Copper Fish Only Display Tank

[Stranded In Hawaii]

Has anyone ever heard of a copper FO display tank? A guy from my LFS said he has been running this set up for years now. No ich for sure!

Obvious Disadvantages: No inverts,live rock,or DSB. Fish may suffer due to prolonged exposure to copper.

Obvious Advantages: No Ich

For someone who has had problems with ich in the past, this set up does sound appealing.(tried garlic and quarintine)

Anyone have reasons why this set up should or shouldn't be done?

 

[NanoWind]

u have corals? which island are u?

 

[fishfarmer]

I'll say this is bad. If the fish are healthy and aren't under stress then they shouldn't be getting/needing a prophylactic treatment of any kind. If on occasion fish get stressed then treatment would be needed, but IMO rule number one is to maintain a stress free environment so treatments aren't necessary.

 

[Len]

Your LFS' methodology is dangerous, at best. Copper is universally toxic to animals, not just inverts. Behind mecury and silver, copper is the third most virulent element. Although trace copper is needed for metabolic functions and cell development, chronic exposure to high quantities (like those of Cu medications) is postively detrimental to health for inverts and vertebrates alike. We see more texts about invert toxicity because many inverts, without proper mechanisms to control Cu, are more sensitive to Cu's effects. Don't let this mislead you into thinking high copper is safe for fish.