Prevent ICH

[kew928]

I've a 100g fish only tank. In order to prevent ICH, is it good to place a 3-6inch copper tube in the sump for preventive measure? Any one practice like this?

[michindi]

HMMM I have never heard of useing copper tubes before. Seems a little silly jmho.

[leebca]

What is being proposed is to continuously add copper into your system.

There are a few down sides to this:
1) It will kill invertebrates;
2) It will not be controlled;
2) It will accumulate by preciptating out and then likely be released when and if the pH accidently drops.

To treat with copper, the concentration must be controlled because, too high and you kill fish; too low and you don't kill the offending organisms.

Copper is the treatment for only a small number of disease/parasites, so it won't prevent disease in your tank.

Bottom line --- the pipe method is pretty irresponsible and dangerous to the tank inhabitants.

[snd637]

just raise the temp and they will go through the cycle

[Angela Short]

Raising temp will speed up the cycle but not eradicate ick. Only get the fish infected faster with more on them unless you are adding something to the water (copper, hypo in QT) to kill the free swimming stages.