Mardel's Coppersafe To Kill Off Snails On Java Moss... No Fish

[xoedusk]

We have the above medication. LFS said that it isn't safe for snails (as the bottle says), so we're gonna mix a solution of it up and dunk our new java moss we bought in to it. The java moss has snails. Don't want snails in the tank.

So would you recommend I mix it up to the strength stated on the bottle of CopperSafe? It isn't for fishes at the moment, just to dunk our java moss into. I'm thinking more like triple strength. Any ideas? Experiences?

Thank you!

Edit: We haven't put the Java Moss in to the tank yet. We bought it 10 minutes ago, still in the bag.

 

[Underwurlde]

If I EVER get plants (Again - doh) with snails on them, then they are going straight back to the poxy shop where I got them from so that I can shove it up the manager's a...

Personally on purchasing ANY plants, from now on I make TREBLY (sp?) sure there are no nasties lurking therein because plants can also carry fungus, bacteria, snails, algae, and diseases.

It is advisable to disinfect the new arrivals. Potassium permanganate (10 minute bath) will rid the plants of bacteria.

Snails and their eggs can be removed with a 2-day bath in alum using 1-2 tablespoons and one Gallon of water.

Commercially available plants should have been kept without fish, which will eliminate the risk of introducing diseases. If in doubt a 3 week holding period will eliminate most threatening diseases such as velvet or ICH due to the lack of a host.

Plants showing algae growth can be dipped in a 1:20 bleach solution for not more than 2-3 minutes. Rinse and wash off the plants after the dip in water treated with a conditioner to de-chlorinate the plants before placing them in the tank.

If after this your plants are OK then fine. If they die then so beit - I rather a dead plant than ANY of the above problems getting into my tank. (Like a single solatorary damn snail did GRRRRRRRRR)

Andy

PS
Don't rely on CopperSafe to rid anything of snails (at most I think it will 'knock them out' - whoop-dee-doo) & you certainly should NOT be adding this to your tank so I guess I am saying that for fish keeping purposes it is useless - yet more snake-oil products from your friendly LFS.

 

[xoedusk]

Interesting, one would think that CopperSafe-type products are useful because they are sold everywhere...

Where do you think I can buy alum?

There weren't any fish in the plant tank, but snails--oh yeah, plenty. Every store in our area, actually, that sells loose plants, seems to have these brown small snails crawling everywhere

 

[Underwurlde]

Interesting, one would think that CopperSafe-type products are useful because they are sold everywhere...

Naive statement of the day. Fish SHOPS are there to SELL things. They are there to make MONEY. The more stuff they sell the better. People have a problem and think they deserve (in this 'modern' day & age) a solution i.e. a product in a nice shiny bottle promising 'Snail Buster', 'Algae-Gone', 'Snake Oil Cure All Your Sores & Boils', 'As seen on TV (so it must work)'.... Blah blah blah.

If there is a problem there is always going to be someone flogging a product to 'solve' that problem which entails ZERO effort (and a small insignificant cost of course, sir) for the customer.

Think of say the beauty industry & wrinkle creame: We all know that does sweet f-all but the industry is worth millions and millions. Ditto 99% of 'instant cure' fish products out there. Utter crap & you just end up polluting your tank with poisonus chemicals. I have to be honest, I fell into this trap. Once bitten twice shy....

Copper is BAD news in a tank. These products should be banned / boycotted.

Where do you think I can buy alum?

Erm, dunno!

There weren't any fish in the plant tank, but snails--oh yeah, plenty. Every store in our area, actually, that sells loose plants, seems to have these brown small snails crawling everywhere

Complain.

Actually, tell me where that shop is & I'LL complain in a manner that befits my 6ft3, 14.5 stone 'calm' nature.

Rant over

Andy

 

[Tolak]

Copper is a useful medication when used properly. It has gotten a bad rap from people who don't know how to use it, usually not following instructions. It is toxic to fish at higher levels, many meds are. It will also kill invertabrates, and concentrates in algae, something you need to be aware of with algae eating fish such as plecs & ottos. It is used for ick, velvet, and other sorts of external parasites. It does have some anti-bacterial & anti-fungal properties, but there are better products out there for that sort of situation.

I used it recently on some cory fry that had a touch of velvet. It does work.

 

[Underwurlde]

Fair enough. Each to their own & all that.

As you say Copper is bad news for things like shrimp as well hence my general statement about avoiding copper based products. Once in it is also very diificult to get out.

Copper is accumulative - avoid successive treatments.....

Andy

 

[Tolak]

Fair enough. Each to their own & all that.

As you say Copper is bad news for things like shrimp as well hence my general statement about avoiding copper based products. Once in it is also very diificult to get out.

Copper is accumulative - avoid successive treatments.....

Andy

You do have to be very careful with it. It must be removed with water changes, or edta, which chelates it out. Easiest way is water changes.

You are right about it being cumlulative, it will stay in the water as long as you leave it in. Some meds break down to harmless components in 24 hours or less, copper is not one of them.

 

[xoedusk]

Thanks all for the info!