debbieraptors
11/08/2003, 10:54 AM
Dear Terry B & ATJ:
I want everyone to know how thankful I am that I listened to you folks.
I have been a marine hobbyist for the past five years and have killed more fish from copper treatments than I care to confess.
Everyone out there!!!! Hyposalinity is the way to go!
I will never put myself through the hell with copper treatments
such as Mardel Copper Safe, Copper sulfate, etc. You MUST
monitor these chemicals very closely and most of the testing kits
that monitor these levels are very poor. The color matches NEVER
match up ( I know I bought every conceivable kit on the market
to monitor the proper levels.....remember if you do not have the correct levels, then you can forget about the cure.)
Copper is very stressful on the fish.....
I killed so many beautiful puffers, clownfish, manadrins which
are sensitive to copper anyway, and remember ick does not
go away by itself. IT is an opportunistist!
MY GOLDEN RULE:
1. I always quarantine for 6, yes 6 weeks in an established QT tank.
2. The first sign of ick.....HYPOSALINITY
3. I remove all the fish...place them in an established hospital tank and start to bring down the salinity to 1.009 and hold
that level for 6 weeks.
4. Then begin to gradually bring up the salinity to 1.022 .
This has work wonders for me.
I thank ATJ & Terry and all the people at reef central ,when I
look at all my beautiful huge puffers ( I have 10 large puffers)
and 2 mandrains ( I have a mated pair) etc.
At present I have 15 reef tanks with NO ICK! Have not had an
outbreak for the past 7 months, due to sticking with my golden rule.
I hope those of you who want some peace of mind to read over
the proper steps of "Osmotic Shock Therapy" / Hyposalinity method. Your fish will appreciate the time you took to give them the best care possible.
Debbie
I want everyone to know how thankful I am that I listened to you folks.
I have been a marine hobbyist for the past five years and have killed more fish from copper treatments than I care to confess.
Everyone out there!!!! Hyposalinity is the way to go!
I will never put myself through the hell with copper treatments
such as Mardel Copper Safe, Copper sulfate, etc. You MUST
monitor these chemicals very closely and most of the testing kits
that monitor these levels are very poor. The color matches NEVER
match up ( I know I bought every conceivable kit on the market
to monitor the proper levels.....remember if you do not have the correct levels, then you can forget about the cure.)
Copper is very stressful on the fish.....
I killed so many beautiful puffers, clownfish, manadrins which
are sensitive to copper anyway, and remember ick does not
go away by itself. IT is an opportunistist!
MY GOLDEN RULE:
1. I always quarantine for 6, yes 6 weeks in an established QT tank.
2. The first sign of ick.....HYPOSALINITY
3. I remove all the fish...place them in an established hospital tank and start to bring down the salinity to 1.009 and hold
that level for 6 weeks.
4. Then begin to gradually bring up the salinity to 1.022 .
This has work wonders for me.
I thank ATJ & Terry and all the people at reef central ,when I
look at all my beautiful huge puffers ( I have 10 large puffers)
and 2 mandrains ( I have a mated pair) etc.
At present I have 15 reef tanks with NO ICK! Have not had an
outbreak for the past 7 months, due to sticking with my golden rule.
I hope those of you who want some peace of mind to read over
the proper steps of "Osmotic Shock Therapy" / Hyposalinity method. Your fish will appreciate the time you took to give them the best care possible.
Debbie