Calculate the precise dosage of Copper Power (Blue) for Marine Aquariums
Total water volume after displacing rocks and sand.
Test your water first. Enter 0 if you haven't dosed yet.
Standard therapeutic level for Copper Power is 2.5 ppm.
Amount to Add (mL):0 mL
Amount to Add (fl oz):0 fl oz
Safety Tip: Do not dose this full amount at once if fish are already present. Raise copper levels slowly over 24-48 hours to avoid shocking your livestock.
About Copper Power Dosing
Copper Power (Blue) is a chelated copper sulfate medication widely used in the marine aquarium hobby to treat external parasites such as Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and Marine Velvet (Amyloodinium ocellatum). Unlike ionic copper (like Cupramine), chelated copper is generally safer for fish and remains stable in the water column longer, not precipitating out as quickly.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator is calibrated specifically for the Copper Power (Blue Bottle) formulation. According to the manufacturer's specifications:
Standard Dosage: 1 fluid ounce (29.57ml) per 20 gallons of water yields a concentration of 2.5 ppm.
Concentration Factor: Approximately 0.59 ml of product per gallon raises the copper concentration by 1.0 ppm.
Therapeutic Levels
For effective eradication of parasites, maintaining the correct therapeutic range is critical. If the level drops too low, the parasites may survive. If it gets too high, it becomes toxic to the fish.
Therapeutic Range: 2.0 ppm to 2.5 ppm.
Recommended Target: Most experts recommend aiming for 2.5 ppm to ensure levels stay above the minimum kill threshold even with minor testing errors.
Important Usage Guidelines
Remove Absorbents: Before dosing, remove all chemical filtration media such as carbon, Chemipure, or Poly-Filter, as these will remove the copper from the water. Turn off UV sterilizers and protein skimmers during the initial dosing.
Test Frequently: Never dose blindly. Use a reliable digital tester (such as the Hanna Instruments High Range Copper Checker) to verify your current ppm before adding more medication. Visual colorimetric kits are often too difficult to read accurately for therapeutic ranges.
Ramp Up Slowly: If fish are currently in the tank, do not raise the copper level from 0 to 2.5 ppm instantly. It is recommended to raise it to 1.0 ppm on the first day, and then slowly increase to 2.5 ppm over the next 24 to 48 hours to allow the fish to acclimate.
Invertebrate Warning: Copper is lethal to all invertebrates (snails, shrimp, corals, crabs). Only use this medication in a dedicated bare-bottom hospital or quarantine tank (QT), never in a display reef tank.
Calculating Net Water Volume
The accuracy of your dosage depends entirely on the accuracy of your volume estimate. A standard "40-gallon breeder" tank does not hold 40 gallons of water once you account for the thickness of the glass, the space at the top, and displacement by PVC pipes or heaters. It is safer to underestimate your water volume slightly, dose, test, and then adjust, rather than overdosing.
function calculateCopperDosage() {
// Get inputs
var volume = document.getElementById('tankVolume').value;
var currentPpm = document.getElementById('currentPpm').value;
var targetPpm = document.getElementById('targetPpm').value;
// Validate inputs
if (volume === "" || currentPpm === "" || targetPpm === "") {
alert("Please fill in all fields correctly.");
return;
}
var volNum = parseFloat(volume);
var currNum = parseFloat(currentPpm);
var targNum = parseFloat(targetPpm);
if (isNaN(volNum) || isNaN(currNum) || isNaN(targNum)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers.");
return;
}
if (volNum target)
if (dosageMl < 0) {
document.getElementById('result-container').style.display = "block";
document.getElementById('resMl').innerHTML = "Overdose detected";
document.getElementById('resOz').innerHTML = "Perform Water Change";
document.getElementById('rampWarning').innerHTML = "Alert: Your current copper level is higher than your target. You need to perform water changes to lower the concentration.";
document.getElementById('rampWarning').style.backgroundColor = "#f8d7da";
document.getElementById('rampWarning').style.color = "#721c24";
document.getElementById('rampWarning').style.borderColor = "#f5c6cb";
return;
}
// Display results
document.getElementById('result-container').style.display = "block";
document.getElementById('resMl').innerHTML = dosageMl.toFixed(2) + " mL";
document.getElementById('resOz').innerHTML = dosageOz.toFixed(2) + " fl oz";
// Reset warning style in case it was changed by negative logic
document.getElementById('rampWarning').style.backgroundColor = "#fff3cd";
document.getElementById('rampWarning').style.color = "#856404";
document.getElementById('rampWarning').style.borderColor = "#ffeeba";
if (ppmDifference > 1.0) {
document.getElementById('rampWarning').innerHTML = "Safety Tip: You are raising copper by " + ppmDifference.toFixed(2) + " ppm. It is highly recommended to split this dose into 2 or 3 parts over 24-48 hours to reduce stress on your fish.";
} else {
document.getElementById('rampWarning').innerHTML = "Note: Always test water 30-60 minutes after dosing to confirm the new concentration level.";
}
}