Re: Hyposalinity together with copper sulphate treatment  8/28/07
Dear Bob,
Thanks again, This is going to be a bit long mail so please do excuse me I am Architect turned Aquarist, this hobby has changed my profession I am a serious LFS hobbyist doing my job for past 5 years in freshwater.
<Neat! I too was self-directed to a life of enjoyment, study and sharing in our interest>
Here in India Marine is not much popular. Recently I visited Singapore for the Aquarama Exhibition .
<Ahh! Have gone to most of these biannual industry get-togethers>
I was inspired with Marine setups and the Underwater World.
<The UK co. I take it>
I set up my tanks for marine and got two consignments of fish sadly all the fish died within two weeks because of Velvet. Then I started to read and browse the net and I came to WWM. This is my favourite site. I spend most of my spare time reading your articles. I now give my fish the fresh water dips and am trying to quarantine them.
<Ah, good>
Now I have been successful to keep the fish alive. Your site is a big Ocean of knowledge.
<Thank you my friend>
The reasons of my earlier question is that I am confused and not sure what method I should use?
1. Only Hyposalinity ?
2. Only Copper treatment Or
3. Both 1 and 2 ?
<Depends a good deal on the species, specimens in question... For many that are sensitive or in bad initial health, neither may be appropriate... For incoming fishes, pH adjusted freshwater dips with a bit of formalin (as detailed on WWM) is my favorite prophylactic approach...>
Now, the reason I am asking you the above question is that I have set up 40 tanks of 15 gallons in circulation to a common sump. All tanks are individually connected with of 3/4" pvc pipes for inlet and outlet.
In the Sump the water is filtering through Ceramic rings, filter pads of different grade, bio balls. The water is then pumped back. I plan to quarantine marine fish in these tanks.
<Mmm, much we should state here... each of these tanks flows back independently I hope... and you have VERY good mechanical (one micron or less) AND physical (e.g. UV) sterilization to exclude the sharing of parasites...>
I read on the net that Protein Skimmer must not be used as the organic waste will remove the copper.?
<Yes... w/ or w/o the waste... and the waste alone>
I am using API test kits NH3, NO2, NO3, pH and Cu.
Do I need to monitor anything else? What method should I use from the above?
<Dips, baths... and keep good records of what species from what suppliers have problems... Arrange your ordering to reflect...>
Salt used is Red Sea as this is the only salt commonly available in India.
<As your business grows... do consider becoming a distributor for other brands... and product lines... Marine keeping will explode some day (and I think soon) in India>
I have prepared my own Copper Sulphate solution by mixing 40 gm.s of Copper Sulphate ( Blue crystals used in swimming pools here) to 10 liters of Distilled water. I intend to use 30 ml for 200 liters to get .015 ppm reading of copper.
<I would add 4-5 grams of citric acid to your mix here... much better... to keep the CuSO4 . 5H2O in solution>
I want your advice for any other precautions that I should take while Quarantine. My tanks are recycling now. And soon I shall add the fish when the NH3 and NO2 readings are ZERO.
Thanks once again.
Regards,
Inder.
<I will gladly help you in your endeavours. Life to you. Bob Fenner>