Fritz Aquatics Mardel - Coppersafe - 16oz

Excellent product

I first began to use Mardel Coppersafe in the 1990s for freshwater aquarium fish. Typically the use of this product was brought on by adding a new (non-quarantined) fish. (I was in college back then and didn't have the room to set up a dedicated quarantine tank, which is the recommended way of introducing new fish after they have passed a 2-3 week isolation without incident.) In recent years this product has become harder to find in local fish stores. When I finally located it here on Amazon I was shocked to see how pricey it has become. Due to that sticker shock I stuck with treatments that were not really working — and very nearly lost my fish. In hindsight, especially for those of you who need to treat a larger display tank vs. a hospital tank, this product is well worth the money. I wasted a lot of time — and even more money, in the end — on locally-available treatments by API (General Cure) and Kordon (Rid Ich Plus and Ich Attack) before I checked here on Amazon. What's unique about this product is that you dose to the appropriate level per the directions on the bottle and A) you don't have to remove the carbon filtration material, as is required of other medications, and B) you don't have to perform repeated water changes and re-dose during treatment. In fact, the directions expressly indicate that one is to refrain from water changes for 30 days upon dosing. (A word to the wise, however: If you use this product make sure to do a very large water change beforehand because it's the only cleaning your fish tank will have for the next 30!) To make sure this product was tolerated by my catfish (pleco and a pictus cat), I broke the dose into thirds and dosed very other day. I used API's Copper test kit to verify that the dose was correct at the end of that process. API's test strips indicated that I was on the low side at what should have been full dose — but not so far off that I felt comfortable going beyond what the Coppersafe label directed. Instead, I gauged the results by fish behavior. And let me tell you — the change within 24 hours of the first does, let alone upon reaching full-strength, was dramatic. I had suspected initially that my fish were suffering from Ich but the characteristic white spots never showed up. The flashing was the only initial symptom. After that, the fin clamping, listlessness and anorexia (not eating) set in. This was followed by labored breathing (rapid gill movement). Fish breathing, despite added aeration, was made significantly worse by Formalin/Malachite-green containing treatment (i.e. Rid Ich Plus), which is why I switched out that first Kordon product for their herbal "Ich Attack" — a smelly product that turned the water brown but yielded no change. After that, I performed a third sizeable water change and initiated Hikari's PraziPro. When that didn't work, another water change followed at which point I treated with API's General Cure. That didn't work, either! Weeks into this ordeal, I still didn't know if I was dealing with Costia or a fluke infestation. Meanwhile, all these water changes during and between treatments added to the stress my already-sick fish endured. By the time I introduced Coppersafe my fish had been ill for a month. One, in particular, was severely weakened and about to give up the ghost. In a final "hail Mary" I used Kordon's Methlyene Blue as a 10-second dip, which I am happy to report stabilized the most seriously ill fish (respiration came back to normal within two hours). I then changed out a significant amount of water and introduced the Coppersafe the following day. Within three days the fin-clamping was no more and all fish were eating normally. Within a week there was no more flashing. I am now 30 days out and can say that this treatment has been a resounding success. I am so thankful it can still be found on the market. In conclusion, you will read a lot on the various websites dedicated to this hobby about the risks associated with using copper-based treatments. That is because copper, like all metals, is toxic to fish. Like any product, following the directions to a "T" is of paramount importance. If you are especially paranoid, split the recommended dose in half (or thirds) and verify that there are no adverse reaction prior to adding the next dose. For what it's worth, my own experience suggests that while Malachite Green/Formalin containing products are generally considered safer they are under-estimated in aquarium circles for the respiratory toxins they are. In these situations — where you are sure that a parasite is to blame but not entirely clear on what kind — Coppersafe is the way to go. The icing on the cake is the fact that this treatment is one of the least time-consuming and disruptive to your fish at an already stressful time.

Gentler on fish than Cupramine. Excellent product. Make sure you use it with a compatible copper test kit. I use API, which is compatible, and is an easy test to perform (no long waits). This is my go to copper product for commercial use.

My poor Betta, Raegal, was in poor health when I got him. He was losing fins, wasn’t eating, wasn’t swimming, or doing anything. This guy went a full month without saying. I’m not sure how he survived. At first, he was showing no signs of actual illness, just stress and lethargy. Then his fins starting rotting off. I tried antibiotics with zero success. Later on, I noticed he may have velvet. He had a natural golden iridescence that made it hard to see. So I started tweezer feeding him blood worms and he finally ate! So I’m like okay, I betta not (pun intended) write him off yet. So I bought this, and about a week later, his fins starting to rejuvenate, I no longer have to force feed him, and he is swimming all over the place. I’m so happy Raegal is going to make it now.

Useful and strong med. careful of your inverts and plants.