effects of cu/test kit

[ATB USA]

hi
I was wondering how hard is copper on fish.. I've been treating a sailfin, 2 blue tangs. They seemed to have faded in color. Is this due to the cu? Also can any one recommend a good cu test kit. I have a red sea test kit right now but it sucks. It goes from .1 to .2 no .15. I guess since they recommend .30
thanks vic

[oama]

As to the better test kit for copper...
I would recomend the Hach Hand Hend Spec, using CuVer2 (for salt water). You need to take a 25 ml sample then decant 10ml into the sample vial for testing. The down side of this test is $$$$. It costs about $300. But the up side is that it will give you a digital read out of the Cu++ present in 0.01ppm increments. (No More Guessing if it's this shade of blue or this one)
I have used the following formula to calculate how much copper to add each time:
ml of Cu++ soln to add = (0.1-(0.4*A))*V for 0.25 ppm.
and ml = (0.2-(0.4*A))*V for 0.5 ppm.
Where A=actual reading present and
V= volume of the system in gallons.
I have in the past used this test kit with SeaChem Cupramine (dosages up to 0.5ppm) but it should work with any copper soln at these concentrations. Anyone else have any input on this? (beware: Cupramine is this only Cu soln I am aware of that treats at 0.5ppm, most others are at 0.25ppm). SeaChem suggest ramping up the conc. of their soln at 0.25 ppm for 2 days then 0.5 after that.

[sting310]

did your ammonia and nitrites spike? mine did after using copper....

[oama]

Yes, your biological filter may be depressed after 2 or 3 weeks. But it will not (In most cases) wipe out the bacteria. The systems will bounce back quickly after the Cu is removed. But plan on water changes.

[ATB USA]

This really sucks. I bought another test kit by aquarium systems and its another guess the color test.. These kits really do suck the .15 level is so light I can't tell the dam difference. I guess I'm really frustrated by now my fish are dying because of ich. I hate this dam thing. The cu I believe is also stressing out the fish. my blue tangs have stopped eating. the color on my fish are fading. Yes my nh3 and no2 did go up. so i dose with amquel plus or i do water changes every other day. The fish are in a 20 gallon qt. It has been set up for about 2 months but i guess still not enough bacteria to deal with the cu. I want to thank you guys for your help. Can you please give me a link so I can check on that meter?
thank you
vic

[ATJ]

Your sorts of experiences are the main reason I recommend hyposalinity for the treatment of "Ich".

[ATB USA]

Ok Atj
I will buy a refractometer todAY and will give hypo a try