Copper Power Blue — Chelated Copper Marine Treatment

4 oz

$7.42

Copper Power Blue — Chelated Copper Marine Treatment

$7.42

Copper Power Blue is one of the most stable chelated copper treatments available for fish-only and quarantine saltwater systems. Its chelated formula holds therapeutic copper concentrations reliably in high-calcium, high-alkalinity saltwater — where ionic copper precipitates out of solution rapidly and unpredictably — making it the professional-grade choice for treating Cryptocaryon irritans (marine ich) and Amyloodinium ocellatum (marine velvet).

Why Chelated Copper vs. Ionic Copper

In saltwater, free ionic copper (Cu²⁺) reacts with carbonate, phosphate, and other ions in the water column and precipitates out of solution — often dropping below therapeutic levels within hours. Copper Power Blue's chelating agent keeps copper dissolved and bioavailable at consistent concentrations with a precipitation rate of only 0.01 mg/L per 24 hours. This means predictable levels, less re-dosing, and more reliable treatment outcomes.

Parasite Treatment Protocols

Parasite	Target Copper Level	Minimum Duration & Why
Amyloodinium ocellatum (Marine Velvet)	2.0–2.5 ppm	14–21 days minimum. The free-swimming dinospore stage is very brief (~24 hours) — copper only kills the parasite during this window. Continuous therapeutic levels are critical to intercept each dinospore as it hatches.
Cryptocaryon irritans (Marine Ich)	1.5–2.0 ppm	30 days minimum. The encysted tomont stage can persist on the substrate for up to 72 days at lower temperatures. A 30-day continuous treatment is required to interrupt the complete life cycle and prevent re-infection from hatching tomites.

Critical Rules for Copper Treatment

Always use a copper test kit — measure every 1–2 days and dose as needed to maintain therapeutic minimums. Subtherapeutic levels treat nothing and may cause resistance.
Quarantine system only, without exception — copper is acutely toxic to all invertebrates (corals, shrimp, snails, clams, worms). It also leaches permanently into live rock and aragonite substrates, making them toxic for years. Never dose a display reef tank, even briefly.
Carbon will not remove chelated copper — beneficial because treatment levels remain stable, but note that chelated copper persists in the system after treatment ends.
Remove with cuprisorb — after treatment is complete, use a copper-removing adsorbent media before adding invertebrates to the quarantine tank.

Disease Identification

Marine Velvet (A. ocellatum): Fine white/gold dusting on skin and gills (resembles powdered sugar or velvet fabric), rapid gill movement, lethargy, flashing. Progresses to sudden mortality rapidly — the most dangerous common reef parasite. Confirm with a magnifying glass; the "dusting" is smaller and denser than ich spots.
Marine Ich (C. irritans): White spots on skin (2–5mm, larger and fewer than velvet), flashing, scratching, respiratory distress in heavy infestations. Slower progression than velvet, but can reach lethal loads without treatment.

Key Features

Chelated copper formula — precipitation rate: 0.01 mg/L per 24 hours in saltwater
Maintains therapeutic levels at 1.5–2.5 ppm
Not removed by activated carbon
Won't damage gill tissue at therapeutic doses