Cupramine
Copper is the preferred agent for the eradication of Oodin-Cupramine™ is buffered and is non-shocking. It is less toxic

ium, Cryptocaryon, Amyloodinium, Ichthyophthirius, andto fish than any other copper preparation, but more toxic toother external parasites in fish.

parasites. It is readily measured by any copper kit and easily
removed with activated carbon or other adsorbents.

Soluble copper salts dissociate in water; copper thenprecipitates as copper carbonate and copper hydroxide. The

Cupramine™ is a truly better copper formulation that safely

consequently necessary repeated dosing is aneradicates ectoparasites of both freshwater and marine fish.

inconvenience that results in a dangerous accumulation of

It is buffered and amine-complexed and has all thecopper in the filter bed. This copper is potentially lethal toadvantages of both copper sulfate and chelated copper, butfish, makes invertebrate culture difficult or impossible, andnone of the disadvantages. Just like copper sulfate, it is fullyinterferes with the biological filter’s full potential.

charged (ionic) and effective at low concentrations. Just likechelates, it is nontoxic and is not precipitated in the filter

Chelated copper is sequestered, uncharged, and inactive.

bed. However, unlike both, there is more than a four-fold

Although this keeps it in solution, it is so ineffective that itconcentration gap between the therapeutic dose and themust be used at ten times greater concentration than ionictoxic dose. Unlike chelates, it is easily removed by carbon.

copper. The high chloride content of marine water

Unlike copper salts, it does not precipitate in thecontributes to the formation of chloride

filter bed. Unlike other copper products

based complexes of copper; it is these

it is both highly effective and safe incomplexes that actually account for

freshwater as well as marine water. It

the effectiveness (albeit limited) ofdoes not damage the filter bed.

copper chelates and the eventual

Cupramine™ has gained wide

deposition of copper in the filter bed. Sincechelated copper is uncharged and neutral, it is readily

acceptance both by aquarists and public
aquaria as the copper agent of choice.

absorbed by fish. Although relatively nontoxic, if enoughchelated copper accumulates in fish tissue it can cause long

SPECIFiCATIONS: Cupramine™ contains 10,000 mg/L ofterm problems. The reliable measurement of chelatedcopper. This copper is organically complexed and buffered.

copper is a problem with many copper kits and even known

Unlimited shelf life.

concentrations of chelated copper are less meaningful thanthose of unchelated copper. Chelated copper is very difficult

ACTION: Cupramine™ eradicates Oodinium and Ich atto remove, except by massive water changes or with

0.1–0.2 mg/L, Cryptocaryon at 0.25–0.35 mg/L,

CupriSorb™.

Trematodes and other parasites at 0.4–0.5 mg/L. With a
10–14 day exposure at 0.4 mg/L most infestations will beCitrate copper is very weakly chelated, and the high calcium

eradicated and secondary bacterial and fungal infections

and magnesium content of marine water rapidly displaces

will be controlled.

copper from the chelate, making citrate copper only amarginal improvement over ionic copper.

TOXICITY: Used as directed, Cupramine™ is not toxic tofish. While some invertebrates have shown tolerance forCupramine™ contains an organic complex which leaves theCupramine™, it should be considered toxic to invertebrates

cupric charge (Cu2+) fully active. This organic component

and they should be removed prior to treatment.

prevents the deposition of copper, inhibits its absorbtion by

Invertebrates should not be returned until several days after

fish, but does not interfere with action against parasites.

a test kit shows no copper. Fish exposed to 0.8 mg/L have1000 Seachem Drive • Madison, GA 30650 • 706.343.6060 • FAX 706.343.6070 • 888-SEACHEM • www.seachem.com

shown no ill effects beyond increased respiration. No
lasting ill effects have been observed.
MONITORING: Cupramine™ has been designed so thatmonitoring is less critical than with other coppers. In mostsituations, using the product as directed should suffice. If
monitoring is indicated, Cupramine™can be measured
with most copper kits available. Seachem has its own kit,
MultiTest:™ Copper, which has been designed specificallyfor Cupramine™, though it tests all forms of copper.
RECOMMENDATIONS: UV sterilizers, ozone, andchemical filtration should be turned off during treatment.
To insure against reintroducing parasites, all new fish
should be treated in a quarantine tank. All new
invertebrates should be quarantined (but not treated) for atleast two weeks. In relatively new tanks with large
quantities of coral, some copper may fall out of solution, butwill redissolve as more product is added. In tanks that havea high accumulation of precipitated copper, the addition of
Cupramine™ may release significant quantities of thiscopper into solution. In such cases, use smaller doses andmonitor copper using MultiTest:™ Copper test kit. In tankswith large quantities of fresh crushed coral or tanks withhigh calcium concentrations (>400 mg/L), someCupramine™ may fall out of solution prematurely andredosing may be required.