.

But, I guess all that can be done at this point is to keep a close eye and frequent WC's.

[Kevin1000]

Seachem ammonia alert badges take some time to make the adjustment from toxic to normal. When I complained about the length of time for the badge to change color seachem indicated that I could simply take the badge and soak it in a little vinigar for a couple of minutes - badge will return to yellow - rinse well and stick back in tank.

You should be aware that if you are forced to use prime or other ammonia reducing chemicals the typical ammonia test kit will give you a false reading. This occurs because a std ammonia test kit recognizes "total ammonia" which includes both free (toxic) ammonia and ammonium (ionized ammonia which is not lethal). Prime type products simply convert the deadly form of ammonia into ammonium which is not deadly - since the std test kit does not differentiate you get a false reading. Recommend you get a seachem ammonia test kit - it will give you reading of the free ammonia.

FYI the ammonia test badge will only read free ammonia.