Carbon Filter with Copper

[rbeberwein]

I have a couple of Hippos and a Purple Tang in my quarrintine/acclimation tank. I purchased them yesterday and they are acclimating. I was told to add Copper to the tank and take out the carbon in my AquaClear power filter. Why do I have to remove the carbon and what happens if I don't?

Also, when I did ammonia and nitrite tests they were 1.0 ppm and .5 ppm respectively. I added some ammonia detox to the 20 gal. quarrintine tank. Does the carbon have anything to do with the spike or just the number of fish being added at one time? BTW, the hippos are small size and the purple is about 3".

 

[Anonymous]

#1, you should not add copper to the tank unless you have a reason for it, no sense medicating just for fun. Some diseases that fish will get are curable with other meds than copper. If adding copper, you must test for its levels.

#2 keep the water quality high, water changes are very necessary in a small quarantine tank like that, it may be necessary to test every single day.

#3 leave the carbon in, you need to change it frequently while the fish are in there, unless you are medicating, at which point, the carbon starts taking the meds out.

HTH

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

BTW, Welcome to Reefs.Org

Bryan