Can you treat a cloudy eye while using copper?

[MikeD]

My tang is currently in a hospital tank undergoing some copper treatment and he's fine and dandy but I noticed that one of his eyes is cloudy and seems to now have some 'mucus' like material forming around it. Maybe it's just cloudier than yesterday. Anyway, guy at the LFS said that he would wait for the copper treatment to be over and then treat with some antibiotic.

Is this what I should do? Or can I treat both at the same time. I'm using Sea Cure Copper. Also, what type of antibiotic would be good to use against whatever is growing on his eye?

Mike

[ATJ]

Why is the fish undergoing copper treatment? If it is for "Ich", the cloudy eye is probably a direct result of the "Ich". Parasites attach to the eyes (as well as the skin, gills and fins) and this can cause the eyes to go cloudy. Additionally, the "Ich" can cause secondary infections.

Concentrate on the primary problem and once you've finished treatment if the eye is still cloudy, treat it then.

[MikeD]

Yes, the copper treatment is for ich. In a little while, I'll post a picture of my sailfin tang for you, and others, to look at to see. For now, I'll hold off on the antibiotics then. But the tang shouldn't experience a loss of vision or anything though right?

Mike

[ATJ]

"Ich" has been known to cause blindness, however, it can also cause death and it is more important to keep up the copper treatment for now.

[MikeD]

ATJ, here is the link for pictures of my tang in QT. Tang In Hospital Tank Link (http://homepage.mac.com/miked916/tangqt/)

As you can see, there is a difference in the two sides of the tang. I wasn't sure if those spotches are disease or just freckles. Also, on the 'splotchy' side, you can see the condition of his eye. He had all the white spots of ich before but the ones on his fins appear to have fallen off.

Thanks for your help,
Mike

[ATJ]

I'd be more concerned about the discoloration on the side of the tang than the eyes. It may just be a reaction to the "Ich", but it looks like a bacterial infection.

At what concentration are you maintaining the copper? How are the water conditions in the quarantine tank, in particular ammonia and pH?

In my opinion, the discoloration could be a reaction to the copper, to high ammonia or a bacterial infection.

[MikeD]

That discoloration has been there when I noticed the ich on him in the main display tank. I'm attempting to maintain copper at .15 to .20 but I'm not satisfied with my copper test readings. It's a salifert test and it's supposed to turn blue at the appropriate concentration but it hasn't been turning blue. I'm almost suspecting that it may be the stress coat I added... See this thread I posted about it..

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=304431

Mike

[KENE]

Along for the ride!!

[MikeD]

OH @#$(*&(@#*$! I was really concerned about that copper test and I found another thread on here where someone had a problem with the Salifert test I have and using Sea Cure! About 5 other people had the same problem of detecting the copper... The salifert rep (since they're sponsors here) pretty much just admitted that it probably wouldn't work (only works for ionic Copper and one other type). I'm going to a LFS to get a FastTest kit today... sigh.. Oh yeah, the link is here....

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=276796

sigh... what you learn....
Mike

[MikeD]

Okay, purchased kit and it's giving me a reading of .10 mg/l So I added more drops of the Sea Cure Copper treatment and will test again tonight. Lesson: Buy the copper test kit that is made by the manufacturer if they have one. Ie Sea Cure is made by Aquarium Systems. Therefore get the fasTesT Copper Test Kit. Also same I guess with SeaChem's Cupramine... SeaChem makes a copper test kit that is compatible with their product... Why don't businesses ask you something like "What kind of copper are you using?" I bet this is the only product that differes in this regard!

Mike

[ATJ]

Based on other people's experiences, I only recommend Cupramine and the Seachem copper kit. Cupramine is supposed to be one of the safest forms of copper.

If the discoloration has been there since the "Ich", it's probably a direct result of the "Ich" and should clear up on its own.

[MikeD]

Next time this happens (hopefully there won't be a next time) I'll have cupramine on hand. (and it's test kit!) But I've already started the Sea Cure so we'll see how it goes and how 'easy' this is.

Mike