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Hello,

I have just bought a new 10 gal. tank and i dont know
what kind of medicines or treatments i should buy? This tank has currently been running for 4 days and i have just started to cycle it now.I just want to be prepared for diseases that might come my way. Thanks In Advance!

Peter17





20 GALLON LONG CURRENTLY EMPTY ~~~~ 10 GALLON W/ STRIPPED CONVICT

I would buy things for bacteria and ich. Like maybe a fungus eliminator and some rid ich

OK...is it ok if i have fish in there right now...i have four barbs in there right now?



Peter17

20 GALLON LONG CURRENTLY EMPTY ~~~~ 10 GALLON W/ STRIPPED CONVICT

You shouldn't really treat a tank unless there is a problem, constant treating with anti-biotics (bacterial meds) can cause an immunity to the effectiveness of the treatment. (similar to what happened to penecillin in humans)

If you are talking about having fish in an uncycled tank, yes, just be sure to keep an eye on ammonia/nitrite levels, water changes should be regular.. and don't add more fish until you ammonia and nitrites are zero.

Last edited by Wizzard~Of~Ozz at 02-Jan-2005 10:59

Great meds to keep on hand that will not affect the good bacteria growing in your tank are

Melafix: Melafix Review]http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/melafix.php

and Pimafix: PimaFix]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806493&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302035703&bmUID=1104687076284

Rid Ich Plus is a choice for Ich treatment, but if you always respect the fish's need for stable, very slow changing temps, especially during water changes, you should never have to worry about it. I have never had ich in any of my tanks, but I make sure my tank temps are not altered more than 1-1.5F in either direction during water changes. During power outages, I drape a blanket over the tank to slow the drop in temp, but careful not to put it where it can "wick" out the water.

When Melafix and Pimafix do not work, then the next course of treatment good in the US would be Maracyn (erythromycin) and Marcyn 2 (minocycline). One is for gram positive the other for gram negative bacteria. They can be dosed together. In some cases, we know which one should be dosed. In more stubborn cases, they may need to be dosed together. These antibiotics are less stressful on the bio-filter (good bacteria) than anything sulfa based or tetracycline based.

As an alternative to waterborne antibiotic which will kill beneficial bacteria, I strongly recommend keeping the new Jungle Anti-Bacteria on hand. It can be crushed for smaller fish. This treatment should not be taken lightly, nor should it be given for less than the number of days specified or resistant strains will develop.

Jungle Anti-Bacteria Food]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806679&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030134&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1104687435337

Freshwater aquarium salt should always be in your medicine chest. Even for open sores, it helps to replace lost electrolyte, and when going through a minicycle involving nitrites, it reduces nitrite uptake into the bloodstream. Salt should always be predissolved before going into the tank to prevent burns. It is best added gradually. One way is to add a dose to a small container, poke holes in it and sink it. I like Doc Wellfish:

[link=Doc Wellfish Salt]http:// www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441782165&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030544&bmUID=1104687563268] www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441782165&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030544&bmUID=1104687563268[/link]

Great, economical (and often tax free) places to get fish stuff are online source like Drs Foster and Smith]http://www.drsfostersmith.com[/link], [link=Big Als]http://www.bigalsonline[/link], and [link=That Fish Place

In the US if a store is not in your state, then you don't pay taxes (with some excpetions, I'm sure . Shipping is sometimes lower than taxes that would have been paid.

I will add that melafix is a great antiseptic to add to the tank when new fish are added, and if fish have been fighting (mating, courtship battles, etc.). Infections happen when there is an entry. Actually, I add Melafix and Pimafix together when adding new fish. Nets are good transmitters of infection and create small scrapes.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 02-Jan-2005 11:45

Last edited by Cory_Di at 02-Jan-2005 11:47

We're producing a group of new chemically dependent hobbyists who are at the ready to needlessly dose every med known to man...

Would you believe, after all these years in the hobby, I haven't a single med in the house to dose the trops with.

Why?? Because my trops never get diseases.

You should be asking how to prevent disease instead of asking what meds to dose and our member hobbyists on this Site should be providing that information instead of listing a mile-long menu of chemicals to dose, some of which may cause adverse reactions in many species.

In all fairness I realize our members are just trying to help and answer questions with what they believe are the correct responses.

I would ask those members to suggest disease prevention and refrain from displaying a battery of concoctions that may, or may not, be helpful and are far from good fishkeeping.

Give the newbys a break and forget the Melafix, an anticeptic sometimes used by humans to combat dandruff.

--garyroland.

Newbs and novices have a greater tendency to have disease and parasites in their tanks. With time they learn how not to stress their fish or create conditions that create disease. Also, newbs are often in the stocking process and have not necessarily learned all the tips and tricks for picking out healthy fish or fish from healthy tanks. I have at least 6-7 fish stores within a 10 miles radius of my house, but the only one I trust with good stock is nearly 3 hours away. They actually quarantine all incoming fish before they go into floor tanks.

I think it is good for newbs to keep some simple things in the medicine chest, like Melafix and Pimafix. I would hope the newbs would consult us here before medicating.

I still like to treat fish that are incoming, unless they are the source I mentioned. I've had too many fish get sick in my own quarantine. Unfortunately, some people may only have fish available to them from chain stores and we know how sick those fish are.

Anyway, I think many newbs can attest to the fact that fish seem to get sick when the fish stores are closed for the day or for a holiday. I'd congratulate any newb who gets to the one year mark and gets to throw out their expired meds (which usually last a few years if you pick one out with a long expiration date).

I have an arsenal of stuff, some of which will go into the garbage when long expired. I too experience healthy tanks. But when I had my quarantine tank up with new, incoming fish, they sure got good use and I didn't have to lose precious time.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 02-Jan-2005 16:31

New fishkeepers must learn, right from the beginning, how to correctly manage aquariums to prevent disease...

To get into the bad habit of dosing meds in lieu of good water quality can lead absolutely nowhere.

I learned the hard way years ago what happens when meds are dosed to try and correct mistakes made by the fishkeeper.

It's a lousy way to do things and can lead to dependency on the meds to make up for a lack of knowledge.

And, while I'm on the subject, let me say that paragraph after paragraph of directions and suggestions, mostly unrelated to the original question, leads to total confusion to the new hobbyist.

The old phrase applies: "Keep it simple".

--garyroland.

Keep it simple works.

As does being prepared.

If you end up with a bacterial infection, your fault or not, you should be prepared to treat it. its part of being a responsible fishkeeper, being prepared for the unexpected.

I agree that tank maintenance plays a big part, but i still think you should have meds on hand, even if you never ever have to use them (i wish it was the way with everyone)

So, in saying that, on hand i would have:
Melafix
an ich remedy (Ridich or similar)
an antibacterial (tetracycline)

Antibacterials are strong medications and need to be used with the utmost care so as not to create resistant strains of bacteria. Please confer with us before dosing



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Maintaining good disease-free water for trops is an art...

If I had a nickel for every trop that died because the hobbyist did not take the time to study water quality, I'd be rich.

Give your trops a break and take the time to discover what it takes to keep them healthy without dosing meds. It's a challenge that will pay off for you and the fish.

Stick close to the hobbyists on this Site that practice disease prevention and pick their brains at every opportunity.

--garyroland.

Indeed.

Wonderful advice Gary. Prevention is better than cure.

On the same note tho, cure is better than a slow painful death.

Yes?





For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett