*COPPERSAFE WARNING* along with Research on Hanna Instruments High Range Copper Checker

[Don Lidtke]

Thanks for the links. I have just ordered mine. My QT systems are down right now but I will be able to monitor my copper levels more accurately when I fire them up again.

 

[scuzy]

So is the consensus here copper power is correct dosage? 1fl oz per 20 gallons to get 2.5ppm

 

[HotRocks]

So is the consensus here copper power is correct dosage? 1fl oz per 20 gallons to get 2.5ppm

I would say yes. As far as I can tell. I would still test frequently as dosing to be sure. I have checked several bottles but all from Amazon.

 

[skr791346]

So what's the current recommended dose ratio for CopperSafe? I've been using the ratio below found in one of the sticky threads, should I just use what's recommended on bottle instead of 0.8mL / gallon? Ordered both Hanna kit & Copper Power for next QT.

"Dosing Coppersafe at 1.63mL/gal will achieve 1.5 ppm, 1.9mL/gal = 1.75 ppm, and 2.17mL/gal = 2.0 ppm."

 

[Big G]

Ok, so here's my update on using the Hanna High Range Copper Checker. So the API Copper Test Kit color card and system is not very accurate as I previously posted. What I thought was slightly under 2.0 ppm was actually 2.80 ppm according to the Hanna Checker. Yikes! I have copper sensitive fish in the QT and one is a wrasse that was beginning to flounder it had largely stopped eating. So I started doing water changes to lower the copper level using the Hanna. Here's my results

Start 2.80 ppm in a 20 gallon QT
1 gal water change = 2.68 ppm (12 point reduction per gallon)
4 gal water change = 2.15 ppm ( 13.1 point reduction per gallon)
2 gal water change = 1.92 ppm (11.5 point reduction per gallon)

Amazingly accurate for approx 12 point per gallon reduction during water changes. Very reassuring to be able to meter the reduction with confidence. This is not possible using the old API Copper Test Kit. This is so cool. Fish are doing great. I'm amazed I didn't lose any fish as this today is day 26 of copper. The wrasse has come back to life and is swimming, responding and eating like a little pig. Highly recommend this tool for caring and treating our fish. Many thanks to @HotRocks, @4FordFamily, and @Hanna Instruments

Folks this is a game changer. A big game changer. I know it's not cheap, but consider the heartbreak and cost of your system and fish. It's well worth the investment.

Thinking out loud here, I wonder how many fish we have lost over the years due to over dosing copper due to the inaccurate test kits? Especially when we were dosing quickly for disease treatment.

 

[4FordFamily]

So what's the current recommended dose ratio for CopperSafe? I've been using the ratio below found in one of the sticky threads, should I just use what's recommended on bottle instead of 0.8mL / gallon? Ordered both Hanna kit & Copper Power for next QT.

"Dosing Coppersafe at 1.63mL/gal will achieve 1.5 ppm, 1.9mL/gal = 1.75 ppm, and 2.17mL/gal = 2.0 ppm."

They’ve changed potency and it seems inconsistent at BEST. I’d avoid using coppersafe, but if you must, test it in a gallon of salt water first to know the potency of that individual bottle.

 

[4FordFamily]

Well here are my results. I doesd per bottle instructions into a 10 gallon qt.

Holy copper Batman! Should have tested better.
I thought my bottle was safe but looks like it’s the strong stuff too.
Incredible I have 2 quarter sized blue hippos that are alive after 30 days.

Yikes!!! That’s absolutely ridiculous

That's frankly disgusting, what a joke. Glad to hear your little guys survived that.

Couldn’t agree more... Fritz is on my personal “ban” list.

Ok, so here's my update on using the Hanna High Range Copper Checker. So the API Copper Test Kit color card and system is not very accurate as I previously posted. What I thought was slightly under 2.0 ppm was actually 2.80 ppm according to the Hanna Checker. Yikes! I have copper sensitive fish in the QT and one is a wrasse that was beginning to flounder it had largely stopped eating. So I started doing water changes to lower the copper level using the Hanna. Here's my results

Start 2.80 ppm in a 20 gallon QT
1 gal water change = 2.68 ppm (12 point reduction per gallon)
4 gal water change = 2.15 ppm ( 13.1 point reduction per gallon)
2 gal water change = 1.92 ppm (11.5 point reduction per gallon)

Amazingly accurate for approx 12 point per gallon reduction during water changes. Very reassuring to be able to meter the reduction with confidence. This is not possible using the old API Copper Test Kit. This is so cool. Fish are doing great. I'm amazed I didn't lose any fish as this today is day 26 of copper. The wrasse has come back to life and is swimming, responding and eating like a little pig. Highly recommend this tool for caring and treating our fish. Many thanks to @HotRocks, @4FordFamily, and @Hanna Instruments

Folks this is a game changer. A big game changer. I know it's not cheap, but consider the heartbreak and cost of your system and fish. It's well worth the investment.

Thinking out loud here, I wonder how many fish we have lost over the years due to over dosing copper due to the inaccurate test kits? Especially when we were dosing quickly for disease treatment.

Fantastic, so glad it’s helped you! We think it’s a game changer too! @HotRocks, buddy we owe it to you!

Regarding the cost, honestly if I kill one fish it cost more than the checker so it was a no brainer for me!

 

[HotRocks]

Ok, so here's my update on using the Hanna High Range Copper Checker. So the API Copper Test Kit color card and system is not very accurate as I previously posted. What I thought was slightly under 2.0 ppm was actually 2.80 ppm according to the Hanna Checker. Yikes! I have copper sensitive fish in the QT and one is a wrasse that was beginning to flounder it had largely stopped eating. So I started doing water changes to lower the copper level using the Hanna. Here's my results

Start 2.80 ppm in a 20 gallon QT
1 gal water change = 2.68 ppm (12 point reduction per gallon)
4 gal water change = 2.15 ppm ( 13.1 point reduction per gallon)
2 gal water change = 1.92 ppm (11.5 point reduction per gallon)

Amazingly accurate for approx 12 point per gallon reduction during water changes. Very reassuring to be able to meter the reduction with confidence. This is not possible using the old API Copper Test Kit. This is so cool. Fish are doing great. I'm amazed I didn't lose any fish as this today is day 26 of copper. The wrasse has come back to life and is swimming, responding and eating like a little pig. Highly recommend this tool for caring and treating our fish. Many thanks to @HotRocks, @4FordFamily, and @Hanna Instruments

Folks this is a game changer. A big game changer. I know it's not cheap, but consider the heartbreak and cost of your system and fish. It's well worth the investment.

Thinking out loud here, I wonder how many fish we have lost over the years due to over dosing copper due to the inaccurate test kits? Especially when we were dosing quickly for disease treatment.

Man this makes me smile. I'm so glad your Wrasse is coming back. This will hopefully make the copper game much easier and effective for alot of people. Like mentioned above, for what the device is capable of, it's a no brainer cost wise if it saves fish loss, especially if you like the fish I like. I will agree it is expensive in relation to the API kit. The API/Seachem tests may be the only option for some members, but I would definitely push them to add to wish list! Thanks for contributing @Big G

 

[Kyl]

What's not cheap is losing a few fish, that right there pays for the checker. I'm now wondering if the reason I lost one of my blue star leopards was due to over-dosing since I can't read the API kit worth beans visually. Anxious to see what this copper QT tank tests at, I've kept it filled and the survivor spent a month in it.

 

[melypr1985]

Highly recommend this tool for caring and treating our fish.

This will hopefully make the copper game much easier and effective for alot of people. Like mentioned above, for what the device is capable of, it's a no brainer cost wise if it saves fish loss, especially if you like the fish I like.

I've been following along and i'm convinced. I ordered my checker over a week ago and it's still back-ordered. As soon as I get it I'll be using it at the shop and at home.

I will say that I use coppersafe at the shop and at home and haven't experienced this issue at all (knocks on wood). I run coppersafe on the 900 gallon system at work, so the sheer size of the water volume might play a role here, but once I get the checker I'll be monitoring closely with each water change and throughout the week.

 

[Sashaka]

blue star leopards

My leopard wrasse is in copper right now, still eating, but not liking the copper much. Wish my Hanna checker would hurry up and get here!

 

[Sashaka]

Dumb question, does putting the @ sign next to someones online name let that person know their name was used? Can anyone point me to a link that explains the symbols and lingo used here? A crash course is what I need. LOL Thanks!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Dumb question, does putting the @ sign next to someones online name let that person know their name was used? Can anyone point me to a link that explains the symbols and lingo used here? A crash course is what I need. LOL Thanks!

Yes, @Sashaka

 

[Big G]

Yep. It's a cool way to give credit or thanks or update other members.

 

[Sashaka]

Thanks NY_Caveman and Big G. I'll start using the @ sign when I post now to give credit. I usually write the person's name in my post anyway.

 

[Sashaka]

I did my final copper test for the night with API tester. It was a little low (under 2pm), so I added a bit more copper. The wrasses don't seem happy, but the tester now reads about 2ppm. I'm worried after reading @Big G 's post about showing a higher copper in the tank than expected when testing with the Hanna tester. I should save some water from tonight and test it when my Hanna checker comes in to compare.

 

[HotRocks]

I've been following along and i'm convinced. I ordered my checker over a week ago and it's still back-ordered. As soon as I get it I'll be using it at the shop and at home.

I will say that I use coppersafe at the shop and at home and haven't experienced this issue at all (knocks on wood). I run coppersafe on the 900 gallon system at work, so the sheer size of the water volume might play a role here, but once I get the checker I'll be monitoring closely with each water change and throughout the week.

I am excited for you to get it and see what you think. It's so accurate it's mind boggling.

 

[NY_Caveman]

In a sense this is a sad thread. In another it is one of the best. It shows the power of hobbyists and R2R. People are not carrying torches and acting overly emotional. Rather, they are rationally and honestly trying to solve the issue through testing and discussion. Most importantly, fish and money are being saved. This site is really incredible.

 

[Humblefish]

In a sense this is a sad thread. In another it is one of the best. It shows the power of hobbyists and R2R. People are not carrying torches and acting overly emotional. Rather, they are rationally and honestly trying to solve the issue through testing and discussion. Most importantly, fish and money are being saved. This site is really incredible.

^^ This right here; we cannot rely solely upon the industry to help us. Their claims about what a product does or does not do. Rather, we must take matters into our own hands and help ourselves and help one another. Test/experiment for ourselves. This thread and what @HotRocks has figured out is a perfect example of this.

 

[Brew12]

Dumb question, does putting the @ sign next to someones online name let that person know their name was used? Can anyone point me to a link that explains the symbols and lingo used here? A crash course is what I need. LOL Thanks!

Using the @ before the persons name sends them a notification that they have been "tagged" in a thread.

Using a hashtag is a way to follow a subject. It is probably underutilized here at R2R. For instance, I could do #Brewsfriends and anyone who wanted could click on it and select "watch tag". They would get a notification any time the hashtag is used. Tagging Reefsquad is a great way to get help since everyone on the Reef Squad follows it.