My Snails Keep Dying

[markus]

I added Mardel Coppersafe to my tank 2 months ago to cure a case of ich. It cured the fish but I lost all my snails. My hermits survived and are still thriving but every time I try to add nassarius snails back to the tank they die within a few hours. Is there anything I can do? Thanks.

[gm333]

Actually probably not, once the tank has been dosed with copper it is very hard to get out. This is why a hospital tank should be used for all tanks.

[Sniperelite8243]

try this,
-buy new filter cartrage, or rinse out.
-put fish in bucket
-unhook filter, empty hoses. add new cartrage. set aside.
-drain all water out, just enough to cover subsrate.
-fill tank back up.
-vacume the substrate and empty tank again.
- fill back up and let temp settle.
-add filter and turn on
-add fish

hopefully this will get most of the copper out. and because the bacteria lives mostly in substrate you shouldn't get ammonia spikes ect.
buy 1 snail and hope it lives. or if it exists buy a kit that tests copper levels.
before and after. jst to see if it worked. if it did get a snail. if no, im out of ideas.

good luck.

[gm333]

The only problem is your rock absorbs the copper and releases it back into the tank. I have heard of people adding them after a year and the copper was finally gone. Give sniperlites idea a try cant hurt.

[Tommy Gun]

I agree with all the advice here so far, but I would also point out that this product is advertised to be a version which is chelated or free, if I remember right and the supposed benifit to that is the free iron stays in the water longer so that you can remove it with water changes. However, on the package or bottle of coppersafe, it also says to remove any inverts (snails) from the tank before using it. I believe that since the copper is free copper, it requires higher dosage so it may still be in your tank. I am 99% sure that there is a difference between saltwater coppersafe and freshwater coppersafe so make sure that you have the right one...assuming I am correct on that anyways.

The problem is, like GM points out, that it becomes nearly impossible to remove copper once it is in a tank. I shouldnt say that it is impossible really, but it does require things most people do not want to do like take the tank down completely and wash it with myric acid and start all over.

To be sure though, I would pick up a copper test kit to see how much copper you may or may not have. This could also be an acclimation or water quality problem such as a less than ideal specific gravity. Also, you could be buying bad livestock...which may be unlikely but it is a possiblity. The 'what ifs' are really the best reason for testing first and then moving forward from there.

[alexfevery]

when I got a case of itch, the guy at petco, told me to put Mardel coppersafe in because it is totaly safe with everything, i bought it but decided against adding it, im glad i did because i later learned that it is not so safe, as the name implys.

if you want to cure itch, without permanently poisoning your tank, use malachite green and fermaldehyde, an example of a product with those is rid itch plus, you have to remove inverts while treating, but after a few water changes, you can safely add them again.

[Loman]

Sorry to disagree Alex but I think any medication should be used in a QT hospital tank and kept out of your display tank. The ones mentioned have there own issues including some pretty nasty side effects if not handled properly. It is also not recommended for scaleless fish etc. For ick the best first course of action is to use a QT tank and reduce its introduction dramatically. You can try a freshwater dip which several people have recommended to me but I have never personally done. Meds should be the last resort not the first and keep them in the hospital tank not your display.

[alexfevery]

oh yes certainly, i never sid it was safe, i just mean, if your not going to use a quarentine tank, which you absolutely should, It is better to use that then a copper treatment, neither of them are good for your tanks health, but if you have to use one, the ferm+mala treatment comes without the long term poisoning.