CUPRAMINE™ 100ML

CUPRAMINE™ 100ML*

Cupramine™

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

Overview

Cupramine™ effectively eradicates Oodinium, Cryptocaryon, Amyloodinium, Ichthyophthirius, and other ectoparasites of 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 more than four times between the minimum therapeutic dose (0.2 mg/L) and the toxic dose (0.8 mg/L). Cupramine™ is easily removable with chemical filtration. It is highly effective and safe in both freshwater and saltwater.

Indications

Cupramine™ is appropriate 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 fish's body and fins. Usually accompanied by twitching, flashing, and other signs of stress and irritation. Several parasites fall 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 gray-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 if in doubt, consult an exotic animal veterinarian.

Due to the nature of this parasite, it is normal for the visible signs of infection to worsen before improving. The medication is still working, but it takes some 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. On caps without a dropper, each inner ring is 1 ml. In freshwater, use half the dose. The final concentration of copper is 0.5 mg/L (0.25 mg/L in freshwater). Maintain this concentration for 14 days. Do not redose without testing (MultiTest™ Copper). If the tank has already been treated with 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 advisable 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 as cysts immune to medication, hiding in the substrate of your aquarium. Remember to complete the full treatment, even if you cannot see parasites on the fish!

After Treatment

Cupramine™ can be removed using carbon or CupriSorb™. Leave the copper-absorbing media in your tank for at least a week after the copper concentration has reached 0 to ensure that 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 remain until it is removed by carbon, CupriSorb™, or another material. You may see a lower level than expected if you have a 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 dosed 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 was 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 (although this may take weeks depending on the amount of copper adsorbed), or replace the filter bed.

I am using Cupramine™ and my ammonia test kit shows off-the-scale ammonia. What's happening?
A: Ammonia test kits cannot distinguish between ammonia and the amine-based complex present in Cupramine™ and will thus 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 between ammonia and amines.

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

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

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

I have added Cupramine™ to my reef aquarium. I took out all my corals and treated them once. I was told that if I added copper to my tank, I wouldn't be able to 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 entirely 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 ensure this by testing with our MultiTest™ Copper Test Kit.

Since you have already added Cupramine™ to your reef aquarium, I would certainly follow the instructions (2 doses 2 days apart). 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 from 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 for 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 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 a problem 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 do 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.