CUPRAMINE™ 50ML

CUPRAMINE™ 50ML*

Cupramine ™

Copper treatment for external parasites Active at low concentration (does not precipitate) Aminated, so not as toxic to fish 100% removable with carbon or Cuprisorb

Overview

Cupramine ™ effectively eradicates Oodinium, Cryptocaryon, Amyloodinium, Ichthyophthirius, and other ectoparasites from freshwater and marine fish. It is superior to copper sulfate, chloride, and citrate: it is non-acidic, less toxic to fish, remains in solution, and does not contaminate the filter bed. It is superior to chelates: it is fully charged (ionic), active at low concentrations, and removable with carbon.

There is a concentration gap of over four times between the minimum therapeutic dose (0.2 mg/L) and the toxic dose (0.8 mg/L). Cupramine ™ is easily removable through chemical filtration. It is very effective and safe in both freshwater and seawater.

Indications

Cupramine ™ is suitable for treating a variety of ectoparasites in freshwater and marine fish. Here are some of the most common infections that can be treated with Cupramine ™. Be aware that many diseases and infections share similar physical and behavioral symptoms, such as clamped fins, lesions, and loss of appetite.

Ich (white spot)
 

Ichthyophthirius (freshwater) / Cryptocaryon (saltwater)
Looks like salt sprinkled on the body and fins of the fish. Usually accompanied by twitching, flashing, and other signs of stress and irritation. Several parasites are grouped under this name, but the symptoms are almost identical. Ich is one of the most common infections in fish and can be fully treated with diligence and attention to water quality.

Suggested treatment period:
14 days at full concentration (0.25 mg/L for freshwater, 0.5 mg/L for saltwater)

Special considerations
It is very important with this parasite to maintain the copper concentration throughout the treatment period. A drop in copper concentration will allow the parasite to multiply and reinfect the fish.

Velvet

Piscinoodinium (freshwater) / Amyloodinium (saltwater)
Similar to Ich, but smaller and grey-gold. Most often seen in saltwater but can also occur in freshwater. Velvet is less common than Ich, but the treatment is almost identical. We see it more often in saltwater than in freshwater.

Suggested treatment period:
14 days at full concentration (0.25 mg/L for freshwater, 0.5 mg/L for saltwater)

Special considerations
Keep in mind that many parasites and diseases will mimic the symptoms of Ich or Velvet, and not all are best treated with Cupramine. Often, flukes or lymphocystis are mistaken for Ich, and these are better treated with ParaGuard ™. Research possible fish diseases and, when in doubt, consult an exotic animal veterinarian.

Due to the nature of this parasite, it is normal for visible signs of infection to get worse before they get better. The medication is still working, but it takes time for the salt-like cysts on the fish to disappear. Continue the treatment and the visible spots should soon disappear!

Instructions

Before treating
Remove all invertebrates - these are extremely sensitive to copper and will not tolerate treatment with a copper-based medication. Turn off UV filters, ozone filters, and remove chemical filtration such as MatrixCarbon ™ and Purigen®. Do not use in conjunction with any other medication. Do not use any products containing reducing agents (conditioners, ammonia binders, etc.) when using Cupramine.

Treatment

If the bottle has a dropper cap, use 20 drops (1 ml) per 40 L (10.5 US gallons) on the first day, wait 48 hours, then repeat. For bottles without a dropper cap, each inner ring equals 1 ml. In freshwater, use half the dose. The final copper concentration should be 0.5 mg/L (0.25 mg/L in freshwater). Maintain this concentration for 14 days. Do not re-dose without testing (MultiTest™ Copper). If the tank has previously been treated with an ionic copper (e.g., copper chloride, sulfate, or citrate), test the copper level after the initial dosing. Although most fish tolerate Cupramine™ up to 0.8 mg/L, it is not advised to exceed 0.6 mg/L of copper.

Complete the full treatment
Ich, velvet, and many other parasites spend a significant part of their life cycle in a cyst form that is immune to medications and hidden in the substrate of your aquarium. Remember to complete the full treatment even if you can't see parasites on the fish!

After Treatment

Cupramine™ can be removed by using carbon or CupriSorb™. Leave the copper-absorbing media in your tank for at least one week after the copper concentration has reached zero to ensure all traces of the medication have been completely removed.

FAQ

How often should I treat with Cupramine™?
A: Unlike ionic copper or copper citrates, Cupramine™ will not precipitate. Once a level is reached, it will stay there until it is removed by carbon, CupriSorb™, or another material. You might see a lower than expected level if you have crushed coral substrate or live rock. It is recommended to quarantine fish in hospital tanks before introducing them to your display system and when treating with medications. As with any copper-based medication, it is not safe for use in a reef aquarium.

I used Cupramine™, then added product X and everything died. What happened?
A: If product X is a reducing agent such as ParaGuard™ (or other aldehyde-based medications), or if you overdose with a dechlorinator such as Prime®, then the Cu₂₊ will be reduced to Cu₊. Cu₊ is 10 times more toxic than Cu₂₊.

I just started using Cupramine™ even though I had used an ionic copper product (copper sulfate) several months ago. I find that when I dose as prescribed with Cupramine™, I get a higher copper level than I should. Why?
A: The ionic copper has been adsorbed onto your filter bed and is now being extracted and solubilized by the amine complex in Cupramine™. You can either adjust your Cupramine™ dose accordingly, use our CupriSorb™ to slowly extract the copper from the filter bed (though this may take weeks depending on the amount of adsorbed copper), or replace the filter bed.

I am using Cupramine™ and my ammonia test kit shows off-the-scale ammonia. What is happening?
A: Ammonia test kits cannot distinguish ammonia from the amine-based complex present in Cupramine™ and will therefore give a false high reading for ammonia when using Cupramine™. Our Ammonia Alert® and MultiTest™ Free & Total Ammonia test kits do not suffer from this problem as they use gas exchange technology that can distinguish ammonia from amines.

Is Cupramine™ effective against gill flukes?
A: Yes, Cupramine™ effectively eradicates ectoparasites in both freshwater and marine fish. Be sure to follow all the product instructions, ensure you do not mix with other medications, and turn off your UV sterilizer.

Does using Cupramine™ in saltwater affect the results of other test kits, such as alkalinity and pH?
A: Cupramine™ will not affect the previously mentioned tests as this product is buffered and will not negatively influence pH or alkalinity.

What is the shelf life of your Cupramine™ product?
A: Cupramine, like the rest of our range, is designed to have an indefinite shelf life (relatively speaking). The only way this product might not work correctly is if something has been deliberately added to the bottle to contaminate the product or precipitate the ingredients out of the solution.

I added Cupramine™ to my reef aquarium. I removed all my corals and treated them once. I was told that if I added copper to my tank, I could not put my corals back in and that the copper would contaminate my filter bed and stick to the silicone joints. Is this correct and how should I remove the Cupramine™ from my tank? And should I treat it a second time?
A: Our Cupramine™ is the only copper-based remedy of its kind on the market because this technology is completely unique to our company. This copper-based remedy is complexed to an organic substance (amine), hence the name Cupramine™. This complex is very stable in water, which means it is the least likely of all copper remedies to "stick" to a gravel bed or live rock. I am not aware of any copper that adheres to silicone joints. It is also very easy to remove with carbon because this copper remedy is complexed to an organic, and carbon easily removes organic matter. We also manufacture Cuprisorb™ for copper removal. This product is very aggressive in removing copper remedies (as well as other heavy metals). This resin will change color when removing copper and is regenerable. Continue to regenerate and use this product until the resin does not change color for a week. By then, most/all of the copper should be removed from your system. You can confirm this by testing with our MultiTest™ Copper Test Kit.

Since you have already added Cupramine™ to your reef aquarium, I would definitely follow the instructions (2 doses at 2-day intervals). The instructions are based on gallons (1 ml per 10.5 gallons). Make sure to estimate the correct amount of gallons in your aquarium for proper dosing. If your aquarium is a typical reef with lots of rocks, you have displaced some of the gallons in your aquarium. Since you have dosed your aquarium once with Cupramine, I would test the copper level to determine the level you currently have. For example, if you dosed 3 ml and you get 0.25 ppm of copper, you know that dosing an additional 3 ml will increase the level by 0.25 ppm to a total of 0.50 ppm, which is the recommended concentration for this product. Keep in mind that this product is still effective as low as 0.20 ppm and generally safe for fish up to 0.80 ppm, but we recommend 0.50 ppm as the ideal level.

You can also use GarlicGuard™ in the food to help boost the fish's immune system. If the fish is having trouble eating, this product will also act as an appetite stimulant. GarlicGuard can be used in conjunction with Cupramine.

Is there an issue with using Formalin at a concentration of 25 mg/L with Cupramine™?
A: YES! Do not use Formalin with Cupramine™ or any other copper-based medication. This will reduce copper +2 to copper +1, which is highly toxic even at small doses.

What if I need to do a water change with tap water and use a dechlorinator like Prime® during Cupramine™ treatment?
A: You will need to prepare the water 48 hours before the water change. Add the Prime® to your replacement water buckets 2 days before doing your water change. The water will be immediately dechlorinated, and 48 hours later, the Prime® will no longer be active, and you can safely perform your water change. Remember that you will also need to add Cupramine™ to the replacement water to bring it to the final concentration of the tank. This should be done just before doing the water change.