How to Treat Fish With Copper

Your aquarium is susceptible to a number of diseases and parasites. One of the most common and dangerous is "ich," which occurs in both saltwater and freshwater environments and can be caused by temperature fluctuations or brought in by new fish. Ich is made up of tiny parasitic animals that appear as white dots speckled on your fish's scales. Copper treatments such as Coppersafe or copper salts are effective at eliminating potentially fatal ich. Copper is potent enough to kill the parasites but not harm the fish if used in low doses. These treatments should never be used with invertebrates or coral.

Things You'll Need

  • Copper treatment
  • Quarantine tank (with filter and heater)
  • Nylon net
  • Bucket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the carbon medium from any filter on the aquarium. The carbon will absorb the copper treatment, making it ineffective.

    • 2

      Set up a quarantine tank. The tank should have a heater and filter to match the water parameters from the main tank. It does not need decor.

    • 3

      Transfer any invertebrates from your main tank into your quarantine tank. This will keep them safe from the copper treatment, which can kill them.

    • 4

      Change one-fourth of the water in the main tank. This is because the filter will be less effective without the carbon and the water will need frequently changed to keep it clean.

    • 5

      Add half the proper dosage of copper treatment to the main tank. The dosage will depend on the size of the tank and will be listed on the treatment's packaging.

    • 6

      Repeat steps 4 and 5 every three days for about a week.

    • 7

      Add the full recommended dosage of copper treatment according to the manufacturer and change one-fourth of the tank every three days until the ich is gone. Starting out slow and gradually moving to the full dosage will prevent shocking the fish.